Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

I was watching the Big Bang Theory where two of the characters tried to break an impasse by playing a variation of Roshambo called Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock. Here are the rules:

1. Scissors cuts paper.
2. Paper covers rock.
3. Rock crushes lizard.
4. Lizard poisons Spock.
5. Spock smashes scissors.
6. Scissors decapitates lizard.
7. Lizard eats paper.
8. Paper disproves Spock.
9. Spock vaporizes rock.
10. Rocks crushes scissors.

Notice the combin(5,2)=10 rules. I checked and the game balances. Much like a betting system, there is no strategy that could have an advantage, or disadvantage, against a random picker.

Here is a Youtube video of the scene.

Interesting twist on Roshabo. It also illustrates the great writing behing the Big Bang Theory. What other show would think to do something like that? No particular question here, just wanted to share something that amused me.

Quote: Wizard

I was watching the Big Bang Theory where two of the characters tried to break an impasse by playing a variation of Roshambo called Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock. Here are the rules:

1. Scissors cuts paper.
2. Paper covers rock.
3. Rock crushes lizard.
4. Lizard poisons Spock.
5. Spock smashes scissors.
6. Scissors decapitates lizard.
7. Lizard eats paper.
8. Paper disproves Spock.
9. Spock vaporizes rock.
10. Rocks crushes scissors.


Interesting twist on Roshabo. It also illustrates the great writing behing the Big Bang Theory. What other show would think to do something like that? No particular question here, just wanted to share something that amused me.

We have already stolen it to settle a few disputes. Its quite common to hear an arguament settled with Scissor Paper Stone Lizard Spock for it.

Quote: Wizard

Interesting twist on Roshabo. It also illustrates the great writing behing the Big Bang Theory. What other show would think to do something like that? No particular question here, just wanted to share something that amused me.

I love that show. The funniest part of the scene is that then Sheldon and Raj both always draw "Spock." The whole thing starts because Sheldon claims that players who know each other well tie too often at "rock, paper scissors." BTW the episode is named "The Lizard Spock Expansion."

Quote: Croupier

We have already stolen it to settle a few disputes. Its quite common to hear an arguament settled with Scissor Paper Stone Lizard Spock for it.

I had never heard of it before. I have heard of adding the dreaded dynamite, which doesn't work because the dynamite game doesn't balance.

Our family loves the show, and we only discovered it this year after advice from a work colleague. My daughter's favorite episode is the one you mentioned. My favorite one is the Christmas episode when Sheldon gets a gift from Penny.

What I love about the show is that it makes the "geekiness" of scientists cool.

What I like about it is that it's branched my daughter out to have a better love for science and science fiction. For example, I love Star Trek and Star Trek: TNG, but whenever an episode came on, my daughter would put her finger in her mouth and go "eh!!!". Now, I can put it on and she has interest in the characters because the characters on the show do.

Quote: Wizard

I had never heard of it before. I have heard of adding the dreaded dynamite, which doesn't work because the dynamite game doesn't balance.

We use an equivalent to dynamite: the mushroom cloud (hold your hand palm down, fingers curled inward). Mushroom cloud beats everything ... except the Twinkie.

If 5 variations impress you, then 101 will blow your mind!

http://www.umop.com/rps101/rps101chart.html

Big Bang Theory easily has the best writing on television.

Quote: cellardoor

Big Bang Theory easily has the best writing on television.

The pilot ep had an exchange that still makes me laugh. It goes more or less like this:

Leonard "At least I didn't invent additional dimensions to make my theory work."
Sheldon "I didn't invent them. They're there."
Leonard "Oh, yeah? In what universe?"
Sheldon" In all of them. That's the point."

For more R/P/S fun...


Rock-Paper-Scissors: You vs. the Computer

Quote: cellardoor

If 5 variations impress you, then 101 will blow your mind!

http://www.umop.com/rps101/rps101chart.html

Big Bang Theory easily has the best writing on television.

Interesting. I guess you can make up something that works as long as you have an odd number of items.

Agreed 100% about the Big Bang Theory!

Quote: Wizard

Quote: cellardoor

If 5 variations impress you, then 101 will blow your mind!

http://www.umop.com/rps101/rps101chart.html

Big Bang Theory easily has the best writing on television.

Interesting. I guess you can make up something that works as long as you have an odd number of items.

Agreed 100% about the Big Bang Theory!

This reminds me of how the Yurpeons play poker with the Wheel beating the Royal but all the other straight flushes beat the Wheel

Quote: s2dbaker

Quote: Wizard

Quote: cellardoor

If 5 variations impress you, then 101 will blow your mind!

http://www.umop.com/rps101/rps101chart.html

Big Bang Theory easily has the best writing on television.

Interesting. I guess you can make up something that works as long as you have an odd number of items.

Agreed 100% about the Big Bang Theory!

This reminds me of how the Yurpeons play poker with the Wheel beating the Royal but all the other straight flushes beat the Wheel

First time I've heard that ranking...

Quote: thecesspit

Quote: s2dbaker

This reminds me of how the Yurpeons play poker with the Wheel beating the Royal but all the other straight flushes beat the Wheel

First time I've heard that ranking...

I'll try to find a linky when I get back home.