What is apterous?
apterous is a UK-based puzzle game where players compete to solve word and number puzzles. You can play in British English, French, German, Welsh, global English and a variety of other languages.
Register here, or log in if you already have an account.
Current Duel Leaders
| # | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahmed M | — |
Format: 14 rounds of 15 seconds.
[Vote for the next Duel's format]
Latest Pencils
Top Dog
| # | Player | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Southwell | 97% |
These are the finest bones dug up lately,
in Mr Dog's opinion (patent pending).
Discussions
21
1
5
Show creation date on tickets in the front page's "Discussions" pane
Website feature request by Graeme Cole. Status: Unconfirmed.
Sometimes, recent comments or voting activity on a very old ticket can cause it to resurface and end up back on the front page. But it isn't always obvious to a user looking at the front page that this ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
16 0 7
Calling all Irish Apterites Countdown in Dublin Saturday September 28th.
Brainstorm by Ed Byrne. Status: Unconfirmed.
I was trawling the pro rankings this morning and I noticed that quite a few users are Irish. I want to make you all aware of an in person Countdown Tournament I am running on Saturday 28th September. It ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
35 0 27
August 2024 word list update -- it's the big one
Announcement by Charlie Reams. Status: Unconfirmed.
As many of you will have picked up from other threads, Oxford made a huge update recently including a huge number of deletions (nearly 100K!) and a few hundred new words too. It's been an epic effort by ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
5 1 3
Olympics Superbru
Announcement by Andy SC. Status: Unconfirmed.
Like the Olympics? Like predicting sporting results? Like sports in general? If you have answered yes to any of those questions then this is exactly for you. I've set up three polls on Superbru for ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
6 2 13
People's Choice Weakest Link
Brainstorm by Andy SC. Status: Unconfirmed.
I was thinking of ways that I could make the People's Choice Weakest Link different for when I next half it, whenever that might be. I've detailed various options I've come up with below. Open to other ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
12 0 1
Will bots' optimal picks be updated to reflect the much-reduced dictionary?
Miscellaneous topic by Sam Cappleman-Lynes. Status: Unconfirmed.
In this ticket (https://www.apterous.org/ticket_view.php?ticket=5970) it was explained data had been crunched to enable optimal bot picking in a number of variants. I got the impression that bots do not ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
27 0 5
Words by Usefulness - August 2024
Announcement by Rob Foster. Status: Unconfirmed.
Here's the latest usefulness doc following the huge dictionary shrink: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/111UyEWPgSV9QleQ3tjrtlgQEnZe36c9b/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=102346750340488444279&rtpof=true&sd=true ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
19 0 7
Better indication of deadline for tourney games
Website feature request by Thomas Carey. Status: Unconfirmed.
At the moment, I have a lot of tourney games clogging up the purple front page box. Most of these are human games with a long deadline, which happens in some large round robin tourneys (most notably EC). ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
7 0 1
Fantasy football 24/25
Announcement by Adam Latchford. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hi League is set up again for next season https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/9ezi6g If you were in the league last season and use your email again - you'll automatically be involved. ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
6 4 12
Resources for unlearning
Miscellaneous topic by M S R. Status: Unconfirmed.
I'm sharing this so I've got some more motivation to get the bloody thing finished. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12mRogu3C8-m7e0wtSCaqlcNsM5M9kt3LpLdMfU3-TqY/edit?usp=sharing ^Have nicked the ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
6 1 5
Updating other language dictionaries
Brainstorm by Roger Peak. Status: Unconfirmed.
Can someone tell me - do the dictionaries for other languages ever get updated and what drives that ? [Read more] [More miscellany]
5 1 13
Effect of Dictionary Changes on Ascension
Miscellaneous topic by Steve H. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hello all Have been unable to find the ticket for the last time Ascension had a large conundrum update which IIRC addressed this issue so do bear that in mind, but what happens to Ascension when conundrums ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
31 8 25
Only One News Announcement When Conor Travers Ties The Record Blitz Maxes 9 Times
Website feature request by Richard Brittain. Status: Unconfirmed.
I feel that the News feed on the main page has been unduly cluttered by this. I feel that one line could suffice, rather than nine. In addition, Jono's 3 comments on them could, debatably, be compressed ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
15 0 10
Ratings and new players
Brainstorm by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
AIUI you have to play 11(?) games in a variant to cement a rating in that variant. While you're provisionally rated, you can see swings of several hundred in your rating but it should pan out by the ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
23 0 9
Consolidate front page high score announcments
Website feature request by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
Suggestion is that instead of 20 announcements that "Player X tied the high score for Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes." there is just one ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
32 0 10
Amalgamate multiple instances of max records by one person on the front page
Website feature request by Matty Artell. Status: Unconfirmed.
Currently, when one of the top players goes through ascension (or anything similar, such as repeatedly doing touch jnr conundrum attacks for no reason), the front page ends up looking like this; http://i.imgur.com/Iz6KHaD.jpg ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
15 0 3
Add OED search to the lexplorer links
Website feature request by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
Since the demise of lexico, there hasn't been a good source for definitions. OED do a definition preview which isn't paywalled. e.g. https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=APTEROUS ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
17 1 7
Calling all parkrunners!
Announcement by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
I've created a Countdowner parkrunners group on Strava - if you're an apto parkrunner, and on Strava, please join up! https://www.strava.com/clubs/c4cparkrunners You might also be interested in the ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
3 1 10
How do I improve at the game?
Brainstorm by Dashan Delany. Status: On-going.
Firstly sorry if this is the wrong place to ask such a question. I've just made an account and it's unusual to have a web forum handle its bug reports and public discussions via the same front-end ticket ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
11 11 9
96,000+ words removed from the game! (full list of deletions)
Announcement by Eoin Jackson. Status: Unconfirmed.
Oxford Dictionaries dropped a nuclear bomb on the game we love. It was to undo a silly change implemented in 2015, so ultimately is a good thing, however much of a pain it is in the short term. If you ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
News
12 October 2024
- Jack Worsley tied the high score for Aegilops Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Elwin Carlos commented on Premier League 24-25: Match Week 4. [+3 others]
- Ahmed M's game with The Duellist received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Matthew Tassier commented on Weakest Link Numbers Tournament - 2024: Round 9 - Aegilops. [+4 others]
- Andy SC commented on Royal Rumble: 2024: Battle Royal. [+14 others]
- Matthew Brockwell commented on Hunger Games: Sign-ups Proper.
- Zohaib Rehan's 78 - 0 game with The Duellist received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×2]
- Trevor Potts tied the high score for Nasty Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Anan Nathan, who lasted 8 rounds with a target of 5. Woof!
- Andres S. commented on his game with Apterous Prune.
- Dave Kempshall's 134 - 0 game with Apterous Prune received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×13]
- The Duel was won by Zohaib Rehan with a score of 78 from 78.
11 October 2024
- Dave Robjohns tied the high score for Lockdown Jnr Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Andy SC commented on Royal Rumble: 2024: Individual. [+12 others]
- Andy SC commented on Royal Rumble: 2024: Tag-Team. [+5 others]
- Darren Godfrey tied the high score for Hyper Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Elliott Mellor tied the record number of maximums for Octorock Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Matt Gould commented on Dave Kempshall's game with Apterous Prune. [+2 others]
- Andy SC commented on Royal Rumble: Battle Royal Repechage. [+5 others]
- Zohaib Rehan tied the high score for Nasty Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Zohaib Rehan tied the high score for Nasty Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Zohaib Rehan tied the high score for Nasty Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Zohaib Rehan tied the high score for Nasty Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Dave Kempshall tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Fiona T, who lasted 14 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Tim Down with a score of 67 from 68.
10 October 2024
- Trevor MacEoin's 130 - 95 game with Samuel Louis received a self-nomination for Game of the Week.
- Rob Foster tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Anan Nathan's 81 - 70 game with Marco Napoli received a self-nomination for Game of the Week.
- Samuel Louis's 81 - 66 game with Anan Nathan received a self-nomination for Game of the Week.
- Trevor MacEoin's 130 - 95 game with Samuel Louis received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×2]
- Elliott Mellor tied the record number of maximums for Octorock Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Dan Spinks commented on Andres S.'s game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Dave Robjohns tied the high score for Touchdown Jnr Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Patrick Thompson tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Dan Southwell commented on Weakest Link Numbers Tournament - 2024: Round 7 - Lockdown Junior. [+1 other]
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Sam Hughes, who lasted 9 rounds with a target of 7. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 7 people (Trevor Potts, Gulshan R, Martin Thomas, Jason C., Toni M, Chris Hare and Adam Latchford) with a score of 55 from 55.
9 October 2024
- Trevor MacEoin commented on his game with Samuel Louis.
- Jon Elmer tied the high score for Lockdown Jnr Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Patrick Thompson tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Stephen R tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr 15 with 15 maxes.
- Ellie Winters tied the high score for Junior Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Ellie Winters tied the record number of maximums for Junior Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Dan Byrom tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Tim Down tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Dan Southwell, who lasted 16 rounds with a target of 8. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 2 people (Rob Foster and Ahmed M) with a score of 9 from 9.
8 October 2024
- News: Game of the Week was won by Andres S.'s 121 - 0 15 Rounder win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
- Dave Kempshall commented on Alphabetti Spaghetti 2024: Sign-ups.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Lockdown Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
7 October 2024
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
2 October 2024
- News: A total of 43 Duel Necklaces were awarded for September 2024.
1 October 2024
- News: Game of the Week was won by Tal Lessner's 260 - 250 Duckdown win against Adam Latchford! This week's vote is now open.
- News: The Duel for September 2024 was won by Tom Cappleman!
30 September 2024
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
24 September 2024
- News: Game of the Week was won by Anglo Italian's 161 - 73 Italian Letters Attack win against Giorgio Senatore! This week's vote is now open.
23 September 2024
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
22 September 2024
- News: Tal Lessner has been crowned champion of Your Favourite Numbers Tourney 2024 (Main)!
20 September 2024
- New: apterous History: August 2024.
17 September 2024
- News: Game of the Week was won by Zohaib Rehan's 200 - 0 Octolock Conundrum Attack win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
16 September 2024
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
- News: Zohaib Rehan has been crowned champion of Bot Luck (2024)!
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