id
int64 | name
string | description
string | shared_information
list | hidden_information
list | possible_answers
list | correct_answer
string | rationale
string |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
evacuation_west_city
|
You are participating in a study, acting as a community leader of a small village surrounded by mountains and rivers. Most villagers own cars, but there are also elderly people and children who may need additional assistance when walking. Earlier today, heavy rain began to fall, and the local government issued a warning about a potential disaster.
Hours ago, you requested relief supplies, but the supply truck has yet to arrive. Now, the rain has temporarily stopped, giving you and the other three community leaders a short window to decide on the safest evacuation route before the rain resumes. You don’t know how much time you have left to make this critical decision.
Your Task:
You will discuss with three other participants, who are also acting as community leaders, to decide where to evacuate. You have three options:
- West City: Accessible through a bridge over the river.
- East Town: Accessible through a tunnel on middle ground.
- North Hill: Accessible through a driveway and walking trails.
Usually, it takes the same time to reach all three places by car, but some routes may be inaccessible now.
There is only one correct evacuation location. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct location, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct location, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. The chat will at most take 15 minutes. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"The local government announced that hotels in West City are prepared to accommodate evacuees. While these hotels are fully stocked with food, they may lack medical supplies.",
"The mayor of East Town has offered accommodations for any evacuees. She also ensures that volunteers are available to assist them.",
"The school at North Hill can serve as a temporary evacuation center, providing a two-week supply of essentials and sleeping space in the gym.",
"The river level is still below the bridge to West City."
] |
[
"The supply truck headed to the village from East Town was stuck in the tunnel.",
"A massive fire has blocked the supply truck and all other traffic.",
"The walking trails have been closed since last weekend due to fallen trees.",
"A mudslide just occurred, covering the driveway to North Hill."
] |
[
"West City",
"East Town",
"North Hill"
] |
West City
| null |
2
|
evacuation_north_hill
|
You are participating in a study, acting as a community leader of a small village surrounded by mountains and rivers. Most villagers own cars, but there are also elderly people and children who may need additional assistance when walking. Earlier today, heavy rain began to fall, and the local government issued a warning about a potential disaster.
Hours ago, you requested relief supplies, but the supply truck has yet to arrive. Now, the rain has temporarily stopped, giving you and the other three community leaders a short window to decide on the safest evacuation route before the rain resumes. You don’t know how much time you have left to make this critical decision.
Your Task:
You will discuss with three other participants, who are also acting as community leaders, to decide where to evacuate. You have three options:
- West City: Accessible through a bridge over the river.
- East Town: Accessible through a tunnel on middle ground.
- North Hill: Accessible through a driveway and walking trails.
Usually, it takes the same time to reach all three places by car, but some routes may be inaccessible now.
There is only one correct evacuation location. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct location, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct location, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. The chat will at most take 15 minutes. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"The local government announced that hotels in West City are prepared to accommodate evacuees. These hotels are fully stocked with food and medical supplies.",
"The mayor of East Town has offered accommodations for any evacuees. She also ensures that volunteers are available to assist them.",
"The school at North Hill can serve as a temporary evacuation center, providing a two-week supply of essentials and sleeping space in the gym, but it lacks privacy.",
"A mudslide just occurred. While the driveway to North Hill remains open, the walking trails are blocked."
] |
[
"The river level is just below the bridge to West City.",
"The dam upstream will release water in a minute.",
"The supply truck headed to the village from East Town was stuck in the tunnel.",
"A massive fire has blocked the supply truck and all other traffic."
] |
[
"West City",
"East Town",
"North Hill"
] |
North Hill
| null |
3
|
evacuation_east_town
|
You are participating in a study, acting as a community leader of a small village surrounded by mountains and rivers. Most villagers own cars, but there are also elderly people and children who may need additional assistance when walking. Earlier today, heavy rain began to fall, and the local government issued a warning about a potential disaster.
Hours ago, you requested relief supplies, but the supply truck has yet to arrive. Now, the rain has temporarily stopped, giving you and the other three community leaders a short window to decide on the safest evacuation route before the rain resumes. You don’t know how much time you have left to make this critical decision.
Your Task:
You will discuss with three other participants, who are also acting as community leaders, to decide where to evacuate. You have three options:
- West City: Accessible through a bridge over the river.
- East Town: Accessible through a tunnel on middle ground.
- North Hill: Accessible through a driveway and walking trails.
Usually, it takes the same time to reach all three places by car, but some routes may be inaccessible now.
There is only one correct evacuation location. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct location, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct location, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. The chat will at most take 15 minutes. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"The local government announced that hotels in West City are prepared to accommodate evacuees. These hotels are fully stocked with food and medical supplies.",
"The mayor of East Town has offered accommodations for any evacuees. However, she has expressed concern about a possible shortage of volunteers to assist them.",
"The school at North Hill can serve as a temporary evacuation center, providing a two-week supply of essentials and sleeping space in the gym.",
"The supply truck was supposed to come from East Town."
] |
[
"The river level is just below the bridge to West City.",
"The dam upstream will release water in a minute.",
"The walking trails have been closed since last weekend due to fallen trees.",
"A mudslide just occurred, covering the driveway to North Hill."
] |
[
"West City",
"East Town",
"North Hill"
] |
East Town
| null |
4
|
toma_butera_2009
|
You are participating in a study, acting as an investigator working on a traffic accident. The collision took place at the St. Georges intersection, on Monday at 7 p.m. The road is narrow and poorly lit. Two cars and one motorcycle are involved.
Your Task:
You will discuss with other participants, who are also acting as investigators, to decide who to prosecute. You have four suspects:
- Mr. X
- Mr. X's son
- Mrs. Y
- Mr. Z
There is only one true perpetrator. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct person, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct one, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"In the first car, Mr. X—who is 53 years old and has held a driving license for 30 years—and his 17-year-old son return home. The father had just drunk several glasses of spirits during a dinner with his friends.",
"In the second car, Mrs. Y, 27 years old and having held a driving license for only 1 year, is going shopping. Her car's lights are damaged.",
"On the motorcycle, Mr. Z, 28 years old, who has held a driving license for 5 years, is going to meet his sick father who asked him to come rapidly. He is speeding on the N13 road."
] |
[
"The guilty person is driving a car. During police inspection, the guilty car owner was discovered to have a 1.5 level of alcohol. The guilty person admits that he was inattentive at the time of the collision.",
"The guilty person is less than 30 years old. Due to inexperience, the guilty person wasn't able to avoid the collision. The guilty person claims that he or she did not see others approaching the intersection.",
"The guilty person is a man. His father is indirectly responsible for the accident. The guilty person was driving at 110 km/h."
] |
[
"Mr. X",
"Mr. X's son",
"Mrs. Y",
"Mr. Z"
] |
Mr. X's son
| null |
5
|
baker_2010
|
You are participating in a study and are on the search team for a new president of Higher Education University, a private liberal arts college in Georgia. Highlights fromthe job posting are provided below. Three candidates have applied and information that you have gathered from resumes, reference checks, candidate interviews, and presentations are provided on the pages that follow. Read through all of the material and then identify the candidate that you think should be offered the job.
- Job Posting for President of Higher Education University:
Higher Education University is a small (2,500 students), private liberal arts college in Georgia. The president of the university is ultimately responsible for the administration and operation of the university. The president oversees strategic planning, fund raising, and budgeting, ensures that university polices are followed, and builds relationships with the community, alumni, and other outside constituencies.
- Desired Qualification:
Candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Evidence of academic scholarship and teaching experience or relevant, extensive, professional credentials that demonstrate an ability to lead in an academic environment;
- Evidence of leadership in an academic or comparable setting withthe following characteristics: (1) Integrity and commitment to the highest ethical standards; (2) Commitment to shared governance and full involvement of faculty, staff and students; (3) Commitment to a diverse faculty, staff, and student body with equal opportunities for all;
- Ability to develop a vision for the university and provide the leadership and inspiration needed to make the vision a reality;
- Commitment to creating a culture that values excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service;
- Commitment to and evidence of successful fundraising;
- Ability to promote the university to outside constituents and increase support for its mission and programs
- Commitment to improving the quality of life for students, faculty, and staff
- Support for developing and using new technologies to enhance learning, scholarship, and the dispersion of ideas.
Your Task:
You will discuss with other participants, who are also acting as members of the personnel committee, to decide who to recruit. You have three candidates:
- Stevens
- Roberts
- Jones
There is only one best candidate. In addition to highlights from each candidate's CV, you have lists of information drawn from interviews, references, personal observations, etc. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct person, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct one, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"Stevens' CV highlights:\n- Currently the provost and executive vice president of a medium-sized university in Florida\n- Previous experience as business dean of a large Mississippi university and Chair of the Information and Technology department at a large Texas University\n- Was Dean in Mississippi when plans were drawn up for a new $25 million business school building and was provost in Florida whenthe business college received $15 million\n- Has the rank of full professor of Information Technology.",
"Roberts' CV highlights:\n- Just completed a term as U.S. Senator for Georgia but chose not toseek a second term\n- Raised a significant amount of money in campaign for senator\n- Previous experience as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of a medium-sized university in Virginia and later of a large private university in Georgia\n- Had rank of full professor of public administration before becoming senator.",
"Jones' CV highlights:\n- Currently the senior managing partner in a large law firm in Atlanta,Georgia\n- For the past 5 years has served on the Board of Trustees of Higher Education University, and is on the steering committee for the current $150 million capital campaign\n- Has expertise in employment law and has successfully argued infront of the Federal Supreme Court\n- Served as visiting professor of law at a major university in Georgia.",
"Stevens' information:\n- Nationally recognized by academics for research in informationtechnology\n- Nationally recognized by business leaders for expertise in information technology\n- In an interview, Stevens emphasized the importance of collaboration with campus leaders and faculty\n- Demonstrated excellent oratory skills during presentation to faculty\n- Someone other than Stevens was primarily responsible for getting the $15 million in Florida.",
"Roberts' information:\n- Faculty feedback indicated that Roberts had come across as aloofduring the presentation portion of the selection process\n- Has not worked in higher education for past 6 years\n- Has a condo in Pensacola\n- Has little direct experience dealing with campus-student life issues\n- As a senator, was accused of changing positions on issues for political gain.",
"Jones' information:\n- Pleasant personality in social settings\n- Law partners say Jones is a strategic thinker with respect to the direction of the firm\n- Following the Supreme Court appearance, Jones success rate in litigating employment law cases fell\n- Has been one of the more active members of Higher Education University's Board of Trustees\n- Student enrollment and evaluations from classes indicate that Jonesis well-liked as a teacher."
] |
[
"Stevens' information:\n- Stevens left the dean position at the Mississippi University beforeraising any funds for building campaign\n- As provost, Stevens teaches a class per year\n- Spouse has a PhD in Spanish and teaches a class or two at college level\nRoberts' information:\n- Has made numerous influential contacts as senator\n- Frequently volunteers for two highly respected nonprofit organiza-tions, one that provides affordable housing and another concernedwith advancing human rights\n- Is a vegetarian\n Jones' information\n- Already lives in the area\n- Is married with a grown child\n- Sources at the law firm attribute a high turnover rate at the firm toJones' somewhat abrasive leadership style",
"Stevens' information:\n- Comments from faculty in Florida and Mississippi indicate thatStevens tends to discourage new, innovative ideas\n- Has family in Atlanta\n- Is married with three children\nRoberts' information:\n- Previous faculty members describe Roberts as thoughtful leader andgood listener\n- Previous colleagues say Roberts uses a collaborative decision-making style\n- Enjoys golf and tennis\nJones' information\n- Has two dogs and two cats\n- Jones' spouse is a physician, specializing in internal medicine",
"Stevens' information:\n- Left the dean position at the Mississippi University before raisingany funds for the building campaign\n- Enjoys sports, goes to football, and basketball games\n- Stays fit by biking and running\n- Has been observed drinking heavily in public, including at univer-sity events\nRoberts' information:\n- Previous students and faculty say Roberts is an excellent teacher\n- Is divorced and remarried; has two children\n- Faculty research productivity increased while serving as dean in Georgia\nJones' information:\n- Sources at the law firm attribute a high turnover rate at the firm to Jones' somewhat abrasive leadership style\n- Plays bridge as a hobby\n- Enjoys traveling overseas on vacation\n- Feedback from other trustees indicates that there is tension between the current provost and Jones",
"Stevens' information:\n- Comments from faculty in Florida and Mississippi indicate thatStevens tends to discourage new, innovative ideas\n- Has been observed drinking heavily in public, including at univer-sity events\n- Does consulting work in IT\n- Likes to garden\nRoberts' information:\n- Enjoys golf and tennis\n- Is divorced and remarried; has two children\n- Increased the diversity of the faculty when dean in Georgia\n- Instrumental in securing a multimillion dollar federal grant for aGeorgia based nonprofit institution\nJones' information:\n- Feedback from other trustees indicates that there is tension betweenthe current provost and Jones\n- Law partners say Jones is a strategic thinker with respect to the direction of the firm\n- Reads mystery novels and biographies\n- Loves to cook"
] |
[
"Stevens",
"Roberts",
"Jones"
] |
Roberts
| null |
6
|
schulz_hardt_mojzisch_2012
|
You are participating in a study, acting as a personnel manager in an airline company that is looking to hire a new pilot for long-distance flights.
Your Task:
You will discuss with other participants, who are also acting as personnel managers, to decide who to recruit. You have four candidates:
- Candidate A
- Candidate B
- Candidate C
- Candidate D
There is only one best candidate. You have lists of information drawn from interviews, references, personal observations, etc. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct person, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct one, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"Candidate A:\n- can anticipate dangerous situations\n- is able to see complex connections\n- has excellent spatial vision\n- has very good leadership qualities.",
"Candidate B:\n- keeps calm in a crisis\n- known to be very reliable\n- good at assessing weather conditions\n- has excellent computer skills.",
"Candidate C:\n- has difficulty communicating ideas\n- is regarded as egocentric\n- is not very willing to further his education.",
"Candidate D:\n- responds to unexpected events adequately\n- can concentrate very well\n- solves problems extremely well\n- takes responsibility seriously."
] |
[
"Candidate A:\n- is sometimes not good at taking criticism\n- can be unorganised\nCandidate B:\n- can be grumpy\n- can be uncooperative\nCandidate C:\n- can make correct decisions quickly\n- handles stress very well\nCandidate D:\n- is regarded as arrogant\n- has relatively weak leadership skills",
"Candidate A:\n- is regarded as a show-off\n- is regarded as being not open to new ideas\nCandidate B:\n- has a relatively weak memory for numbers\n- makes nasty remarks about his colleagues\nCandidate C:\n- creates a positive atmosphere with his crew\n- is very conscientious\nCandidate D:\n- is regarded as a 'know-it-all'\n- has a hot temper",
"Candidate A:\n- is unfriendly\n- eats unhealthily\nCandidate B:\n- is regarded as pretentious\n- sometimes adopts the wrong tone when communicating\nCandidate C:\n- understands complicated technology\n- puts concern for others above everything\nhas excellent attention skills\nCandidate D:\n- is considered moody\n- is regarded as a loner"
] |
[
"Candidate A",
"Candidate B",
"Candidate C",
"Candidate D"
] |
Candidate C
| null |
7
|
graetz_et_al_1998
|
You are participating in a study, acting as a member of purchasing executives reviewing three proposals for a new airborne reconnaissance system that could gather sensor readings from beacons placed on the ground. The new system was to include two parts: an air vehicle and an on board computer. Please read the request for proposals (RFP) and a check-list of information taken from proposals submitted by three companies: Franklin Enterprises, Starlight Incorporated, and Cape Industries.
The RFP included a general description of the desired system and a set of 10 desired operational requirements or criteria. Three of the criteria pertained to the air vehicle. The vehicle was to (a) fit on a 2-ton capacity truck, (b) sweep the entire ground sensor field in 30 minutes or less, and (c) be recovered and redeployed within 90 minutes. The next four criteria dealt with the onboard computer. The computer was to (d) process data at 100 million instructional sets per second (MIPS), (e) be no longer than 40 cubic inches, (f) be no heavier than 10 pounds, and (g) average at least 1,000 operating hours between failures. Finally, (h) the air vehicle and computer should cost $7 million or less, (i) past performance and experience with the company should be positive, and (j) the company must have the manufacturing capacity to produce the system. You have received a checklist of criteria satisfied by each of the three proposals. Each checklist displayed the 10 criteria along with an indication that (1) the proposal met the criterion (indicated by a “Y”), (2) the proposal failed to meet the criterion (indicated by an “N”) or (3) the participant had no information regarding whether the proposal met the criterion (indicated by a blank space).
Your Task:
You will discuss the proposals with three other participants, who are also acting as purchasing executives, to decide which company should be awarded the contract. You have three options:
- Franklin Enterprises
- Starlight Incorporated
- Cape Industries
There is only one best choice based on the criteria in the RFP. After the discussion:
- If you choose the correct company, you will earn $1.
- If all other participants also choose the correct company, you will earn an additional $1 (for a total of $2).
This means that coordinating with others is critical to maximize your rewards. However, the exact time when the chat will end is unknown.
|
[
"Franklin Enterprises:\n- (d) Y\n- (e) Y\n- (f) Y\n- (g) Y\n- (h) Y\n- (i) N\n- (j) N\n",
"Starlight Incorporated:\n- (a) N\n- (c) N\n",
"Cape Industries:\n- (g) N"
] |
[
"Franklin Enterprises:\n- (b) N\n- (c) N\nStarlight Incorporated:\n- (b) Y\n- (d) Y\nCape Industries:\n- (a) Y\n- (b) N\n- (d) Y\n- (e) Y\n- (f) N\n- (i) Y\n- (j) Y",
"Franklin Enterprises:\n- (a) N\n- (c) N\nStarlight Incorporated:\n- (e) Y\n- (h) Y\nCape Industries:\n- (a) Y\n- (b) N\n- (c) Y\n- (f) N\n- (h) N\n- (j) Y",
"Franklin Enterprises:\n- (a) N\n- (c) N\nStarlight Incorporated:\n- (f) Y\n- (i) Y\nCape Industries:\n- (b) N\n- (c) Y\n- (d) Y\n- (f) N\n- (h) N\n- (i) Y",
"Franklin Enterprises:\n- (a) N\n- (b) N\nStarlight Incorporated:\n- (g) Y\n- (j) Y\nCape Industries:\n- (c) Y\n- (d) Y\n- (e) Y\n- (h) N\n- (i) Y\n- (j) Y"
] |
[
"Franklin Enterprises",
"Starlight Incorporated",
"Cape Industries"
] |
Starlight Incorporated
| null |
8
|
Stasser_Stewart_1992
|
You are participating in a study, acting as an investigator in a murder case. Your goal is to figure out who killed Mr. Guion, a well-known car company owner.
The Incident:
Mr. Guion was found dead behind his house on a Saturday morning. It appears he was hit with a crowbar and then fell down the stairs. The autopsy shows he died from the fall sometime between 6:30 and 7:00 AM.
You will work with other investigators (other participants) to decide who to prosecute. There are three suspects:
- Eddie Sullivan: A handyman who worked for Guion.
- Billy Prentice: The yardman at Guion's estate.
- Mickey Malone: A car parts supplier and Guion's golfing buddy.
Only one person committed the crime.
- If you identify the correct person, you earn $1.
- If everyone agrees on the correct person, you each earn $2 total.
- You don't know when the discussion will end, so decide carefully.
|
[
"Eddie said he was dismantling a shed around Guion's house from 6:00 AM.",
"Eddie knew Guion left home for golf around 6:30 AM.",
"The crowbar belongs to Eddie, but Billy's fingerprints were partially on its handle.",
"Mickey knew Guion's house well, as he often picked Guion up for golf.",
"Mickey said he left his house to pick Guion up for golf, but turned down and went to a café instead.",
"Guion informed Mickey of his decision to possibly stop supporting Mickey's business the day before.",
"Eddie said he heard Billy's car leave Guion's house around 7:00 AM.",
"Billy said Eddie's tools were usually locked up, but the crowbar was oddly left out."
] |
[
"Eddie is hard of hearing and never wears his hearing aid while working at Guion's. Security footage shows Mickey entering the café at 6:30 and leaving at 6:45 AM. Billy admitted touching the crowbar when he found it.",
"Billy borrowed some money from Guion two days before. Nobody actually witnessed Eddie working that morning. It takes more than 15 minutes to drive directly from the café to the golf course, without passing by Guion's house., and Guion's house is actually in the opposite direction.",
"Billy needed some money for some purposes a week before. A golfing friend remembered seeing Mickey at the golf course sometime after 7:00 AM. Guion had recently fired Eddie's daughter after insulting her, which left Eddie furious, according to another employee."
] |
[
"Eddie Sullivan",
"Billy Prentice",
"Mickey Malone"
] |
Eddie Sullivan
| null |
9
|
critical_hospital_transfer
|
You are on the hospital staff of a rural clinic. A young patient has collapsed with symptoms of a rare but treatable illness. The patient needs to be transferred immediately to a hospital with advanced ICU facilities. There are three hospitals within reach: Hospital A (north), Hospital B (east), and Hospital C (south). You have a single ambulance, and time is critical. Weather conditions are poor (intense rain), some roads may be blocked, and you have no radio contact with the hospitals. Each of you, as staff, have partial updates from local contacts, but you must pool your information to choose which hospital to send the ambulance to. Pick wrong, and the patient may not make it.
|
[
"The main road to Hospital B has been recently repaired and is the most commonly used route. Hospital B is known for its large ICU and currently has at least one doctor on emergency shift.",
"Hospital A has a good reputation but is smaller and sometimes lacks staff at night. The northern mountain pass leading to Hospital A can become hazardous after heavy rain.",
"Hospital C is the oldest hospital and has a history of equipment failures; it’s reached by a secondary road that sometimes floods. However, its ICU was upgraded last year and their ambulance often helps transfer patients."
] |
[
"Hospital C's recent ICU upgrade is incomplete: the oxygen supply system failed last night, and they have posted an urgent request for repairs—no critical care available until fixed.",
"A police alert reported a landslide blocking the last stretch of the main road to Hospital B this morning—traffic is completely halted for at least 24 hours.",
"The northern mountain pass to Hospital A has been cleared and is confirmed safe for ambulance travel as of an hour ago.",
"Hospital B's emergency shift doctor is dealing with a multi-patient accident, and the hospital is temporarily out of critical care beds."
] |
[
"Hospital A",
"Hospital B",
"Hospital C"
] |
Hospital A
|
I designed this task to require four participants to pool their unique hidden facts to solve a logistics problem involving a critically ill patient needing urgent transfer to a hospital. The shared information points toward Hospital B as the clear (but incorrect) option: it appears both reachable and appropriately staffed for emergencies. However, each hidden fact rules out a route or resource at a different hospital or directly undermines the apparent suitability of Hospital B. No participant, with just their hidden fact plus the shared facts, could eliminate Hospital B—so they'll likely converge on that choice. But pooling the hidden facts reveals that Hospital A is the only functional option, since Hospital B is inaccessible (due to a roadblock) and Hospital C doesn't actually have a functional ICU or rapid ambulance. Each hidden item eliminates at least one option. Leaving out any single hidden fact means the group can’t definitively rule out the decoy. The structure ensures deep collaboration is required for the group to succeed.
|
10
|
emergency_supply_drop
|
You are emergency logistics coordinators tasked with directing a supply plane loaded with water, food, and medicine to land at one of three regional warehouses after severe flooding hit the area. All main roads are partially blocked, but the pilot can reach any warehouse—they just need a quick decision on where it's safest to land and ensure supplies reach local communities promptly. Your team must choose the best landing site from among the three warehouses: Warehouse A (north side, near a river crossing); Warehouse B (central, next to a chemical plant, with upgraded access roads); or Warehouse C (south side, closest to temporary shelters but farthest by road). Only one warehouse is accessible, safe, and able to distribute the supplies. If you select the correct warehouse, the community receives help. If not, valuable supplies will be delayed or lost.
|
[
"Warehouse B has recently received upgrades to access roads, making it the fastest to reach from the airstrip, and past flights have favored this site.",
"Warehouse A and Warehouse C both have large paved landing zones, but only Warehouse B is adjacent to an emergency response center.",
"Flood maps show that the chemical plant near Warehouse B has not reported any issues yet, and the weather is currently clear."
] |
[
"The bridge near Warehouse A has completely collapsed in the flooding, making it impossible for trucks to move supplies out from there.",
"Helicopter pilots report seeing standing water and large debris still blocking the main approach to Warehouse A, making landing physically possible but resupply distribution impossible.",
"Although Warehouse C is farthest from the airstrip, elevated service roads leading to the temporary shelters have just been confirmed as open by emergency agencies.",
"Warehouse B has had minor chemical leaks in the past, and after the flood, sensors are detecting rising levels of noxious gases (risk of poisoning for those unloading/unpacking the plane)."
] |
[
"Warehouse A",
"Warehouse B",
"Warehouse C"
] |
Warehouse C
|
Step-by-step reasoning:
- I chose 4 participants and 3 options, making "Warehouse B" the decoy, favored by the shared information. Shared info suggests B is safest and fastest, which will push everyone toward it at first.
- Each hidden item rules out exactly one route, and no one hidden item can disprove Warehouse B alone. For example, Person 1 knows there are chemicals at B, which alone just suggests B is risky, but since it’s the quickest, people may still lean that way. Only together do the hidden items eliminate A (impassable), B (danger), and C (the only viable option).
- Every hidden item is necessary: without knowing that A's bridge is washed out, for example, A would seem plausible. Without knowing that B's gases are leaking, it still seems safest despite chemical risk. Each hidden item fills a unique gap and eliminates an option only when all other hidden facts are also considered.
- If any single participant acts only on shared info and their personal hidden fact, they will be misled toward Warehouse B (the decoy). Only together (with full info) can the group identify the correct answer.
|
11
|
emergency_conference_relocation
|
You are on a committee responsible for an emergency scientific conference that suddenly lost its main venue due to a water pipe burst. You must relocate all attendees within the next two hours—if you can't agree, the event will be canceled. Three possible venues are nearby: City Library, Community Center, and School Gym. Each venue has different facilities and issues. The weather is turning hot and humid, and power outages have recently impacted the area. Your job is to pick the only venue that will safely accommodate all attendees for the full day of events without significant risks.
|
[
"The City Library has a large conference room and claims to be ready; it also has a known backup generator for power.",
"The Community Center is slightly smaller but centrally located; the staff report it's fully accessible and already evacuated in advance of the heat wave.",
"The School Gym has air conditioning, but it's older; the office says there may be issues with the restrooms. A city maintenance team is on its way but hasn't arrived yet.",
"Temperatures are expected to exceed 37°C (99°F) in the afternoon. Organizers worry about heat stress if backup power fails."
] |
[
"Library staff admit privately that their backup generator only has enough fuel for 2 hours and cannot be refueled due to a citywide gasoline shortage.",
"The School Gym's restrooms are being restored right now. The on-site janitor confirms that at least two working restrooms (with ventilation and water) will be available within an hour.",
"The Community Center basement has had a chemical leak that was just discovered today; the evacuation was for this, and it's only safe for short visits, not day-long events.",
"The main conference hall at College Hall flooded this morning and is closed for at least a week, so it's not available."
] |
[
"City Library",
"Community Center",
"School Gym"
] |
School Gym
|
I designed this task to force participants to need all four hidden facts to reach the right answer. The shared information (about the conference venues, weather, and schedules) biases everyone toward choosing the City Library, especially because it looks like the only option with confirmed backup power. However, each hidden fact rules out a different location but doesn't by itself reveal the correct choice. For example, the College Hall being flooded appears only in one hidden fact, ruling it out, but not suggesting anything else. The Community Center's evacuated status looks non-urgent unless you know the basement has a chemical leak—only revealed in another hidden item. The library's "backup power" from a generator is exposed as a risk due to gasoline shortages in another hidden item and the unventilated archive. Only by piecing together all these details does the group see that the College Hall and Library can't be used for safety or hygiene reasons—so the only acceptable option is moving the conference to the School Gym. If any one hidden item is missing, either the decoy (the Library) or a wrong option is left plausible.
|
12
|
evacuate_park_dilemma
|
You are serving on an emergency planning team for a scenic region hosting a national outdoor festival. As thunderstorms approach, authorities must evacuate everyone to safety. There are three official evacuation locations, all reportedly equipped and expecting displaced guests: Blueberry Ridge (a woodland lodge), Green Valley (a campground center), and Red Lake (a lakeside community hall). Authorities stress that time is short—you must urgently advise all festival-goers which evacuation site to use. You know that routes to all three seem open, but heavy rain may have caused unexpected damage or hazards. Only one option is safe, accessible, and prepared for immediate evacuation. Your group must recommend the best location based on the latest information, aiming to maximize the number of people evacuated safely.
|
[
"Roads leading to all three evacuation sites were inspected this morning and declared passable by local highway patrols.",
"Blueberry Ridge lodge has emergency power generators and a medical station; you hear that the lodge has started preparing rooms for potential evacuees.",
"Red Lake community hall has hosted large groups before, including last year's festival overflow, and reportedly received bulk food supplies earlier today.",
"The Green Valley campground recently had a pest outbreak, and you notice local authorities have posted warning signs. However, you hear that the main building is preparing cots and handing out blankets for arrivals."
] |
[
"Green Valley pest outbreak closure only applies to tourists; local officials have confirmed it remains open for emergency evacuations, with extra staff sent in.",
"An emergency text alert just announced that a sinkhole appeared across the only road to Red Lake, and law enforcement has closed the route.",
"All power at Blueberry Ridge went out midday, including backups. Emergency medical equipment is unusable and the location is only accepting those who can walk miles to reach it.",
"The bridge over Pine Creek, a key access point to Blueberry Ridge, collapsed in today's storm, cutting off vehicle access to the lodge."
] |
[
"Blueberry Ridge",
"Green Valley",
"Red Lake"
] |
Green Valley
|
I designed this task for four participants, choosing 'Blueberry Ridge' as the decoy. The shared information steers the group toward Blueberry Ridge because it features lodging and medical support, the road is reportedly recently cleared, and local authorities are preparing for arrivals. However, each participant gets a unique hidden fact undermining an evacuation destination: one shows Blueberry Ridge's power is out, another reveals a bridge washed out en route there, another says a pest outbreak has closed Green Valley, and the last tells that the path to Red Lake is closed due to a sinkhole. Only through discussion can the group realize that every option faces an obstacle, but only Green Valley's issue (pest outbreak) is not an immediate physical barrier to evacuation—the closure is only for tourists, not for emergencies (as implied in a hidden fact). If participants share all facts, they'll deduce that Blueberry Ridge and Red Lake are actually unreachable, and only Green Valley is plausibly accessible, with preparations for evacuees ongoing. If they only have their own clue, every Blueberry Ridge problem appears temporary or surmountable (or doesn’t outweigh the advantages), so the group will be misled toward that decoy. If any clue is missing, ambiguity is left. All hidden items are necessary for the solution, passing all checks.
|
13
|
Laboratory Theft Deduction
|
You are members of a security review panel at a major university, investigating the theft of a prototype device from a tightly controlled building. The theft took place during a two-hour window last night, and records show only three labs had access to the secure vault. University leadership wants you to identify the lab responsible for the theft before pressing charges. You have limited time to reach a consensus based on access records and witness reports. If you choose correctly, the investigation can proceed with minimal fallout. A wrong accusation will damage innocent reputations. After discussing with the three other panel members, you must jointly decide which lab committed the theft. You must be sure, as each lab head has powerful legal representation and will dispute any shaky accusations.
|
[
"The theft could only have occurred using a specialized code machine. Only Lab Alpha is openly recorded as having this tool.",
"All labs reported their staff were present on site during the night, and security footage showed movement in all three corridors during the time of the theft.",
"Lab Alpha has a history of security violations, including code access issues in the past month."
] |
[
"Security camera logs show Lab Alpha’s code machine was checked in and never left their lab during the two-hour window.",
"A technician’s badge from Lab Beta was used to enter the building, but building entry and exit logs show no one from Beta ever left until the morning shift change—so they could not have moved the item outside.",
"Lab Gamma’s staff reported one person missing from headcount, but building security specifically reports only three badge entries for Gamma during the time window—matching authorized access for device maintenance at the vault.",
"A janitor’s log shows all staff from Lab Alpha, including the lead technician, were visible in their break room for the entire two-hour period, and the break room is in a different building than the secure vault."
] |
[
"Lab Alpha",
"Lab Beta",
"Lab Gamma"
] |
Lab Gamma
|
Step-by-step reasoning: I chose a scenario with four participants (so four pieces of hidden info). The options are three research labs where an important piece of evidence is located. The shared information suggests Lab Alpha is the prime suspect due to its unique equipment and suspicious timing—making it a strong decoy. The hidden facts disqualify Lab Alpha from four different, non-overlapping angles (security records, timelines, access logs, and a missing staffer). None of the hidden facts alone is sufficient: each, paired with the shared info, still leaves Alpha looking likely. Only when all hidden facts are pooled do they eliminate every lab except the true culprit (Lab Gamma), which alone fits all details without contradiction. If any hidden item is missing, either Lab Alpha or Beta could still be plausible, hence all are essential. This design forces information sharing and collaboration for the group to succeed.
|
14
|
lunch_group_decision
|
You are a group of colleagues tasked with deciding where to host your team's celebratory lunch. The team includes vegetarians and one person with a severe shellfish allergy, all prefer a quiet atmosphere, and no one has a car, so the restaurant should be within walking distance. You have three choices: Restaurant A, Restaurant B, and Restaurant C. All are nearby and usually considered by your group. To maximize the group's enjoyment and ensure safety, you must select the only suitable option given today's circumstances.
|
[
"Restaurant A is offering a new seafood combo for lunch, but also has its regular vegetarian dishes.",
"Restaurant B just updated its menu with more vegetarian options and is known for being very quiet at midday.",
"Restaurant C has recently renovated its dining area, and offers a mix of cuisines; while they're usually a bit noisy, they're walkable and easy to access."
] |
[
"The local health department issued a warning this morning about a norovirus outbreak among cooks at Restaurant A.",
"Restaurant B accidentally cross-contaminated their kitchen with shellfish last night, so today it's not safe for those with shellfish allergies.",
"A private event has booked most of Restaurant C today, but the secondary dining room is still open to the public.",
"There is a known power outage at Restaurant C, affecting only the main kitchen, but their cold menu (salads/sandwiches) is fully available from a prep area with emergency backup."
] |
[
"Restaurant A",
"Restaurant B",
"Restaurant C"
] |
Restaurant C
|
I chose four participants and three options: Restaurant A, Restaurant B, and Restaurant C. Restaurant B is set up as the decoy because the shared information makes it seem the safest and most appropriate option at first glance (has vegetarian menu, quiet, and easy to reach). Each hidden fact eliminates one option—one reveals a power outage at C, one a norovirus at A, one a serious allergy exposure at B, and one closes C due to a private event. The trick is that each individual with just the shared facts and their own hidden info will still pick B as it appears safest. Only when all hidden facts are pooled do you see that B is ruled out (due to unique allergen incident for your group only), A is ruled out (due to norovirus infection risk), and C is eliminated twice for separate reasons. Yet, the private event at C has an asterisk: while the main hall is booked, a secondary dining room is available and not closed, which is only referenced in one hidden note. Only through discussing all of this does the group realize that Restaurant C is the only feasible, safe place for their lunch, even though alone, each person would have been misled by the partial picture.
|
15
|
artifact_safe_haven
|
A priceless ancient artifact has just been unearthed in your city. Authorities task your team with deciding where to safely store it for 24 hours until the national museum can collect it. The city is experiencing rising river levels after days of storms, and several neighborhoods have intermittent power outages. You must quickly agree on the safest location for the artifact. The options are:
- City Bank: Modern steel vault, backup generator, but in an area at risk for power outages and flooding.
- University Library: Centrally located, 24/7 security, and not known to flood.
- Downtown Police Station: High security, but rumored to be crowded due to emergency shelter duties.
|
[
"The University Library is built on higher ground and has never experienced flooding, making it a trusted location for safe storage of rare books and documents.",
"The City Bank's vault is rated for both fire and water, and a backup generator was recently installed.",
"The Downtown Police Station is acting as a temporary shelter and has significantly more traffic than usual, including people seeking refuge from flooded homes."
] |
[
"A government memo sent to police leadership confirms that a secure evidence room—separate from the public shelter area—remains unused and can be made accessible for artifact storage immediately.",
"The University Library's 24/7 security detail will be off-site for a mandatory citywide training drill tonight, and only basic staff will remain during the night.",
"The road to the University Library is blocked by downed trees from the storm and will not be open for at least another 24 hours.",
"Power company officials confirm that the City Bank's backup generator is due for repairs and has not functioned during recent outages."
] |
[
"City Bank",
"University Library",
"Downtown Police Station"
] |
Downtown Police Station
|
I designed this task with four participants and three possible options for safe storage of a valuable artifact. The shared information is structured to suggest that the University Library is the best choice: it has security, is well-known, and isn't prone to flooding. However, this is a decoy. Each hidden item eliminates one of the possible options or introduces a detail that casts decisive doubt. Individually, each participant will still be swayed by the shared facts toward the University Library. Only when the group pools all hidden information will they realize the following: the university library's security protocol is compromised by a scheduled drill (making it vulnerable), the City Bank's vault will experience a dangerous power outage, and the police station is the only viable, secure, and accessible option. Removing any one hidden item weakens the case: the risk to the bank or the vulnerability of the library isn’t as strongly established. Only by pooling all pieces does the group securely eliminate the decoys and correctly select the police station.
|
16
|
Crisis Backup Decision
|
Your company’s IT systems have just suffered a major ransomware attack. Senior management is demanding you make an immediate group decision: choose where to send the next full backup copy of all systems. You have contracts in place with three geographically separate data centers—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie—each with a track record of reliability. Only one can receive the backup now (due to bandwidth limitations), and there's no opportunity to create a second backup for at least a week. If the chosen center fails, company data may be permanently lost, so your group must agree which site offers the best security and continuity under urgent conditions. Each of you has received a short briefing: some details are shared; an additional confidential update has been given to each person, which might affect your assessment of the risks.
|
[
"Data Center Bravo is currently rated as having the best firewall and intrusion protection according to the latest independent audit report.",
"Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie all report no power outages or physical damage in the past year.",
"The company’s legal department says any site failure could have major regulatory consequences; the primary concern is ensuring the backup stays both physically secure and rapidly accessible.",
"The latest IT operations dashboard reports Alpha is busiest but still within normal usage; Bravo and Charlie at normal load."
] |
[
"Bravo has just received a legal notice from a government agency about possible asset freezes due to an ongoing investigation; details are not being shared publicly yet, and services may be disrupted pending developments.",
"Construction crews are scheduled to do electrical maintenance near Data Center Alpha within the next 24 hours, with a risk of power cuts (but the data center has not announced an outage).",
"A cable cut near Data Center Charlie last month has been fully repaired, and the center has recently passed an extra security audit prompted by that incident.",
"An internal alert notes Bravo’s site manager for this weekend is a temp unfamiliar with emergency protocols, but nothing has gone wrong so far."
] |
[
"Alpha",
"Bravo",
"Charlie"
] |
Charlie
|
I wanted a scenario where the shared information very plausibly points everyone to a seemingly safe (but incorrect) choice, unless all hidden information is pooled. Here, there are four participants. The group must choose the safest site for a company data backup after a ransomware incident, picking among three data centers. Shared info suggests Data Center Bravo is the top option—highest firewalls, no known outages. Every individual's hidden info reveals a different site vulnerability or impending risk, but none alone is enough to override Bravo (the shared favorite). Only by combining all hidden facts do they realize that Bravo is at a secret litigation risk, Alpha is about to have a construction power cut, and Charlie alone is both available and secure. Removing any hidden item means there are at least two plausible options left. Thus, full group sharing is essential.
|
17
|
scientists_animal_base_decision
|
You are part of an international science team sent to set up a temporary research base in a remote part of West Africa, where a rare animal species was just sighted. You have limited daylight to choose the safest and most practical base location. Conditions include dense jungle, a wide river, and an open high plateau. The animal has not been studied before and is believed to be evasive. Four potential base sites are available: A) Deep Jungle Site, B) Riverbank Clearing, C) Hilltop Overlook, and D) Plateau Camp. You must select a base that is both accessible and safe from environmental and wildlife hazards. Time is short. If your group chooses the site that allows you to safely set up and observe the animal, your research will be a global breakthrough.
|
[
"Riverbank Clearing (Site B) is closest to multiple sighting locations and is described in a local guidebook as level ground with easy river access.",
"Local villagers say the Deep Jungle Site (A) has abundant fresh water and thick forest canopy, which is good for shade, though it's further from the roads.",
"Hilltop Overlook (C) has decent views and radio line-of-sight but rumors mention occasional landslides after rain.",
"Plateau Camp (D) is the most open and furthest from the animal's reported territory, making sightings potentially less likely."
] |
[
"Last week's rain caused mudslides that blocked the only road leading to Hilltop Overlook (Site C), making it unreachable by vehicle for days.",
"Local herders reported that the Deep Jungle Site (A) has become impassable due to recent flooding—current too strong for safe wading or boat access.",
"Plateau Camp (Site D) is the only area where the wind patterns don't carry biting insects from the swamp—other locations will have severe insect problems at dusk.",
"Park rangers set up camera traps last month and recorded nocturnal predators frequenting the Riverbank Clearing (Site B), making it highly dangerous at night."
] |
[
"Deep Jungle Site (A)",
"Riverbank Clearing (B)",
"Hilltop Overlook (C)",
"Plateau Camp (D)"
] |
Plateau Camp (D)
|
The scenario involves four scientists who must agree on the best location to set up a temporary base to investigate a rare animal sighting in an unfamiliar region. The shared facts highlight Option B (Riverbank Clearing) as optimal: it's described as safe, accessible, and uniquely promising for research. The hidden items each reveal specific, non-overlapping threats to EACH potential base—except one. Each threat is unknown to everyone but the holder of the relevant hidden item, so no single person can know the full risk picture. The decoy option (B) is made to look best with shared info. But each hidden item alone doesn't eliminate B, because they only rule out a different site. Only after sharing all hidden facts does B become disqualified—since it is uniquely threatened by local predators active at night (known to only one participant). The other hidden items rule out the other options for separate, credible reasons. Thus, only Option D (Plateau Camp) remains viable when all information is pooled. Removing any hidden item means the group can't uniquely identify that only one option is safe—the answer then becomes ambiguous. This structure guarantees full interdependence and fits the requirements perfectly: misleading shared context, pivotal and unique hidden contributions, and group-level solution clarity.
|
18
|
choosing_base_camp
|
You are leaders of a multi-national research expedition in a mountainous region planning to set up your central base camp for a two-week mission. There are three candidate spots: Camp Summit (high ground near a glacier), Camp Pinecone (forest edge near a river), and Camp Meadow (open grassland below a ridge). Each has some historical data and rumored risks, but no location is perfect. Your decision must be made within the next hour before dark. Weather, animal activity, equipment delivery, and avalanche danger all affect safety and logistics.
|
[
"Camp Summit is forecasted to have stable weather for the next 72 hours, making it seem the safest immediate location.",
"Site managers last week delivered extra cold-weather gear to Camp Summit, so supplies there should be plentiful.",
"Camp Pinecone had reports last year of bears near the river in early summer.",
"Camp Meadow is expected to get high winds tonight according to regional weather bulletins."
] |
[
"Wind speed projections for Camp Meadow have been revised upwards—tents there may not withstand the forecasted gale.",
"Delivery of additional food supplies for the expedition is delayed; only Camp Pinecone currently has emergency food rations stored.",
"The glacier overlooking Camp Summit was reported by the last survey team to have developed new cracks, making sudden avalanches possible if temperatures rise.",
"Bears in the region have moved further upriver for the season, and no recent sightings have been reported at Camp Pinecone in the last two months."
] |
[
"Camp Summit",
"Camp Pinecone",
"Camp Meadow"
] |
Camp Pinecone
|
I started by selecting four participants to allow for four unique hidden facts, maximizing the number of necessary clues. I chose three possible expedition camps as the options, with Camp Pinecone as the correct answer and Camp Summit as the misleading decoy favored by the shared info. The shared information mentions a weather forecast suggesting Summit is safe, gear already being stored at Summit, and possible issues at the other locations—all of which nudges participants toward Summit when considered alone or with just one hidden fact. Each hidden fact introduces an exclusive problem at one or more camps, and only by collectively pooling all four does the group realize that Camp Pinecone is the only one not eliminated by at least one critical issue. If any hidden fact is missing, more than one camp remains viable. Each clue is necessary: they collectively exclude the decoy and the third option, while no single clue is decisive. This ensures the group must communicate fully to solve the task.
|
19
|
city_storm_shelter_decision
|
As city council members, you must urgently direct residents of your district to one of three official storm shelters. A category 4 hurricane is hours away. Three locations are approved shelters: Blue River Community Center, Greenfield High School, and Oakridge Library. Under typical circumstances, Greenfield High School is preferred due to its size and facilities. Only one shelter is suitable now—some may be unreachable or unsafe due to specific storm impacts.
Your task: Based only on information available, discuss and agree on which shelter to send the residents to—choosing incorrectly could leave them exposed or stranded.
|
[
"Greenfield High School has backup generators and is well-stocked with food, water, and medical supplies. City plans list Greenfield as the district's primary hurricane shelter.",
"Blue River Community Center is smaller, has old backup generators, and sits near the river. It was used during the last minor storm.",
"Oakridge Library is recently renovated, but there are doubts about its hurricane readiness; some reports say roof repairs are incomplete."
] |
[
"Blue River Community Center's basement flooded an hour ago, and now the backup generators are submerged and inoperable.",
"Despite earlier concerns, Oakridge Library’s new roof passed emergency inspection yesterday; it is structurally sound and confirmed safe for shelter.",
"Floodwaters have already blocked the main avenue leading to Greenfield High School; alternate access from South Street is possible, but only for vehicles.",
"Trees are down blocking South Street, the only alternate access to Greenfield High School. Clearing could take hours with the storm approaching."
] |
[
"Greenfield High School",
"Blue River Community Center",
"Oakridge Library"
] |
Oakridge Library
|
I want the group to face a scenario where the shared information points toward a seemingly safe shelter (Greenfield High School). The hidden facts each undercut one possible escape route at a time. No single hidden fact alone lets someone discover the fatal flaw of the decoy, but together all the hidden facts show that Greenfield High School is inaccessible by all means. Only Oakridge Library, which seems least appealing at first, is reachable and safe once every secret is revealed. If someone considers only the description, shared info, and any single hidden fact, there will always be at least one way to get to Greenfield—or strong reasons to prefer it. But when every hidden item is pooled, it’s clear only Oakridge is viable. Removing any one hidden fact makes it possible for the group to talk themselves into the wrong (decoy) answer, since a potential avenue remains unblocked in their reasoning.
|
20
|
meteor_shower_shelter
|
You're on the surface of Mars at the research outpost 'Crimson 7'. An urgent planetary alert warns of a high-intensity meteor shower approaching. Your team's only chance of survival is to take shelter in one of three remote shelters: Alpha, Beta, or Gamma. You must choose quickly, because if you pick the wrong shelter, your entire group risks disaster. All shelters are reachably close, but previously, only one is checked per protocol at any given time. Each person has partial maintenance reports from the last safety inspection, with one unique update. Discuss and agree on which shelter to use!
|
[
"Shelter Beta is certified to be the most heavily shielded against impact, with sufficient supplies stockpiled for a week.",
"Shelter Alpha is closest to the main base, but last month there was a minor leak that was reportedly patched.",
"Shelter Gamma is the farthest away but had a new air purification system installed this week."
] |
[
"The repair log for Shelter Alpha indicates that after the leak patch, full pressure tests were completed and results were 'excellent'.",
"Sensors detected faint seismic vibrations beneath Shelter Beta, possibly indicating underground instability, but the report says 'requires further investigation.'",
"Shelter Beta's supply inventory shows a mysterious usage spike in oxygen canisters last night; the oxygen alarm system is overdue for maintenance.",
"Shelter Gamma's new air system was installed, but there was a recall notice for a faulty emergency ventilation back-up, and the needed replacement has not yet been delivered."
] |
[
"Shelter Alpha",
"Shelter Beta",
"Shelter Gamma"
] |
Shelter Alpha
|
I chose four participants to increase the complexity and ensure that no single person can deduce the correct answer without sharing. The shared scenario is urgent and consequential: as members of a planetary science research base, participants must decide where to seek shelter during a sudden, intense meteor shower. The shared facts clearly make Shelter Beta look safest: it is heavily shielded and has ample supplies, while Shelter Alpha seems possibly exposed (but nearby), and Shelter Gamma sounds good but less supplied. Each hidden fact undermines the 'obvious' decoy (Beta), revealing unique and decisive problems with each option, but only together do they reveal exactly which problems affect which shelters. Each piece of hidden information matter—together, they show that only Alpha is genuinely safe, as the others are either inoperable or in imminent danger. Removing any hidden item makes it impossible to conclusively select Alpha over the others, since one possible risk remains uncertain.
|
21
|
emergency_transportation_decision
|
You are coordinators transporting a group of volunteers to deliver urgent medical supplies and food to a remote village experiencing a seasonal flood. Friday evening, heavy storms have blocked local highways, and lodging spots may fill quickly. You have three possible destinations with different transportation modes:
- Aurora Train Station
- Borealis Bus Terminal
- Celestia Airstrip
Your task is to choose where to send the volunteer group to best ensure safe and timely arrival.
After everyone has voted, only one destination will actually be reachable for your group. If you pick correctly, your mission succeeds. If all participants pick correctly, you earn a bonus.
|
[
"Recent track safety improvements make the train to Aurora statistically the safest and most reliable route in such storms.",
"The main bus line to Borealis has not reported any delays yet this season.",
"The Celestia Airstrip lacks permanent shelters, and recent reports questioned whether it could handle larger groups in poor weather."
] |
[
"Local authorities just suspended all trains to Aurora after a landslide covered the main track last night.",
"A wildlife alert just closed the main access road to Aurora for emergency protection. No vehicle is permitted through until the alert is lifted.",
"The bus route to Borealis has been rerouted due to a bridge closure, with all arrivals delayed until the next day.",
"Celestia Airstrip completed emergency upgrades this week: it’s now able to service large groups and deliver supplies quickly. A mobile shelter and food stocks are on site."
] |
[
"Aurora Train Station",
"Borealis Bus Terminal",
"Celestia Airstrip"
] |
Celestia Airstrip
|
First, I designed a situation relevant to a group with partially overlapping but unique, hidden knowledge. There are four participants and three options: Aurora (train), Borealis (bus), and Celestia (air). Shared information suggests that the train to Aurora is the fastest and safest way because recent regulations improved track safety, while the airstrip to Celestia might appear unappealing due to a lack of shelter. The decoy is Aurora, favored strongly by shared info. For hidden items, I created four individual facts: one reveals the train to Aurora was suspended due to a landslide, another says the bus to Borealis was rerouted and now won't arrive until tomorrow, a third notes the airstrip to Celestia has just finished improvements making it fully functional and stocks emergency supplies, and the fourth states a wildlife alert just closed the main road to Aurora. Only when every hidden item is pooled can the group see that both Aurora and Borealis are eliminated, and Celestia's past weaknesses are resolved, making it the single viable answer. If anyone relies only on shared info and their own hidden fact, Aurora still seems safest. Each hidden item is necessary for ruling out at least one option, and omitting any item makes the choice ambiguous. Thus, the scenario requires group discussion and information sharing to find the correct answer.
|
22
|
Antarctic Storm Safe Haven
|
You and three other participants are scientists at an Antarctic research station. A massive, fast-moving storm is approaching. You must rapidly decide, as a group, which facility to seek shelter in for the next 48 hours. You have snow vehicles and limited time to reach only one location before the blizzard begins. Your three choices:
- Main Base: The largest facility, but farther away.
- Retreat Camp: A small, nearby camp rated for storms.
- Rescue Outpost: Smaller, medium distance, typically used for emergencies.
Whichever location you pick, you'll be unable to contact others until the storm passes. Supplies, infrastructure, and route safety may differ. Only one option will keep you safe and supplied until rescue teams arrive.
|
[
"A radio update confirms Retreat Camp is the closest shelter and is built to withstand severe weather.",
"Supply records say that Retreat Camp offers food, water, and sleeping bags for four people.",
"The snow vehicle has just enough fuel to reach any of the three locations before the storm hits, but not to try multiple.",
"The Rescue Outpost's exterior was recently checked and found structurally sound."
] |
[
"The most recent supply delivery to Retreat Camp was delayed, so the promised food and water may not be there.",
"Main Base appears to have uninterrupted generator power, working communications, and fully stocked rations according to a direct radio call just before the storm warning.",
"The snow route to Rescue Outpost is fully snowed in since the last storm; the path isn't navigable even with the vehicle.",
"Satellite imagery from this morning shows the ice bridge leading to Retreat Camp has collapsed, making it dangerous to reach by foot or vehicle."
] |
[
"Main Base",
"Retreat Camp",
"Rescue Outpost"
] |
Main Base
|
I designed a group decision task involving four participants, set in a research base in Antarctica. The shared information establishes the scenario: a severe storm is coming and only one research facility can be reached before it hits. Initially, the facts given strongly suggest that Retreat Camp (Option B) is safest, as it's closest and rated for extreme cold—seeming like the natural decoy. Each participant receives a unique hidden fact: one learns that the ice bridge to the decoy camp is broken (removing safe access by foot), another learns a crucial supply cache at the decoy is missing, another gets evidence that the third option is unreachable, and another learns that the third option (Main Base) still has working communication and backup heat. If any participant only combines the shared info with their hidden item, Retreat Camp (the decoy) remains the clear (but wrong) safe bet, because no single hidden fact rules it out. Only when all hidden information is shared can the group realize: the ice bridge to the Retreat Camp is gone, supplies are missing there, the Rescue Outpost is unavailable, and only the Main Base offers guarantee of survival and rescue—the hidden facts form the puzzle, forcing complete information sharing. Any missing hidden item means the Main Base can't be clearly identified as the sole safe outpost, meeting the requirements of the task design.
|
23
|
community_banquet_venue_decision
|
You are a member of a committee planning your community's annual banquet, which needs to be held this Saturday night due to scheduling conflicts. Your goal is to choose a venue that can accommodate everyone (about 90 guests), allow food catering, and is available on short notice. Three venues are under consideration:
- Lakeview Resort: By the lakeside with outdoor seating for 120.
- Grand Oak Hotel: Downtown, with a large ballroom.
- Heritage Public Library: Spacious meeting hall, central location.
You intend to decide quickly and secure the booking together. Each person receives one unique piece of information about venue availability or restrictions.
|
[
"Lakeview Resort has a history of providing excellent service and is free on most weekends, and is listed as having outdoor seating for up to 120 guests.",
"Grand Oak Hotel usually requires at least two weeks' notice for events but has the largest ballroom in the area and easy parking.",
"Heritage Public Library allows large gatherings in its event hall, but catering restrictions may apply (for non-packaged food).",
"All three venues are within a 15-minute drive for most community members."
] |
[
"The only access road to Lakeview Resort is closed due to flooding after this week’s storm and is expected to remain impassable through the weekend.",
"Grand Oak Hotel’s event calendar shows 'unavailable' online, but the events manager reports a scheduling software failure that blocks new bookings from appearing; last-minute bookings can be accepted by phone this week.",
"Public notices state that Heritage Library recently reinforced its no-outside-food policy after an incident, and now only sealed, pre-packaged snacks are allowed in the meeting hall, with no catering permitted.",
"Local authorities have warned that lakeside events could attract mosquitoes in this season, but the health department’s primary concern for this weekend is road safety."
] |
[
"Lakeview Resort",
"Grand Oak Hotel",
"Heritage Public Library"
] |
Grand Oak Hotel
|
I started by choosing a scenario suitable for four participants and three options, with 'The Grand Oak Hotel' as the correct answer. The shared information makes 'Lakeview Resort' look like the ideal venue: it has seating, is scenic, and is typically available. Each hidden clue blocks a different option: one rules out the resort, another blocks the library, others close possible loopholes. If participants only look at just their clue plus the shared info, the resort still appears best (the hotel seems unavailable, and the library has food restrictions). Only when everyone shares their unique hidden facts does the group see that the Grand Oak Hotel is the only viable venue: the resort's access road is flooded, the library's food ban stops the party, and last-minute bookings at the hotel are possible due to a tech glitch. If any one hidden fact goes unsaid, the elimination is incomplete (e.g., without knowing about the tech glitch, the hotel seems unavailable). Thus, the task requires real information sharing for the right answer to emerge.
|
24
|
Critical Data Backup Site Selection
|
You are IT coordinators at a national research institute. A sophisticated cyberattack is underway, targeting all your digital assets. You must immediately choose a site to physically deliver critical data for offline backup before the attacker can permanently destroy or corrupt systems. There are three candidate facilities:
- Mountain Server Farm (isolated, known for its robust network and backup power).
- Valley Research Annex (onsite security team and advanced air-gapped systems).
- City HQ Facility (main office building, older but recently renovated infrastructure).
Only one location is both reachable and appropriately secure under current conditions. Time is of the essence: the attacker may escalate at any moment, so the decision must be rapid and correct.
|
[
"Mountain Server Farm is on an isolated network and has backup generators in the event of a main power loss.",
"Valley Research Annex is monitored by a live security team and is equipped with air-gapped backup systems.",
"City HQ Facility just completed a major infrastructure upgrade, including new firewalls and physical barriers, but remains directly connected to the internet."
] |
[
"Emergency backup power at Mountain Server Farm was rerouted this morning to support a nearby hospital and is currently unavailable for the servers.",
"The Mountain Server Farm's isolated network has been down for the last 12 hours, and the local team is unable to restore connectivity.",
"The Valley Research Annex was bypassed by the attackers, but a security technician just discovered the main network routing switch was replaced with one loaded with hidden malware.",
"The City HQ Facility's recent renovation included installation of a separate, newly-laid internet line with verified security audits, and there is confirmation that the building is physically undisturbed."
] |
[
"Mountain Server Farm",
"Valley Research Annex",
"City HQ Facility"
] |
City HQ Facility
|
1. Chose four participants and three possible sites for a critical data backup after a sudden cyberattack. Only one is actually secure. The shared facts make 'Mountain Server Farm' (the decoy) seem safest: It's on an isolated network and has backup power, which suggests it's safe from the attack. Each person's unique hidden fact removes one layer of false safety: Person A's fact reveals that Mountain's isolated network is currently down (but this might not seem decisive alone); Person B's fact reveals the backup power for Mountain is being redirected for emergency medical use; Person C reveals the Valley site (another option) is physically intact but has a malware-infected routing switch, and Person D reveals the City facility (the correct answer) is physically undisturbed, and has just received a separate, clean internet line.
The decoy (Mountain Server Farm) continues to look best to anyone with just the shared info plus one hidden fact; missing any hidden fact leaves at least two plausible answers. But combining all clues shows that only the City facility meets all security and safety requirements (network, power, cleanliness, and physical integrity). Eliminating any hidden fact removes key proof—e.g., if you don’t know that Mountain’s backup power is gone, it might still be a plausible choice—or if you’re missing the clean-line info about City, it appears less trustworthy. Only the group, by sharing, can solve it.
|
25
|
select_emergency_shelter
|
You are members of a four-person emergency team tasked with finding a safe shelter for evacuees after a chemical plant accident in your area. There are four possible shelters within a 15-minute drive: Station Alpha, Station Bravo, Station Charlie, and Station Delta. Each is a former school building with some emergency resources, but their current conditions may vary. Time is short, and you must agree ASAP or risk losing all available beds. Everyone knows the main facts about each shelter, but each team member also has received a unique message from a different field agent about one specific site.
|
[
"Station Alpha was restocked with fresh food and bottled water yesterday. It has backup generators and was open for use last week.",
"Station Bravo has enough cots for 80 people and medical supplies but is closer to the chemical plant.",
"Station Charlie is further away and smaller, but is on higher ground and has solar panels for power.",
"Station Delta is the oldest building and sometimes has plumbing issues, but is currently empty. Maps show all roads to every station are open."
] |
[
"Community hotline reported that Station Alpha's ventilation system was unintentionally exposed to outdoor air after yesterday's accident. Test results show elevated toxin levels inside.",
"Field agent at Bravo reports air sensors detected low but abnormal readings, suggesting possible chemical contamination near Station Bravo.",
"Repair teams confirm that solar panels at Station Charlie are offline due to windstorm damage. The backup batteries are depleted and the station has no power.",
"Maintenance crew at Station Delta inspected all major systems this morning and confirmed water is safe, backup lights work, and no signs of contamination were found."
] |
[
"Station Alpha",
"Station Bravo",
"Station Charlie",
"Station Delta"
] |
Station Delta
|
I wanted to create a decision where the shared facts make 'Station Alpha' seem like the best and safest choice, as it has fresh supplies and backup power. However, every hidden fact eliminates one candidate when considered in total. Alone, each participant will always have a reason to believe Station Alpha is safe, since individual hidden facts only knock out one option at a time (and never Alpha). Only after seeing all hidden facts do they discover that Alpha is contaminated and unsafe, and only Station Delta is clear, accessible, and has working systems. Each hidden item is needed to rule out Bravo, Charlie, and then prove Alpha cannot be chosen. Removing any hidden fact means Delta can't be confirmed; so the full set is necessary.
|
26
|
manuscript_flood_shelter
|
Your town is facing historic, fast-rising river floods. You are part of a committee charged with relocating priceless ancient manuscripts from the museum’s basement to one of three possible emergency shelters with minimal time to spare. The town government, museum staff, and local emergency planners are all providing updates. Each location is typically secure, but the floodwaters are rising rapidly and unforeseen risks may emerge. After you vote, the manuscripts will be moved to the chosen shelter immediately. Only the correct location will guarantee their survival.
|
[
"The University Science Library (USL) was built last year with reinforced walls and sealed vaults located on the second floor, well above possible flood water levels.",
"The Hilltop Chapel, at the town’s highest point, has been designated a refuge for emergencies in the past, including prior floods.",
"Town Hall has a climate-controlled records vault on the main floor and is connected to the town’s emergency power grid."
] |
[
"Paramedics reported that lightning knocked down a major power line, blocking road access to the Hilltop Chapel. Emergency vehicles are unable to reach the chapel for now.",
"Town Hall’s armory—a potential chemical spill risk—has been completely cleared out for recent renovations, and the records vault doors were certified for watertight integrity after inspection last week.",
"Structural engineers just discovered a design flaw in the University Science Library: heavy rainfall causes water to accumulate on the roof, risking collapse of the upper vaults due to overloaded drainage systems.",
"Floodwaters have already begun entering the museum through the cellar, with water expected to reach Hilltop Chapel’s base within the next four hours if the rain continues."
] |
[
"University Science Library (USL)",
"Hilltop Chapel",
"Town Hall"
] |
Town Hall
|
I set this up with four participants, three answer options, and a scenario about selecting the safest location for storing priceless ancient manuscripts threatened by an impending flood. The shared info suggests all three sites are plausible, but tilts the group toward the University Science Library (USL) as the decoy: it appears modern, secure, and its vault is above the ground floor. Each hidden fact subtly undermines another option or supports uncertainty, but alone does not rule out the decoy. Only when all hidden facts are combined are crucial risk factors revealed: the USL building has a design flaw and will be vulnerable, the Hilltop Chapel is unreachable due to a fallen power line, and the Town Hall’s armory is empty so the records vault is safe from chemical hazards. With any one hidden piece missing, either the decoy or another non-correct answer is still defensible. But together, only the Town Hall remains free from known flooding, isolation, and other hazards. This forces participants to communicate and combine all hidden facts to reliably recognize the sole correct answer.
|
27
|
research_station_site_selection
|
You and three colleagues are members of a panel tasked with selecting the site for a new environmental research station. The government wants a location that is safe, accessible, and able to support heavy laboratory infrastructure for at least 10 years. The final decision must be made based on the facts available in today's briefing. There are three possible sites, and, while each has some drawbacks, one is the best by far. Your goal: Select the site that will allow the research station to operate safely, with minimal risk of disruption or forced relocation.
|
[
"Maple Valley has flat, cleared land with existing road access. Local towns have offered logistical support for construction crews. Basic infrastructure can be connected quickly.",
"Copper Lake is 15km from the nearest paved road, requires some land clearing, but enjoys pristine water sources and is sheltered from wind.",
"Pine Ridge is the most remote, accessible only by an old logging track, but has no record of flooding or landslides."
] |
[
"The only reliable access road to Pine Ridge has been repaired and upgraded recently for forestry vehicles, making it usable year-round for trucks as long as landslides are monitored.",
"Copper Lake's soil cannot support buildings taller than 1 story or heavy equipment without major reinforcement, due to deep unstable clay layers.",
"The geological survey revealed that Maple Valley sits directly atop a recently discovered major earthquake fault line, with significant tremors expected in the next decade.",
"A newly released government study says that the local community near Maple Valley is organizing protests against any new large-scale construction, as the valley is a designated cultural heritage landscape."
] |
[
"Maple Valley",
"Copper Lake",
"Pine Ridge"
] |
Pine Ridge
|
There are four participants and three possible sites for the new research station. The shared information paints Maple Valley (the decoy) as easily the most attractive option: it's accessible, has basic infrastructure, and is described as easy to build on. Each hidden fact throws doubt onto one or more options, but no single hidden item is enough by itself to rule out the attractive decoy. Only when all four participants share their hidden facts, it becomes clear that Maple Valley is in an active earthquake fault zone (dangerous), Copper Lake's ground can't support the heavy labs, and Pine Ridge—though remote—is the only site that can physically (though not so conveniently) support the new research station. Any missing hidden item means that either Maple Valley or Copper Lake could still look viable, so all are essential for reaching the correct answer. The shared facts alone set up a convincing but actually dangerous choice, and only the full pooling of information lets the group escape the trap.
|
28
|
Rescue the Lost Researchers
|
You are part of a crisis coordination team tasked with sending help to a group of scientists lost after a sudden storm in a remote national park. Their last known location (about 18 km away) is cut off from main roads, and time is running short before nightfall. You must quickly decide which route a rescue team should use to reach them safely. There are three potential approaches: crossing the Mountain Pass, following the River Route, or hiking the Forest Trail. Each has pros and cons, and only one route is truly viable. Your reward depends on picking the correct rescue route together as a team.
|
[
"The River Route has been reported as unusually calm today, and local rescue teams are already stationed at its mouth.",
"The Mountain Pass is well known among hikers, though prone to rockslides during storms.",
"The Forest Trail is the least direct path, potentially requiring extra hours of hiking.",
"Radio contact with the research team was lost about 5 hours after the storm began."
] |
[
"A local ranger reported heavy bear activity on the lower end of the River Route, making the path unsafe for unarmed teams.",
"An emergency bulletin revealed that the bridge on the River Route washed out this morning and won’t be rebuilt for at least a week.",
"Weather data predicts renewed strong winds at higher elevations, making the Mountain Pass too dangerous for passage tonight.",
"Satellite images showed a large rockslide completely blocking the Mountain Pass early this afternoon."
] |
[
"River Route",
"Mountain Pass",
"Forest Trail"
] |
Forest Trail
|
I started by choosing a familiar group decision scenario involving a lost research team needing rescue. There are four participants; three possible rescue paths (Mountain Pass, Forest Trail, or River Route); and Forest Trail is the correct answer. The shared info is designed so that, at first glance, the River Route seems like the best choice: it's said to be calm and local rescue teams are stationed there, giving a strong first impression. Each hidden fact appears to support or minimally contradict the River Route when paired with the shared info, but doesn't on its own point to Forest Trail. When combining all four hidden facts, however, the River Route is clearly blocked and dangerous, the Mountain Pass is impossible to access, and only the Forest Trail remains viable. I checked that with only one hidden item, the shared info plus that item will still leave participants leaning toward the River Route, and removing any one hidden item will prevent the group from confidently ruling out the River Route. All facts are necessary and non-redundant, each crucial to fully eliminate the decoy and single out the correct answer.
|
29
|
Safe Shelter Selection
|
You and three other council members must quickly choose which of three locations in your region should be officially designated as the emergency shelter for an oncoming storm. The shelter must be accessible, safe, free of environmental hazards, and have the capacity for hundreds of people. Only one site truly qualifies. Each site is in a different direction, and time is short. The three options: (a) Mountain Lodge, (b) Riverside Park, (c) Summerfield School. Your decision is urgent, as buses will soon be dispatched to one location only.
|
[
"All main roads to each shelter remain open as of the last public update, 20 minutes ago.",
"Mountain Lodge's bridge was inspected last month and passed safety checks; there are no weather alerts for the area.",
"Riverside Park has undergone recent upgrades to its facilities to accommodate large groups.",
"Summerfield School is regularly used for community gatherings and has backup generators."
] |
[
"Due to minor flooding on Oakcrest road, buses can only reach Riverside Park from the north side.",
"A landslide warning was just issued for Summerfield's region by the National Weather Service, effective immediately.",
"There is a confirmed chemical spill in the storage building next to Mountain Lodge reported just now by authorities; the substance is hazardous if inhaled and cleanup will take at least 12 hours to complete.",
"A tree has fallen on the north lane to Riverside Park, but the south lane remains clear according to a police report released five minutes ago."
] |
[
"Mountain Lodge",
"Riverside Park",
"Summerfield School"
] |
Riverside Park
|
I wanted to create a task with four participants and three options, with the decoy being the Mountain Lodge because the shared information (about the bridge being recently inspected and no weather alerts) suggests it's both accessible and safe. The hidden facts each provide an independent reason to rule out a possible answer (one blocks Summerfield, one reveals contamination at the Lodge, and two in combination block the Route to Riverside), so only by putting all four facts together can the group eliminate all but Riverside. If any single hidden fact is missing, then multiple options remain possible according to the facts, and the decoy (Lodge) would still seem best if the group is not sharing clues. Each hidden clue is essential: without #1, Summerfield isn't clearly ruled out; without #2, Mountain Lodge can still be chosen; without #3 or #4, Riverside Park could be unreachable and thus invalid. Thus, the design fits the eliminative, clue-combining requirements.
|
30
|
the_lead_investor_decision
|
You are co-founders of a startup that just received three offers from venture capital firms to lead your Series B funding round. Time is tight—you must select a lead investor within 12 hours to avoid losing all momentum. There are three possible firms: Peak Capital, Skylake Ventures, and Northstar Partners. Each seems attractive in its own way, but you only have partial information about their offers and constraints. The correct answer is the one that can definitely close the deal, on time, without unmanageable risk or hidden issues. Your task: discuss all available information to decide which investor you can reliably choose as your lead.
|
[
"Peak Capital is known for closing deals quickly; a partner says they can transfer funds within 3 days if terms are met.",
"Skylake Ventures requires at least one reputable co-investor to participate in a round before they can commit any funds.",
"Northstar Partners prefers to lead deals where the company has strong IP protection, and they've sometimes pulled out late after legal hiccups."
] |
[
"Peak Capital is being investigated for regulatory issues; their deal execution is currently on hold at the bank, and no new investments have been processed this month.",
"Skylake Ventures just finalized a co-investor partnership with a well-known angel group yesterday, meeting their usual requirements for a deal of this size.",
"Northstar Partners internally reduced their investment committee meeting schedule to once per month due to staff shortage; their next meeting is in three weeks."
] |
[
"Peak Capital",
"Skylake Ventures",
"Northstar Partners"
] |
Skylake Ventures
|
I started by choosing 3 participants and 3 possible answers centered around a tech company picking a lead investor for their next round. The shared information was crafted so the group initially leans heavily toward 'Peak Capital' (decoy), since it appears best positioned in terms of speed and reliability. Each hidden clue, distributed uniquely, weakens one aspect of this decoy (Peak) or the third option (Northstar), but never enough to force a different choice on its own. Only by combining all hidden information does it become clear that Peak cannot deliver the necessary funding, Northstar is riskier than it appears, and Skylake is the only realistic fit. Each clue is essential—removing any would leave multiple options viable. This ensures that correct group decision depends on full information sharing.
|
31
|
weather_sensor_deployment
|
You are part of a scientific team deployed to investigate unusual atmospheric phenomena. You must quickly decide at which of three sites to install your advanced weather sensor. Each site comes with advantages and risks. Communications are patchy and difficult, so you must rely on available information. Whichever site the group selects must both be physically accessible and able to support the equipment for at least 48 hours. If you choose the correct site, you will enable the team to capture essential data; otherwise, the study could fail entirely.
|
[
"Alpha Ridge is the highest elevation, with a flat summit suitable for equipment installation. Local forecasts predict intense atmospheric activity nearby.",
"Beta Valley is lower-lying and more sheltered, but there are reports of significant rainfall causing possible flooding.",
"Gamma Lake is accessible by road until the last 2 km, after which the only known trail becomes muddy and flooded during rainstorms."
] |
[
"A radio transmission indicates the bridge to Beta Valley has just collapsed due to floodwaters; all vehicles and personnel must avoid this route until repaired.",
"A recent geologist’s note (found on a desk) says Alpha Ridge’s summit is unstable after last month's landslide, and hauling heavy equipment up could risk collapse. The note is unsigned and not yet included in central updates.",
"An old cache of equipment logs reveals a small boat is moored at the southern shore of Gamma Lake, which can be used to cross the flooded trail and access the intended installation point, but only if known in advance.",
"An urgent message states that sudden gale-force winds will hit Alpha Ridge in the next few hours, making sensor deployment and equipment stability impossible for at least two days."
] |
[
"Alpha Ridge",
"Beta Valley",
"Gamma Lake"
] |
Gamma Lake
|
I wanted to create a scenario involving a group of scientists who need to deploy a weather sensor at one of three remote locations. Shared information makes Alpha Ridge look ideal—it's high, stable, and the expected site for strong weather activity, so it's the natural decoy. Each hidden fact provides a unique logistical or scientific obstacle, but alone they aren't enough to sway a participant from choosing Alpha Ridge: 1) Beta Valley seems blocked by flooding, 2) Gamma Lake appears to have access issues, 3) but there's a hidden severe wind issue at Alpha Ridge itself, and 4) Gamma Lake actually has a hidden boat available for access if obstacles are known, and avoids unique hazards the others face when all data are pooled. Only by combining all four hidden facts do the scientists realize Alpha Ridge is unusable, Beta Valley can't be reached, and Gamma Lake has unique, otherwise-hidden access. If any single hidden item is missing, the group can’t know for certain, since (for example) one could still think Beta Valley or Alpha Ridge is possible. Thus, the design ensures only full sharing reveals the correct answer.
|
32
|
critical_vaccine_route
|
You are a logistics coordinator for an international medical response team. A remote Arctic research base radioed in a request for an urgent shipment of a new vaccine after an outbreak. There are three delivery routes: A (Mountain Pass), B (Frozen Lake), and C (Old Supply Road). Each route has previously been used for deliveries, but recent conditions may have changed their safety. A strict delivery deadline means only one route can be chosen. The goal is for the group to decide together which route ensures the vaccine reaches the base safely and on time.
|
[
"Weather stations report mild snowfall. Winds are steady but within the normal range for this season.",
"Route A's snowplows were deployed yesterday, and road crews reported all clear as of 6 AM.",
"Route B is known for its reliability, used for most winter deliveries in past years. The base just received a report that the ice is thicker than average this week.",
"A research team driving via Route C last week reported limited radio contact and some branches blocking half the road. No structural damage to the bridge at its main river crossing was reported."
] |
[
"Route B is under a sudden quarantine order after a suspected case of viral hemorrhagic fever at a midway checkpoint; no unauthorized transit is allowed for at least 48 hours.",
"The main bridge on Route C was inspected in detail after the last snowstorm and certified as structurally safe, able to handle supply vehicles, despite local rumors.",
"A specialized snow rescue unit is only available for Route C tonight; for the other routes, backup would take 12+ hours to arrive.",
"An avalanche monitoring post flagged a fresh crack in the mountain, and geologists estimate a high risk of landslide across Route A within the next 6 hours."
] |
[
"Route A (Mountain Pass)",
"Route B (Frozen Lake)",
"Route C (Old Supply Road)"
] |
Route C (Old Supply Road)
|
I chose 4 participants and a scenario involving the delivery of a sensitive vaccine shipment to a remote research base. There are three possible delivery routes, and each one is favored by different features in the shared information. However, the shared info is written to heavily favor the wrong option: Route B, because it's described as having reliable prior success and active support. Each hidden fact eliminates one of the three routes or makes the right one viable—if only combined. No single hidden piece is enough to reject Route B by itself, because something about the route (such as timing or supply) lingers as plausible . Only by pooling all hidden facts does Route C emerge as the only option where the delivery can succeed without disaster—Route A suffers a newly detected landslide risk, Route B has a secret quarantine putting it off-limits, and only Route C (despite having limited comms and a predicted storm) ends up completely viable based on the clues together. Removing any hidden fact returns ambiguity because the group can’t conclusively eliminate the wrong routes. This ensures group communication is necessary and aligns with the requirements.
|
33
|
Critical Sample Transfer
|
You are a team responsible for transporting a life-saving, temperature-sensitive biological sample to a laboratory for immediate processing. The sample must be analyzed within six hours or it will be rendered useless. Three well-known research laboratories in neighboring cities have offered to help. You must quickly decide where to send the sample.
|
[
"Lab Gemini processed a record number of similar emergency samples last year; its cooling systems are state-of-the-art and always monitored.",
"Lab Atlas has a great reputation for reliability and always keeps at least two senior technicians on duty at all times.",
"Lab Nova recently completed a major renovation of its analytical laboratory, but until now has received few emergency transfer requests."
] |
[
"The main highway to Gemini is temporarily closed for repairs; only emergency vehicles are allowed through, but your sample transport van does not qualify as such.",
"Lab Atlas is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance on its freezers, leaving only one with a backup power supply—insufficient for samples as heat-sensitive as yours.",
"A city-wide power outage hit Nova two days ago, but the facility's newly installed generator fully restored functionality a few hours later, and Nova currently has all its equipment and staff available for rapid intake."
] |
[
"Lab Gemini",
"Lab Atlas",
"Lab Nova"
] |
Lab Nova
|
I wanted to design a task where participants are selecting a laboratory to transfer a crucial, perishable medical sample for urgent analysis. The shared information is structured so that Lab Gemini (the decoy) appears most reliable due to its pedigree and capacity, but this is misleading. Each hidden fact removes the viability of one or more options, but on its own, none excludes Gemini or confirms the correct answer. Only by pooling all hidden facts is it clear that Gemini is currently nonfunctional, Atlas can't handle the sample's requirements, and Nova (initially the least attractive) is uniquely able to perform the analysis in time and safely. I verified for each participant that with only their hidden information and the shared information, Lab Gemini still appears the best choice. Any missing hidden item means more than one lab appears viable. Meanwhile, all hidden items together precisely rule out each lab except the correct one, Nova.
|
34
|
Safe Haven After the Spill
|
You are part of a university field team conducting research in a rural region. Suddenly, a chemical spill at a manufacturing plant several miles away has triggered a region-wide alert. Everyone on your team must decide together where to relocate for safety and communication with authorities. You have very little time. There are three potential locations:
- Maple Lodge (a youth camp to the east)
- Pine Retreat (a cabin complex to the north)
- Cedar Station (an old ranger station to the south)
All locations are usually reachable in under an hour. Your goal: choose the only safe and reachable location, maximizing your team’s safety and your ability to coordinate with emergency services.
|
[
"Maple Lodge is listed on the evacuation plan as a safe site for chemical-related incidents.",
"Pine Retreat is farther from the spill than where you currently are.",
"Cedar Station is an older building, less commonly used, but the route to it is familiar to everyone on the team.",
"Maps indicate that all sites should have food and water supplies for at least 24 hours."
] |
[
"The latest radio advisory said the chemical cloud is drifting north, making Pine Retreat dangerous.",
"Emergency traffic updates say the only road to Maple Lodge has been washed out by heavy rains this morning, making it inaccessible by car or foot.",
"A team member just recalled that Cedar Station has a functional landline, backup generator, and emergency broadcast radio."
] |
[
"Maple Lodge",
"Pine Retreat",
"Cedar Station"
] |
Cedar Station
|
I designed this task for 3 participants in a scenario involving choosing a safe location for a field research team after a sudden hazardous chemical spill in the area. The shared info sets up 'Maple Lodge' as the best site: it is closer, officially listed as an evacuation point, and has food, but doesn't reveal any key risks or inaccessibility. Each participant’s hidden info provides one (different) crucial piece of information: (1) the spill is drifting north (blocks Pine Retreat), (2) the only road to Maple Lodge is washed out (blocks Maple Lodge), (3) Cedar Station has full communication gear and backup power (makes it viable). With only the shared info plus any single hidden item, the decoy (Maple Lodge) still appears safest: no fact individually rules it out. When all hidden facts are pooled, it is clear Maple Lodge cannot be accessed, Pine Retreat is unsafe because of the chemical plume, leaving only Cedar Station as an option that fits all constraints. If any hidden fact is missing (e.g., not knowing about the road washout), then the choice cannot be rationally narrowed to one answer.
|
35
|
the_safe_shelter
|
A sudden chemical spill in your city forces residents to evacuate to one of three emergency shelters. You and three other neighborhood coordinators must quickly decide which shelter is safest for your residents. The shelters are:
- Red House: east side, has basic amenities.
- Blue House: downtown, larger and recently renovated.
- Green House: north side, smaller but usually reliable.
All key city routes are technically open and reports are still coming in about traffic or access. Your group must ensure everyone is sheltered from the chemical threat and any other potential hazards.
|
[
"The city government announces that the Blue House is currently open, the lights are on, and volunteers have started arriving.",
"Red House suffered flooding earlier this month, which caused minor water damage, but repairs were reportedly completed last week.",
"Supplies are limited at Green House, but the electricity grid in the north side is usually more reliable than other areas.",
"There is an ongoing, but not officially confirmed, rumor about possible gas leaks near the city center."
] |
[
"An energy company alert says a fallen line is blocking the north-side exit, making Green House temporarily inaccessible by car; repair crews estimate 4+ hours before road access returns.",
"The main bridge into downtown (toward Blue House) is closed for emergency inspection following a strange odor detected at the checkpoint.",
"A city official quietly mentions that recent renovations at Blue House did not replace the outdated gas pipes, which run underneath the main dormitory.",
"A Red Cross coordinator says the replacement supplies at Red House were taken by mistake by an outside organization, but backup supplies are scheduled to arrive within an hour and there is enough bottled water to last that long."
] |
[
"Red House",
"Blue House",
"Green House"
] |
Red House
|
This problem uses four participants and three possible answers (Red House, Blue House, Green House). Shared information is designed to suggest the Blue House is safe: the government says power is on, people are arriving there, and there's food. However, each hidden clue subtly undermines each location in a different way, but only when combined is the real danger to the Blue House (gas leak) fully blocked, and Red House is cleared. Solo check: any hidden fact plus the shared info never rules out Blue House definitively, and all still seem plausible. Group check: with all hidden facts combined, Blue House must be ruled out (because of the gas leak and no way to reach it), Green House blocked by downed lines, leaving only Red House. Each hidden item removes a piece of doubt but is never sufficient on its own—removing any one, the correct answer is ambiguous.
|
36
|
datacenter_emergency_migration
|
You are IT administrators for a large company whose main datacenter has been crippled by a sudden fire. As a team, you must decide where to immediately re-route all mission-critical operations. Three separate backup datacenters are pre-configured as potential failover sites: Datacenter Alpha, Datacenter Beta, and Datacenter Gamma. Each location has hosted your traffic before, each is in a different city, and each uses different hardware and vendors for redundancy. Time is of the essence. Each of you has access to certain technical updates from your own department, but must consult together to make the final decision. You will be rewarded for successfully directing operations to the only datacenter that can safely take the load right now.
|
[
"Datacenter Beta is fully online, was just upgraded last month, and currently has low utilization.",
"Staff at Datacenter Alpha confirmed that their on-call engineers are present and have no scheduled maintenance today.",
"Datacenter Gamma is in a region with a minor flood warning but has never experienced significant downtime from weather.",
"Latency and cost are similar for all three options."
] |
[
"Datacenter Beta's recent upgrade involved new security software, and only yesterday a major vulnerability was discovered—which is not yet patched at Beta, but is patched everywhere else.",
"Due to a national internet routing issue affecting the city's main ISP, Beta faces possible external connectivity problems for at least several more hours.",
"Datacenter Alpha's main power feed was cut by the fire near your main site, and is currently running only on backup generators, with a maximum of 12 hours' capacity left.",
"Gamma's flood defenses have been inspected within the last week and confirmed fully operational; the actual flooding is minor and poses no threat to access or uptime."
] |
[
"Datacenter Alpha",
"Datacenter Beta",
"Datacenter Gamma"
] |
Datacenter Gamma
|
I designed this task for four participants, giving each an essential hidden fact. The scenario is a company deciding which datacenter to move critical operations to after a failure at their main site. The three options (Datacenter Alpha, Beta, or Gamma) seem equally plausible, but shared facts make Datacenter Beta look like the natural, safe choice. Each hidden item eliminates specific options, but never enough alone to select the correct answer. Only with all hidden facts does it become clear that only Datacenter Gamma is both available and secure. For example: one hidden fact excludes Alpha due to an outage, while another reveals Beta is undergoing a risky, dangerous update that only becomes a problem when combined with knowledge of current usage. If a participant considers only the public info and their own hidden fact, Beta still looks best. If any hidden fact is missing, two options always appear plausible. But when all four hidden facts are combined, only Gamma remains possible. This encourages both evidence-sharing and careful elimination in the group discussion.
|
37
|
emergency_warehouse_selection
|
A severe storm has knocked out power and damaged roads in your region. Emergency relief supplies (food, water, blankets) must be distributed as soon as possible from one central warehouse. You and three other team leaders must pick which of three available warehouses will function best as the main distribution hub for the next week. Weather forecasts say more storms may hit, so a wrong choice could leave the region without supplies. You have verified that trucks can reach all warehouses at the moment, and each warehouse lists similar supply volumes and space. The three warehouses are: Bayview Warehouse, Central Depot, and Hilltop Storage. One choice is best. You must make your recommendation now.
|
[
"Central Depot is closest to the highway and has a modern loading dock system for fast truck turnaround.",
"Hilltop Storage's security fence was damaged in the storm but the building appears intact.",
"Bayview Warehouse is further from the main population center but reports say access roads are clear.",
"Power has been restored in the area, but some locations still report generator issues."
] |
[
"Bayview Warehouse lost half its roof in the storm and cannot keep supplies dry in tonight's rain.",
"Local government inspectors found the foundation of Central Depot is at risk after nearby flooding.",
"Central Depot's backup generator was destroyed by lightning and can't be fixed for several days.",
"Hilltop Storage is the only site that did not lose any personnel and has a full staff to unload and pack supplies."
] |
[
"Bayview Warehouse",
"Central Depot",
"Hilltop Storage"
] |
Hilltop Storage
|
I designed this task for four participants. The scenario is a disaster response setting where a town must decide which warehouse to use as the main distribution center for emergency relief supplies. There are three warehouse locations: Bayview Warehouse, Central Depot, and Hilltop Storage. The shared info clearly suggests that Central Depot is ready and seems the best. Each person's hidden info gives a reason why Central Depot (the decoy) seems extra promising, or doesn't contradict it. However, each hidden item also removes a critical feature of one of the warehouses. Only by sharing all four can participants uncover issues with Central Depot (e.g., flooding, key damage, labor shortages, or no working generator) which collectively rule it out, leaving Hilltop Storage as the only plausible choice. Any one hidden item isn't enough to disqualify the decoy. This setup ensures participants are pulled toward the decoy unless they fully share information, and every hidden item is needed to exclude the wrong options and identify the uniquely correct answer.
|
38
|
storm_recovery_clinic_site_selection
|
You are members of an emergency medical relief team sent to a region recently struck by a severe storm. Your role is to choose the best location for setting up a temporary medical clinic. Local authorities pushed for a quick decision to maximize the chances for rapid care delivery. There are four possible sites. You have basic facts about each one, and each of you has one additional, unique piece of local intel. Only one site will work safely and efficiently. Discuss and decide quickly: after today, the decision can't be reversed.
|
[
"Site A is in an open field with a large, undamaged tent structure already set up. The field is flat and local authorities suggest this location. Road access is clear, and it is closest to the main hospital.",
"Site B is a community sports center on the west side of town, featuring indoor plumbing and generator power. There is some cosmetic damage to the exterior, but no reported injuries or incidents from the storm at this site.",
"Site C is a hilltop park, previously used for small festivals. A parking lot can accommodate vehicles, but there is no existing shelter beyond restrooms. It is further from town but visible from most directions.",
"Site D is the local library, which was used as a shelter during the storm. The area around it saw minor flooding, but this has receded. The building has electricity and ADA ramps."
] |
[
"The only bridge that ambulances can use to access Site D was damaged in the storm—emergency vehicles cannot reach the library at this time.",
"Despite power at Site B, mold was rapidly found in the lower level and several people got sick after being there for only an hour.",
"Structural engineers have identified new cracks in a load-bearing wall of Site B; they say a collapse is possible if the weight on the upper floor increases sharply.",
"The river upstream from Site A is still rising rapidly, and flood warnings for that field have been issued for the next 24 hours."
] |
[
"Site A (Open field with tent)",
"Site B (Community sports center)",
"Site C (Hilltop park)",
"Site D (Library)"
] |
Site C (Hilltop park)
|
I chose a four-person task about selecting a safe site for a humanitarian medical clinic after a major storm. The decoy in the shared information is clearly Site A: all shared facts paint Site A as the best idea (flat ground, large tent, easy access, nearest hospital, local authorities recommend it). However, each hidden item reveals separate, non-overlapping reasons that eventually eliminate every site except Site C. Critically, each hidden fact alone is not enough to make one doubt Site A, because each problem either hasn't occurred (yet) or could be misattributed as not serious/a future risk. Not until all hidden items are shared does it become apparent: Site A will be flooded, Site B has major structural risk, and Site D is inaccessible by needed vehicles. Only Site C survives all constraints (on high ground, accessible, non-structurally risky). If any hidden item is missing, either A or B could still look plausible. Thus, coordination is needed; only with total information sharing does the group escape the misleading shared info and reach the single valid answer.
|
39
|
emergency_aircraft_landing_site
|
A passenger aircraft has experienced engine trouble and needs to make an emergency landing. There are three possible landing zones within range: LZ Alpha, LZ Bravo, and LZ Charlie. Each has its own pros and cons. Weather conditions are worsening rapidly. The pilot requests that you (the coordination team) quickly select the safest landing zone. Acting on incomplete information could result in disaster, but time is short. You must discuss and make a recommendation as a group. Only one landing zone is truly suitable; the others are too risky under current circumstances.
|
[
"LZ Bravo is the only site with full fire and medical crews standing by, and it has a recently resurfaced runway.",
"Local ATC reports that all approaches to LZ Bravo are currently clear of air traffic.",
"LZ Alpha is a basic airstrip used mostly for cargo flights, with minimal ground support.",
"LZ Charlie is a larger airport but is undergoing some repair work to minor taxiways. The main runway, however, is reported open.",
"Wind speeds are moderate at all sites according to earlier updates."
] |
[
"Despite reports of open runways, LZ Charlie's emergency power just failed, disabling all runway lighting and navigation aids.",
"A previously scheduled cargo flight to LZ Alpha was just diverted elsewhere, leaving the runway and landing approach completely clear for this arrival.",
"Flooding has just been observed at LZ Bravo, submerging the eastern third of the runway (which cannot be seen from the tower) and making safe landing impossible.",
"The most recent weather update now reports sudden crosswinds at LZ Charlie are exceeding safe landing limits for this aircraft type."
] |
[
"LZ Alpha",
"LZ Bravo",
"LZ Charlie"
] |
LZ Alpha
|
I designed this task with four participants and three possible landing zones for an emergency aircraft—Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. The shared information is intended to make Landing Zone Bravo appear to be the safest and best equipped, thus serving as the decoy that will heavily attract initial consensus. Each participant receives a unique hidden fact: each rules in or out a critical hazard at a given zone (unseen by others). No single participant's hidden information is enough to rule out Bravo: only by combining that Bravo’s runway is flooded, that Charlie’s winds are out of tolerance, and that Alpha’s approach path is clear, plus each zone's unique obstacles and advantages, will the group see that Alpha is the only real option left. If just one hidden clue is missing, the group may favor Bravo or remain stuck. Each hidden item is essential to the correct elimination. Thus, discussion and pooling is necessary to see that only Alpha is open, safe, and actually suitable under the full set of conditions.
|
40
|
emergency_hospital_transfer
|
You are a team of paramedics tasked with transferring an accident victim who needs urgent surgery within the next hour. There are three hospitals in range. The patient cannot survive transport longer than 45 minutes. You must together choose which hospital to drive to. Traffic disruptions have occurred elsewhere in the city, and not all hospitals may be able to accept emergency surgeries at this time. You have only one shot—the choice is irreversible, and delay may cost the patient's life.
|
[
"Lakeview Hospital is known for its large surgical team and usually has available ICU beds.",
"Riverbend Medical Center is smaller but specializes in trauma cases and is only 20 minutes away.",
"Meadow Valley General is 30 minutes away and recently upgraded its surgical facilities.",
"There is one ambulance with enough fuel for any of the options, and all main roads are reported open as of an hour ago."
] |
[
"Riverbend Medical Center lost power recently and is running on backup, with non-critical operations diverted.",
"Lakeview’s only on-call trauma surgeon just departed on an emergency airlift and won’t be available for four hours.",
"Lakeview ICU beds filled up in the last thirty minutes due to a multi-car pileup; the ER is now rerouting critical patients.",
"The main road leading directly to Meadow Valley is closed due to flooding, but an alternate route adds only ten minutes travel time."
] |
[
"Lakeview Hospital",
"Riverbend Medical Center",
"Meadow Valley General"
] |
Meadow Valley General
|
The scenario revolves around choosing the correct hospital for transporting a patient who needs urgent surgery. The shared information is crafted so that Lakeview Hospital appears the best due to its surgical capacity, ambulance availability, and proximity. Each participant receives one hidden fact: three eliminate access or suitability of other hospitals individually (e.g., roads closed or overbooked), while the last subtlely disqualifies Lakeview as well (e.g., their surgeon is gone for a different emergency). When any individual only has shared info plus one hidden fact, Lakeview still looks optimal, because with only one exclusion they default to Lakeview. However, if all hidden information is pooled, it becomes clear Lakeview is not viable, Riverbend is inaccessible, and the only option remaining with surgical ability and access is Meadow Valley. Removing any hidden item restores ambiguity because one hospital remains un-eliminated. All four hidden facts are required for the full picture and only through sharing do they reveal the unique correct answer.
|
41
|
Space Evacuation Decision
|
You are officers on a space station orbiting the Moon. A sudden solar storm has been detected, and you have only a short window to evacuate to a safe location before it hits. You receive a system-wide alert: all ground links are unstable; rapid decision-making is crucial. Your team must decide where to evacuate before loss of communication. Your three emergency evacuation options are:
- Orion Station (in lunar orbit; accessed directly by station shuttle)
- Lunar Base (surface habitat; accessed by lunar lander)
- Mars Colony (long-range hab, reached by long-duration shuttle, ~3 hours away)
All three should be accessible—but resource constraints mean only one evacuation can succeed for the whole group.
|
[
"Orion Station's docked shuttle is prepped for immediate departure and is ready to launch at a moment's notice.",
"Lunar Base reports reinforced shielding capable of withstanding solar storms for at least 24 hours—but no confirmation if air recyclers are working.",
"Mars Colony is farther away and requires a long-duration shuttle to reach, which will take about 3 hours at best speed.",
"There is only enough oxygen on Orion Station for about 8 hours."
] |
[
"An engineering message says the docking clamps on Orion Station's shuttle are jammed and would need 2-3 hours to unfasten under current power.",
"A message from Mars Colony says their landing pads have just been cleared for arrivals, and their backup life-support system is verified safe for incoming evacuees.",
"A critical oxygen recycling unit at Orion Station failed this morning; the real oxygen supply will last only 3 hours, not 8.",
"Recent seismic activity at Lunar Base damaged their airlocks, and they've been unable to completely seal off two habitat modules."
] |
[
"Orion Station",
"Lunar Base",
"Mars Colony"
] |
Mars Colony
|
I designed the task to follow the structure. There are four participants and three possible answers: Orion Station, Lunar Base, and Mars Colony. The shared information is intentionally written to make participants favor 'Orion Station' as the logical evacuation point: its shuttle is docked, there's an announcement confirming that, and its oxygen supplies will last for eight hours. The hidden facts address critical, non-obvious risks for each location—in particular, they all together demonstrate why Orion Station and Lunar Base are unsafe, leaving only Mars Colony as a valid choice. No single hidden item is enough to reach the correct answer: each on its own either eliminates a non-favored option or suggests additional risk but doesn't rule out the favored option (Orion Station). Only when all four hidden items are revealed do the participants see that Orion Station and Lunar Base will both run out of oxygen in less than eight hours, and only Mars Colony is reachable in under four hours and is safe from the solar storm. Omitting any one hidden fact makes at least one of the decoy locations still seem viable. All hidden items are critical and unique, and only by sharing them does the correct answer become obvious.
|
42
|
safe_haven_decision
|
A wildfire is rapidly approaching the rural town of Pine Valley. Local authorities have ordered an immediate evacuation. As leaders of four volunteer teams, you and your peers must select the safest shelter to which all residents can be moved within the next 3 hours. There are three potential shelters:
- Mason's Cabin: A sturdy mountain cabin known for surviving past storms.
- Riverside Shelter: A newly-renovated community center near the river.
- Eagle Ridge Lodge: A ski lodge atop a ridge, further from town but equipped as an emergency relief site.
The weather forecast reports shifting winds. Phone networks are unstable, and you must make this decision via a brief radio conference.
|
[
"Riverside Shelter is currently the easiest route from town, and emergency food deliveries are expected to arrive there in 2 hours.",
"Eagle Ridge Lodge sits at the highest elevation and is the furthest drive. It has backup generators, but there's uncertainty if they've been refueled for this season.",
"Mason's Cabin is closer to town but lies at the end of a single dirt access road.",
"The bridge by Riverside Shelter was inspected last week and found in good condition."
] |
[
"The local clinic's doctors and ambulance are stranded on the west side of the river, unable to reach Riverside Shelter due to road closures upstream.",
"An inspection team confirmed this morning that Eagle Ridge Lodge's backup generators are fully fueled and operational, despite earlier uncertainty.",
"A rockslide earlier today has partially blocked the dirt road to Mason's Cabin, making it impossible for buses or emergency vehicles to pass, and clearing will take more than 24 hours.",
"Fire crews have warned that embers are landing near Riverside Shelter, and a change in wind could cause a rapid spread toward the bridge within the next few hours."
] |
[
"Mason's Cabin",
"Riverside Shelter",
"Eagle Ridge Lodge"
] |
Eagle Ridge Lodge
|
Step-by-step, I designed a scenario with 4 participants (so 4 hidden facts), three options (Mason's Cabin, Riverside Shelter, and Eagle Ridge Lodge), and made Riverside Shelter the main decoy. The shared info is crafted to make Riverside Shelter look most reliable: it's newly renovated, currently accessible, and expected to have deliveries soon. The correct answer is Eagle Ridge Lodge. Each hidden clue reveals a crucial failure of the decoy or gently sets up the correct option, but no single clue is decisive. For example: one says a bridge near Riverside will likely become impassable, another that Eagle Ridge (otherwise less appealing) actually has working backup power, another mentions a medical team stranded (so won't make it to Riverside), and the last reveals the only route to Mason's Cabin has a landslide. Any solo participant will see flaws in some options but no single hidden fact is enough to break their trust in Riverside alone. Only by combining all will the group see Riverside is soon totally cut off, Mason's Cabin is inaccessible, and Eagle Ridge is both available and uniquely resourced. If any clue is missing, either Mason's or Riverside could still seem plausible, so full info-sharing is required.
|
43
|
The Artifact Delivery
|
Your team is tasked with ensuring the safe delivery of a vital energy artifact needed to restore the region's power grid after a blackout. There are three facilities that could receive the artifact: Aurora Station, Beacon Post, and Canyon Depot. Each site has been used for similar deliveries in the past, but complex conditions due to the blackout make this delivery especially difficult. Communications are partially down, so each of you receives a special update from a different source on the ground, but you have only a few minutes to make a final delivery decision as power must be restored urgently. The artifact will only function if delivered to a location that meets precise criteria for access, security, and operational readiness.
|
[
"Aurora Station broadcasts the only still-active emergency signal requesting delivery and appears to have security personnel on-site.",
"Road sensors suggest recent vehicular traffic toward Aurora Station but not toward other sites.",
"Beacon Post and Canyon Depot both lacked updated communication logs as of an hour ago.",
"Official logistics records list Aurora Station as the primary candidate for artifact storage during emergencies."
] |
[
"Security personnel at Aurora Station were evacuated in the last 30 minutes due to a hazardous chemical leak.",
"Beacon Post's loading bay was blocked by a landslide this morning; only Canyon Depot has an accessible loading area.",
"The energy artifact requires a functioning climate control system: Aurora Station's system failed during the blackout and is still offline.",
"The only bridge leading to Aurora Station was reported collapsed an hour ago by a search drone."
] |
[
"Aurora Station",
"Beacon Post",
"Canyon Depot"
] |
Canyon Depot
|
I designed the task for four participants, with three possible locations for an artifact to be delivered: Aurora Station (decoy), Beacon Post, or Canyon Depot (correct). The shared info strongly suggests Aurora Station is the best choice, as all environmental signals point there, and logistical data hints at it being the obvious recipient. Each hidden item blocks Aurora Station (the decoy) in a different way, but no single hidden item is sufficient to prove this. Only when all four hidden facts are combined, it becomes clear no supply vehicle can reach Aurora Station, and only Canyon Depot satisfies all conditions. Removing any one hidden fact among the four means the group can't definitively rule out Aurora Station or pinpoint Canyon Depot as the only option. The task is structured so that coordination and full info-sharing are necessary to avoid falling for the initial misleading decoy.
|
44
|
Choosing the Safe Offsite Venue
|
You are part of a four-person team planning a critical company offsite event set for tomorrow. The event must proceed as scheduled, and all the most important clients and company leaders are set to attend. However, a city-wide transport crisis has just broken out: major subway lines are shut down, roads are jammed due to a multi-car pileup, and forecasts predict severe weather later in the day.
You have three potential venues ready to go. Each provides similar meeting facilities and catering, but due to the evolving crisis, it is vital to pick the venue that everyone can actually reach, that will not become isolated, and where basic services (food, power) will be reliable. Your team's decision is final and must be made quickly.
|
[
"Downtown Hotel is on the main metro line with many taxis queued up nearby.",
"The Riverside Conference Center has backup power and is outside of the most congested traffic zones.",
"Hilltop Retreat is accessible by two highways and has plenty of parking, though it lacks standard public transport connections.",
"All venues currently have food for 100 attendees and backup generators."
] |
[
"The city power company advises that the Downtown Hotel's generator needs immediate refueling, and with traffic at a standstill, fuel can't reach it in time. The hotel risks blackouts if the outage lasts more than an hour.",
"The main bridge to Riverside Conference Center has just been shut for emergency repairs due to a crack found after an aftershock earlier today.",
"An urgent news report says that flooding has started at key subway stations serving Downtown Hotel, and authorities expect the metro line to close soon.",
"The alternate highway to Hilltop Retreat is partially blocked by fallen trees: only the main highway remains open, and it is slow, but passable with caution."
] |
[
"Downtown Hotel",
"Riverside Conference Center",
"Hilltop Retreat"
] |
Hilltop Retreat
|
I started with a scenario involving four coworkers tasked with choosing the best venue for an important company offsite during a sudden city-wide transportation crisis. I chose three possible options (Downtown Hotel, Riverside Conference Center, Hilltop Retreat), with the shared facts strongly favoring the 'Downtown Hotel.' Each hidden fact alone further nudges participants toward Downtown, but together they clearly rule it out. The combination of all hidden facts leaves only Hilltop Retreat as viable. I verified that with any single hidden fact, the shared info plus that fact does not clearly identify the correct answer, but with all hidden facts, only Hilltop fits. Each hidden fact is necessary: remove any one, and doubt about Hilltop returns. This design fulfills all requirements.
|
45
|
Safe Lab Choice After Earthquake
|
You are four scientists tasked by the government to analyze a dangerous new virus as quickly as possible to inform emergency pandemic responses. Three laboratories—Lab Alpha, Lab Beta, and Lab Gamma—are available. An earthquake struck earlier today, causing possible damage throughout the facility. Time is critical: you must start the research within the next several hours.
Each lab has unique equipment and safety features, but you must choose only one. All labs are typically considered safe, but the earthquake may have altered the situation. If you choose the only truly safe and operational lab, the research can proceed. If not, vital evidence could be lost, causing setbacks to containment efforts.
|
[
"Lab Alpha contains specialized virology equipment but is located in the basement.",
"Lab Beta is on the second floor and was recently reinforced for earthquakes; all chemical storage in Beta remains secure after the quake.",
"Lab Gamma is on the top floor, farther from emergency exits, but has an independent air filtration system that passed government inspection last month.",
"Power is restored to all labs except Gamma, which is still on emergency battery backup."
] |
[
"Structural engineers found a major crack in a supporting beam underneath Beta’s floor that worsened since initial inspections—unexpected aftershocks are expected within the next 24 hours.",
"All scheduled deliveries of reagents for virus research were mistakenly routed to Gamma and have now arrived there—but have not been delivered to the other labs, which now lack key supplies.",
"The emergency battery in Gamma has enough charge to last twelve more hours, which is enough for the critical first phase of the experiment, and the air system continues to operate independently regardless of main power.",
"Water is leaking into Lab Alpha from cracks in the basement wall, creating a risk of flooding and electrical hazards."
] |
[
"Lab Alpha",
"Lab Beta",
"Lab Gamma"
] |
Lab Gamma
|
I chose a scenario where four scientists must identify the only safe laboratory for conducting urgent research on a new virus after an earthquake. The shared information makes Lab Beta look like the obvious safe choice (it's built for earthquakes and has secure chemicals), while the other two have plausible-sounding but immediately disqualifying issues on the surface. However, each hidden fact eliminates a lab based on unseen dangers that only become clear when pooled—all four hidden facts together specifically exclude both Labs Alpha and Beta, leaving only Lab Gamma. No single scientist, given only shared info and their own hidden fact, can conclusively rule out the decoy (Beta); only group discussion reveals the solution.
|
46
|
emergency_evacuation_center_choice
|
You are a member of an emergency coordination team tasked with directing a group of visitors to the safest available evacuation center after a sudden chemical spill in your town. Three centers are prepared: Riverside School Gym, Hillside Community Center, and Downtown Library Hall. A recent flood warning has complicated the situation, and you must make a group decision swiftly.
|
[
"All three evacuation centers have enough space to hold the evacuees.",
"Hillside Community Center has working power and backup generators.",
"Riverside School Gym is closer to the river and sometimes floods during heavy rain.",
"Downtown Library Hall is farther from the spill and on high ground, but it's older and less often used for emergencies.",
"Local authorities recommend against Riverside School Gym if there’s a flooding risk."
] |
[
"A water main break means that the Hillside Community Center currently has no potable water or restrooms available.",
"Tests of local air quality show that the air inside the Downtown Library Hall has high levels of chemical vapor due to faulty air intake filters.",
"Fire department reports confirm that the Riverside School Gym is fully dry and the latest flood warning only applies downstream, not to this facility.",
"The road leading to Hillside Community Center is blocked due to a large fallen tree; there is no way to detour as of this hour."
] |
[
"Riverside School Gym",
"Hillside Community Center",
"Downtown Library Hall"
] |
Riverside School Gym
|
I designed this task for 4 participants and 3 possible evacuation centers. The shared facts strongly imply that Option B (Hillside Community Center) is the safest and most practical choice: it’s open, has power, and a backup generator, plus it’s familiar to most participants in emergencies. However, each hidden fact reveals a different problem: the first uncovers that a route to it is now blocked; the second that an essential supply (water) is unavailable at B due to a recent main break; the third that it has an undetected hazard; the fourth that the correct answer (Option A, Riverside School Gym) actually is safe from flooding despite initial worry. Only by sharing all hidden facts can the group see that both B and C are impossible and A is reliable. Each hidden item removes a plausible decoy (B or C), and A is only uniquely viable if every hidden fact is pooled. If anyone is missing, Option B (the decoy) remains too attractive. I checked: with only the shared info and one hidden, B still looks best; with all, only A is left. Removing any one hidden removes A's unique status. Thus, every clue matters and the task matches all rules.
|
47
|
Find the Missing Prototype
|
You are part of a crisis response team at a technology company the morning after a high-security incident: the company's new prototype device disappeared overnight. The CEO has called a meeting to coordinate the investigation and recover the prototype before the press arrives in three hours. The device is too large to have been taken out of the main office building, so it must be somewhere on this floor.
Your Task:
You and three other team members must decide where to search first. There are three candidate locations:
- Conference Room
- Storage Room
- CEO's Office
You must investigate only one location (you have one chance). If you find the prototype, the company avoids disaster and everyone gets a bonus. If not, security will sweep the other locations, but it may be too late (the press may find out).
|
[
"The prototype device was last reported being wheeled down the main hallway toward the storage room late last night.",
"Security camera footage shows no suspicious activity in the hallways during the night.",
"The storage room and conference room are both located on the east side of the floor, while the CEO's office is on the west side.",
"The only staff authorized to enter all three locations are the four team participants (you) and the CEO."
] |
[
"Reviewing badge swipe logs, you see none of the team members entered the storage room during the night or early morning.",
"According to cleaning staff schedules, the CEO's office is the only room that was not entered by any cleaning staff during the night – all others were cleaned between 2:00-5:00am.",
"During a maintenance inspection this morning, the building supervisor noted that the storage room door was jammed shut all night and couldn't be opened until after 8:00am – well after the prototype went missing.",
"The conference room was under renovation overnight and was locked from the inside with the only key held by the contractor, who signed in at 7:00am this morning."
] |
[
"Conference Room",
"Storage Room",
"CEO's Office"
] |
CEO's Office
|
STEP 1: I chose a 4-person scenario, with three possible locations to hide the company’s missing prototype: Conference Room, Storage Room, or CEO’s Office. I made the decoy (Storage Room) seem most plausible according to the shared facts.
STEP 2: The shared info mentions the prototype was last seen wheeled toward the storage room and that security camera footage only covers the main hallway but shows nothing out of the ordinary. This strongly suggests Storage Room as the likely hiding place.
STEP 3: The hidden items each rule out a possible location, but individually they all still favor Storage Room because none alone disqualifies it. Only when all are revealed together do they eliminate the decoy and identify the CEO’s Office as the only possibility:
– The first hidden fact reveals the storage room’s door was jammed all morning, making it physically inaccessible.
– The second shows the conference room was under renovation and locked with the only key held by a contractor.
– The third reveals no one entered storage room even during the time the prototype disappeared.
– The fourth reveals the CEO’s Office was the only place not visited by cleaning staff during the day.
STEP 4: Checks:
– Solo: Each participant, given only shared info and their own hidden item, will lean toward Storage Room; no single item can rule in CEO’s Office uniquely.
– Group: Pooling all hidden facts, we see Storage Room was physically inaccessible, Conference Room was locked by contractor, and only CEO's Office could have hidden the prototype.
– Remove any hidden fact, and at least one decoy is not ruled out (e.g. without the storage room door jam notice, storage remains plausible; without conference key lockdown, conference room remains possible).
Thus, only if all hidden info is pooled can the team be certain.
|
48
|
missing_lab_sample
|
You are all senior researchers in a laboratory working with sensitive, potentially hazardous biological samples. This morning, a technician returned the key from Cold Storage B, claiming to have finalized her sample drop-off last night. However, when inventory was conducted, a vial containing an experimental virus sample was missing. It is essential to determine the correct storage location of the sample as soon as possible to prevent a safety incident.
You have three possible places the missing sample could be:
- Cold Storage B
- Lab 2 Bench
- Decontamination Room
If you identify the correct location, containment protocols can proceed swiftly. However, searching the wrong place first could waste precious time.
Discuss with your colleagues to determine the sample’s likely location.
|
[
"The technician who handled the sample last night usually stores samples in Cold Storage B after use.",
"Temperature sensors indicated Cold Storage B was briefly opened around the time the technician finished.",
"Lab 2’s inventory log shows no record of the missing sample’s entry or removal in the past two days.",
"The Decontamination Room was scheduled for cleaning this morning but was found undisturbed."
] |
[
"A maintenance worker reports that the door sensor on Cold Storage B has been malfunctioning all week and frequently gives false open/close readings.",
"The Decontamination Room's cleaning log, when checked closely, indicates a cleaning occurred unexpectedly after midnight, but the supervisor noted it as a routine wipe-down only for dust.",
"Another researcher was working in Cold Storage B late last night and saw no unlogged vials left when he locked up after midnight.",
"The technician received an urgent phone call just after finishing her task and was seen heading rapidly toward Lab 2."
] |
[
"Cold Storage B",
"Lab 2 Bench",
"Decontamination Room"
] |
Lab 2 Bench
|
I wanted to construct a scenario that was high-stakes and believable, so I chose a scenario around a missing scientific sample in a laboratory, where it's crucial to deduce exactly where a dangerous substance ended up. There are four participants, and three possible locations. The shared facts are designed to strongly point toward the decoy option—specifically, that the sample is likely in Cold Storage B, since the last person to handle it usually returns it there, and the temperature sensor there went off. Each hidden fact, however, in isolation, either seems like a technical hiccup or fails to rule anything out definitively. Only when all the hidden facts are shared does it become clear that Cold Storage B could not possibly contain the sample (the sensor was faulty, and another technician was present there the whole time so it would have been found). Each hidden fact is vital: if one is missing, the mystery cannot be solved, as Cold Storage B remains plausible. But with all clues pooled, Lab 2 is the only location that aligns with all reports and fixes. The correct answer can't be determined with just one hidden item and the shared info—everyone is nudged to choose the decoy unless all clues are exchanged.
|
49
|
choosing_the_safe_field_station
|
You are part of a scientific expedition team about to cross a forested region to reach a field station for an urgent wildlife survey. Time is tight, and you can't afford to be delayed. There are three possible field stations to pick as your base: Riverside Station (accessible by the main bridge), Hilltop Cabin (accessible by a winding road), and Valley Edge Outpost (accessible via trails that split from the highway and from the riverside road). Each participant knows the base status, but different team members have received separate logistical updates from park rangers and local authorities. Only one station is reachable and safe for tonight.
|
[
"A new bridge to Riverside Station was opened last month, and routine checks showed it was in good condition just this morning.",
"All supplies for tonight are already delivered to the three stations.",
"The park's main highway crosses both the river (to Riverside) and leads to the outpost (Valley Edge).",
"Weather this week has been unusually calm aside from some melting snow in the mountains."
] |
[
"A fire department bulletin: the only small bridge giving alternate access to Valley Edge from the north is closed for urgent repairs until tomorrow.",
"A car radio alert: There's a sudden emergency at the upstream hydro dam, prompting evacuation orders for all stations directly downstream (including Riverside).",
"A message from a supply manager: the hiking trail connecting Riverside and Valley Edge is flooded and not passable on foot or vehicle.",
"A park ranger just reported a landslide has blocked the main highway leading toward Valley Edge Outpost."
] |
[
"Riverside Station",
"Hilltop Cabin",
"Valley Edge Outpost"
] |
Hilltop Cabin
|
I chose a scenario where a team of scientists must select the safest field station for a critical wildlife survey. There are four participants and three site options: Riverside (the decoy), Hilltop, and Valley Edge. The shared info is crafted to make Riverside seem safest and most convenient: it's got a sturdy new bridge and was confirmed open that morning. Each hidden item blocks off only certain routes or reveals a hazard at some other location, but not enough to choose the correct answer alone. When all four hidden facts are revealed, only Hilltop is viable; Riverside is ruled out by an upstream dam emergency, and Valley Edge is blocked from multiple directions. This setup ensures the group can identify the answer only by pooling all info, and no single participant (with shared plus their own hidden) can solve it.
|
50
|
secure_meeting_room_decision
|
You are members of a company’s crisis management team. A critical, confidential meeting must take place in the next hour to approve a response to a possible data breach. Three conference rooms are available: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Only one room meets all safety and security requirements for such a high-stakes meeting. After the group discussion, you must jointly select the correct room; using the wrong room could lead to leakage or disrupt the decision-making process. Your performance will affect your bonus.
|
[
"Conference Room Alpha is next to a construction site, so there might be noise disturbances, and the security team noted occasional disruptions.",
"Conference Room Beta was recently upgraded with soundproofing and was cleared by the IT team for secure devices. The IT team noted a scheduled system upgrade in the area, but it should be complete before your meeting.",
"Conference Room Gamma is the farthest from the main entrance and is often overlooked by staff; the security team hasn't finished their full review of the new locks on its doors."
] |
[
"A security audit report (just released) confirms that Conference Room Gamma’s new locks have been installed and tested – it's currently the most secure room in the building.",
"The building’s fire alarm system is being tested in the zone containing Conference Room Beta at exactly the meeting's starting time, which may require immediate evacuation.",
"An urgent email from facilities says the Wi-Fi in Conference Room Alpha is unreliable today and IT can't guarantee stable video conferencing."
] |
[
"Conference Room Alpha",
"Conference Room Beta",
"Conference Room Gamma"
] |
Conference Room Gamma
|
1. Number of participants: 3.
2. Possible answers: 'Conference Room Alpha', 'Conference Room Beta', 'Conference Room Gamma'.
3. Correct answer: 'Conference Room Gamma'.
4. Decoy favored by initial info: 'Conference Room Beta'.
Shared information establishes that Beta seems ready and safe, but Gamma and Alpha have risks or unknowns. Each hidden fact individually does not rule out Beta—all seem like extra details or minor concerns. Only by combining the hidden facts do participants discover that Beta is, in fact, unsafe and Gamma is the only feasible choice. Each hidden item adds unique knowledge needed for this. If even a single piece is missing, the group cannot confidently rule out all options except Gamma.
- Solo check: If any participant only combines the shared information and their unique hidden fact, Beta still looks best.
- Group check: If all hidden facts are shared, Beta is ruled out and only Gamma meets all constraints.
- Missing-piece check: Removing any hidden item leaves Beta as a still-viable option.
In summary: the scenario's shared info makes Beta look safest; only when all unique facts are combined does the group see that Gamma is the only suitable choice for the meeting.
|
51
|
emergency_supply_distribution
|
You are the logistics team for Disaster Aid Response, assigned to distribute urgent relief supplies to a small city after a severe ice storm. Three local storage sites (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) hold different types of supplies. Your warehouse lost power several hours ago. You have one truck available, and must pick only ONE storage site to visit, loading all needed supplies in a single trip. Speed is important: another storm front may arrive within hours. The goal is to restock the local hospital and shelters with food and medicine before conditions worsen. Each of the three sites has previously reported being stocked as of two days ago. However, access and storage conditions may have changed after the ice storm. Only one site actually contains usable and deliverable supplies now. Which site should you dispatch the truck to?
|
[
"Alpha Storage is the closest and is known to have backup generators for refrigeration; it is also reported to contain both food and medical supplies.",
"Bravo Storage is about 10km away, and only accessible via a steep road; it mostly stores canned food and dry goods.",
"Charlie Storage is furthest away and sits behind a rail crossing where the barrier arms sometimes get stuck during storms, causing delays.",
"Reports after the storm say that all three facilities experienced brief power outages, but the status of their backup systems was unconfirmed as of yesterday."
] |
[
"Bravo Storage's power is still out, but it only contains canned/dry goods (which are not urgently needed for the hospital or shelters), and neither food needing refrigeration nor medicine.",
"The temperature at Alpha Storage rose above safe refrigeration levels overnight; most perishable food there has begun to spoil.",
"The road to Charlie Storage is passable after a city technician manually raised the crossing arms this morning; no delays are currently reported.",
"Alpha Storage's backup generator failed during the last refueling attempt and cannot be restarted without parts from out of town."
] |
[
"Alpha Storage",
"Bravo Storage",
"Charlie Storage"
] |
Charlie Storage
|
I structured this task with four participants and three possible locations (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Storage). The shared information points strongly toward Alpha Storage (the decoy), since it appears to have power and is nearby, and everyone knows there's a risk of spoiled supplies and food at the other locations. Each hidden fact appears plausible and, used together with just the shared info, slightly weakens Alpha but not enough to rule it out. Only when all hidden facts are pooled do the participants discover that: (1) Alpha's backup generator is inoperable, (2) Alpha's climate control is now faulty (perishable food is spoiling), (3) Bravo Storage is without power but contains only non-perishable items, and (4) Charlie Storage is safest despite being least favored by the shared info. Each hidden item contributes a unique piece: the status of the generator, the status of food at Alpha, the status of contents & power at Bravo, and a transport issue at Charlie. Remove any one, and you can't confidently select Charlie over Alpha. But together, they decisively eliminate Alpha (spoiling food, generator is dead, and the power issue prevents refrigeration), show Bravo contains only canned goods (so power is no issue but they aren't urgently needed), and leave Charlie—which, contrary to first impression, proves to hold the only viable supplies.
|
52
|
mountain_storm_shelter
|
Your hiking group is unexpectedly stranded in the mountains due to a rapidly approaching windstorm. You must immediately choose one place to shelter for the night before the storm intensifies. There are three well-known shelters within reach: Blue Lake Cabin, Red Cliff Lodge, and Green Valley Outpost. Only one option is safe and accessible—the others all hide serious dangers or are unreachable at present. Your team must coordinate and decide wisely; if you shelter in the only safe location, everyone survives. If you pick wrong, the outcome could be fatal.
|
[
"Blue Lake Cabin has a recent delivery of emergency rations, medical kits, and blankets. It is accessible by crossing a bridge, which the ranger station repaired last week after a minor landslide.",
"Red Cliff Lodge is a solid stone building that usually withstands harsh weather, but contact was lost with its caretaker earlier today.",
"Green Valley Outpost is further away and designed primarily as a rest stop for day hikers, with basic shelter but minimal supplies.",
"The local ranger station’s last broadcast said the storm’s strongest winds are expected to hit somewhere north of your current location, but the reports are not exact."
] |
[
"A sign near the Blue Lake trailhead warns that an upstream dam release is set for tonight, which will further raise water levels and could worsen the bridge collapse situation.",
"A new weather alert (missed in earlier updates) says the storm will hit Red Cliff Lodge directly, with extreme, possibly structural-damaging winds expected at that elevation.",
"A hiker coming from Blue Lake reports the bridge washed out in the last hour and is now impassable.",
"Green Valley Outpost, though lacking supplies, is built partially underground and is rated for emergency use in extreme weather, per a maintenance record found in your group’s gear."
] |
[
"Blue Lake Cabin",
"Red Cliff Lodge",
"Green Valley Outpost"
] |
Green Valley Outpost
|
I chose four participants, three possible destinations for the team, and made the decoy (Blue Lake Cabin) appear safest according to shared info. The shared facts set up that the storm is coming, and Blue Lake Cabin looks great: it's got supplies, and the only official update says the bridge route was recently fixed. The hidden information creates a situation where every alternative location has a potential serious risk, but each hidden fact introduces a distinct, critical detail that by itself only raises doubt (not elimination) about the decoy or others. Together, the hidden facts show 1) the bridge to Blue Lake Cabin has just collapsed again, making it unreachable, 2) Red Cliff Lodge is directly in the wind’s path, making it unsafe, and 3) Green Valley Outpost isn't designed for long stays but is structurally secure. If all facts are pooled, Blue Lake Cabin is factually disqualified, Red Cliff Lodge is unsafe, leaving Green Valley Outpost as the only viable alternative. Each hidden item is essential: if anyone withholds, the correct answer no longer stands out uniquely (missing the bridge collapse means Blue Lake Cabin still appears available, missing the wind fact suggests Red Cliff could work, etc.). Thus, discussion and sharing are mandatory for success.
|
53
|
sensor_placement_decision
|
You are scientists on a team tasked with locating a critical weather sensor in an area prone to sudden climate events. The sensor must be accessible for service teams and avoid any known hazards during the next week of volatile weather. There are four candidate sites: Ocean Bluff, Mountain Ridge, River Valley, and Forest Edge. After a drone survey, site descriptions and general hazard forecasts were shared, but further details are limited. Your team must choose the best location to maximize data collection and ensure the sensor's survival and accessibility. Only one site is truly feasible.
|
[
"Ocean Bluff is on stable ground, directly accessible by the main road, and currently clear of debris.",
"Mountain Ridge is elevated but requires a winding path for access, which is reported to be passable now.",
"River Valley is usually dry in the summer, and there have been no recent floods reported.",
"Forest Edge is on flat land and the access road appears to be open according to survey images."
] |
[
"Recent rockslides have made Mountain Ridge's path potentially dangerous for heavy equipment, but light vehicles can still navigate with caution.",
"The River Valley's soil test from yesterday showed dangerous instability—heavy equipment could get stuck or trigger further collapse if used there.",
"A new wildlife restriction at Forest Edge will prohibit all vehicle access starting tomorrow, making repairs impossible if something fails.",
"Ocean Bluff is predicted to experience severe coastal flooding within the week, making access impossible for several days."
] |
[
"Ocean Bluff",
"Mountain Ridge",
"River Valley",
"Forest Edge"
] |
Mountain Ridge
|
I chose a scenario where a research team must select the best site for a critical meteorological sensor. The shared info intentionally points the group toward Ocean Bluff (the decoy) by presenting it as safe, stable, and having open access. Each hidden fact eliminates one option (one for Ocean Bluff, one for Mountain Ridge, one for Forest Edge, one supporting the correct answer), but not enough alone. Only when all four participants pool their clues do they see that Ocean Bluff is expected to flood and Forest Edge is too remote for repair. Mountain Ridge is the only one left that fits all requirements. Removing any hidden fact leaves more than one viable answer. This satisfies the logic of needing group discussion, with each hidden piece being essential and nothing alone giving away the solution.
|
54
|
island_research_base_choice
|
You are part of a team of engineers tasked with selecting the site for a new field research base on an isolated island. The island recently experienced a major earthquake. There are three possible sites (A, B, and C), and each has its own pros and cons. All team members must agree on the safest and most viable option for the next six months. Only one site is actually safe post-earthquake. After the choice is made, the team will begin work immediately and cannot switch locations. Collaboration is crucial; only by sharing all unique information can you successfully identify the correct site.
|
[
"Site A is close to the harbor and supply routes, with newly built infrastructure reportedly up to seismic standards.",
"Site B is located on high ground, safe from flooding, but farther from the harbor and supply routes; existing buildings are old but considered stable.",
"Site C is located in a valley near the center of the island, has limited road access, and is known to have patchy radio communications after storms.",
"Preliminary drone footage after the earthquake showed no major visible damage at any of the sites."
] |
[
"Significant flooding and water contamination have been detected at Site B; heavy equipment cannot access the site and health risks are high.",
"The radio blackout at Site C is being caused by damaged antennas, not by terrain or long-term technical barriers—portable equipment can restore communications within hours.",
"A gas leak and flammable vapor have been detected near Site A that could create a serious explosion risk under certain weather conditions.",
"Unusual ground instability measurements have been found at Site A, suggesting a risk of sinkholes forming after the earthquake."
] |
[
"Site A",
"Site B",
"Site C"
] |
Site C
|
I designed a scenario involving four engineers tasked with choosing the safest site for a new research base on an island after a recent earthquake. The shared information strongly favors Site A, which seems the safest at first glance. The hidden facts are each unique: one about a gas leak near Site A, one about flooding at Site B, one about disrupted radio signals at Site C, and one about instability found specifically at Site A. With just the shared info and their own hidden item, each participant would most likely still pick Site A (the decoy), since the hidden fact alone does not conclusively eliminate it. However, if all hidden facts are revealed during group discussion, Site A and Site B both become impossible (due to gas, structural instability, and flooding), and only Site C (previously dismissed due to the radio issue, now known to be resolvable) meets all criteria for safety when all facts are combined. Each hidden fact is necessary to disqualify a particular site, so if any fact is missing, the group could not definitively choose the correct answer. This satisfies all required checks.
|
55
|
emergency_drone_delivery
|
A medical crisis has struck your town. An organ for a critical transplant is being delivered by special drone within the next hour. The drone pilot has requested you (the town’s response coordinators) select the landing site. There are three designated landing zones: the large public Park, the rooftop Helipad at the School, and the open lot at the Hospital. The organ must reach the patient in less than 30 minutes after landing. You have 10 minutes to decide as a group where the drone should land. Only one landing site is currently safe and available for use.
|
[
"The Park’s open field is usually large enough for drone landings and has the simplest access for ground vehicles.",
"The School helipad was recently resurfaced and is officially cleared for use by civil defense.",
"The Hospital’s open lot is often kept clear, but part of it is currently being used for construction storage, possibly limiting space.",
"Volunteer drivers are already stationed at all three sites for fast delivery to the hospital, but only one group can be dispatched once the location is set."
] |
[
"The school’s helipad is within 100 meters of a student sports event happening this afternoon; school policy strictly forbids landings during any outdoor student activity (violating this could delay the transplant with legal complications).",
"Construction equipment in the hospital lot currently blocks the main vehicle entrance, but a back alleyway (unmarked on most maps) has just been cleared for ambulances and emergency deliveries only.",
"Due to a malfunction, the park’s main floodlights cannot be turned on and the drone cannot safely land there after sunset. The delivery is arriving shortly after dusk.",
"Local authorities just issued an airspace closure over the Park due to a nearby unauthorized drone incursion—the area is off limits to all drones for the rest of the day."
] |
[
"Park",
"School",
"Hospital"
] |
Hospital
|
I started by choosing four participants and three options for an urgent delivery task involving possible drone landing sites (Park, School, Hospital). The shared information favors 'Park' as the landing site, making it look best—ample space, easy access, and enough volunteers. Next, I designed four unique hidden facts, each subtly disrupting the narrative in only one area. Each hidden fact alone is insufficient: for example, hearing only about the broken park lights, you may still think daylight is adequate for the delivery; hearing only about the school sports, maybe the landing is just delayed, not impossible, and so forth. However, only by sharing all four do participants see that (a) The Park can't be used at all (airspace closed and risky at night), (b) School is too busy and off limits, and (c) Only the hospital, which at first seemed less ideal, is truly available and safe. Importantly, removing any one hidden fact leaves one or more alternatives plausible. This ensures every fact is crucial and only group communication fully resolves the impasse, revealing the correct answer.
|
56
|
Secure the Masterpiece
|
You are a member of a four-person emergency response team at a large city's art district. There has been a sudden chemical leak from a nearby industrial plant, and local authorities have ordered an immediate lockdown. The team must decide where to move a priceless painting, currently displayed in the main public gallery, to ensure its safety. Three secure locations nearby are available:
- The Government Records Vault (Accessed via a side street)
- The City Art Museum's Disaster-Proof Storage (Next block, built for fire and flood protection)
- The University Science Building's Secure Lab (Two blocks away with high-end security)
Each participant in the team has special channels providing unique information. You need to work together to use all your knowledge before making a decision. Only one location is truly safe under the present circumstances. If you make the right choice, the painting will be safe, and your team succeeds; the wrong choice could destroy the artwork.
|
[
"The chemical leak is expected to spread with the wind to several nearby blocks within 30 minutes.",
"The City Art Museum's Disaster-Proof Storage is specifically designed to withstand emergencies such as fires, flooding, and vandalism, and it is unoccupied today.",
"The University Science Building's Secure Lab has the highest level of security clearance, and its filtration system can typically handle chemical contaminants.",
"The Government Records Vault is the farthest from the plant, but it is rarely used and requires special Keycard X for entry.",
"The painting must be kept in a controlled environment, free from chemical vapors or temperature fluctuations."
] |
[
"The main generator for the University Science Building is scheduled for maintenance today; backup power is sufficient for lights but not the laboratory's HVAC system.",
"A protest is occurring on the street that provides access to the Government Records Vault, delaying vehicle access by roughly 10 minutes.",
"A wind change is forecast shortly, which will direct the chemical leak directly toward the Art Museum's block within 20 minutes.",
"A security alert just went out: lab technicians in the science building are all being evacuated as a precaution by university order."
] |
[
"The Government Records Vault",
"The City Art Museum's Disaster-Proof Storage",
"The University Science Building's Secure Lab"
] |
The Government Records Vault
|
I wanted to design a case where the shared facts suggest Option B (The City Art Museum) is the safest location for a valuable painting during a sudden citywide chemical leak emergency. The shared information makes B look best, since it explicitly claims the museum is built for disaster protection (fire and flooding) and is closest to the current location. Each participant receives a hidden piece of information about a unique threat to each option; however, no one has the full picture. Each hidden item appears isolated and only casts doubt on its own location, but doesn't make anyone realize all options but A (The Government Records Vault) are dangerous. Only when all four participants pool their hidden facts will they collectively see that both B (the museum) and C (the university science building) are disqualified: one is directly in the path of the leak and the other will lose HVAC power, compromising its air systems. Only A is left. If any hidden fact is missing, the group can't fully disqualify either B or C. Each hidden fact is essential, and the task embodies the classic information-pooling puzzle structure as outlined.
|
57
|
archaeological_dig_site
|
You and three colleagues are archaeologists tasked with selecting a site to salvage crucial artifacts before construction begins. There are tight time constraints: you can only pick one location, and you must choose by the end of the hour. There are three candidate sites: Site A, Site B, and Site C. You must maximize your chances of a successful recovery, as failure means the artifacts may be lost forever.
|
[
"Site A: Riverbank, frequent flooding in spring, unknown artifact depth.",
"Site B: Plateau, stable ground, topsoil is soft and undisturbed.",
"Site C: Woods edge, soil is rocky, some evidence of rodent burrows.",
"The main developer has announced all construction will start tomorrow, but precise order is unknown."
] |
[
"In a recent survey, Site C’s rodent burrows were found to be abandoned, with no damage to deep soil layers.",
"You overheard that Site A is predicted to flood tonight due to sudden rain upstream.",
"You have seen construction crews preparing explosive charges at Site B because blasting for foundations is scheduled for the morning.",
"Site A’s access road is being closed off for bridge repairs overnight and won't reopen for two days."
] |
[
"Site A",
"Site B",
"Site C"
] |
Site C
|
I designed a four-person group task around selecting the right location for a time-critical archaeological dig. The shared information hints strongly toward 'Site B,' since its topsoil conditions seem best for preserving artifacts. If you add any single hidden fact, Site B still comes out on top because its unique risk (scheduled blasting) seems manageable, as only one hidden item mentions it, and the other hidden facts either reinforce Site B's appeal or offer ambiguous concerns for competing sites. However, if the group pools all hidden facts, they discover that Site B is about to be destroyed and other sites have drawbacks (flood, infestation). Only Site C, initially the least appealing, will not actually be ruined and can safely accommodate the dig. Each hidden item is required: if any one is missing, the elimination of competing sites is incomplete and the decision is ambiguous. The structure guides the group to collaboratively overturn their initial, misguided preference.
|
58
|
secure_negotiation_site_selection
|
A city is on high alert due to an imminent threat. You and three colleagues must urgently decide where to hold confidential negotiations with several key stakeholders to ensure maximum safety as well as the ability to communicate with the outside world. Three potential locations are under consideration:
- Riverside Conference Center (a prestigious facility by the river, currently under military guard)
- City Hall Annex (a modern office block downtown)
- The Old Museum Basement (historical site with limited modern infrastructure)
All sites were examined in the past 24 hours and deemed functional for meetings. The wrong choice would jeopardize security and the negotiation outcome.
|
[
"The Riverside Conference Center is currently under heavy military guard, and most previous government functions have been relocated there during this crisis.",
"The City Hall Annex boasts reinforced doors and windows, and its communication infrastructure is reported to have survived recent cyberattacks.",
"The Old Museum Basement is rarely used, but security systems were tested yesterday and found to be operational."
] |
[
"The Old Museum Basement, while rarely used, contains a sealed tunnel known only to a few staff, which allows quick, discreet escape to a neighboring street if needed.",
"All official phones and internet connections in City Hall Annex are currently jammed, with no estimate for restoration, and personal devices likewise receive no signal.",
"A reliable military source has reported that infiltration attempts have compromised trust in Riverside Conference Center's security personnel, but the building itself is still structurally secure.",
"The river by the Conference Center has been mined as a countermeasure, but this also makes rapid evacuation from the site nearly impossible if warned of an attack."
] |
[
"Riverside Conference Center",
"City Hall Annex",
"The Old Museum Basement"
] |
The Old Museum Basement
|
I designed a task for four participants where the group must select the only feasible safe site for confidential negotiations in a city during a security threat. The shared information is engineered to favor a classic decoy (the 'Riverside Conference Center'), which seems safest due to military presence—so everyone is likely to select that on first pass. Each hidden item rules out a different aspect of at least one location, but on their own, they're never enough to eliminate the decoy. Only when all hidden facts are pooled do the problems with every other site become clear, making 'The Old Museum Basement' the sole surviving safe option. If any hidden item is removed, at least one decoy becomes plausible again. For example: the 'VIP escape tunnel' at the museum is only revealed by one hidden fact, the decoy's military personnel are found unreliable by another, and so on.
|
59
|
last_minute_move
|
You and three colleagues have been tasked with quickly finding a trustworthy moving company for your employer’s urgent relocation. You must book one out of three shortlisted companies in the next 20 minutes to avoid extra costs. Each company claims to be able to complete the move on time and has good reviews. However, the office is on a busy street, and today is both a major city event and a day with road construction. Each company’s limitations and strengths are only partly known to the group. Your goal: select the only company that can reliably complete the move by the deadline, given all real constraints.
|
[
"Alpha Movers has the largest fleet and advertises guaranteed on-time arrival, but they use a route that is sometimes impacted by city traffic.",
"Bravo Moving Co. only has a medium-sized van fleet but is known for careful handling of valuable items and has excellent online reviews.",
"Charlie’s Transport has the largest staff per truck and offers same-day, late-evening moves for no extra cost.",
"Today, city authorities announced additional traffic controls in the downtown core, which affects access to the office."
] |
[
"Charlie’s Transport currently has half their staff deployed at another out-of-town job until tomorrow, so any move today would be under-staffed and late.",
"A road accident has blocked Alpha Movers' usual approach route into downtown, likely causing a 2+ hour delay just for them, as they do not have alternate trained drivers for unfamiliar routes.",
"Bravo Moving Co. recently lost a review after damaging a grand piano (expensive item) during a hasty move, but no reports of lateness.",
"Alpha Movers’ entire team has already phoned in that they are stuck in traffic and cannot reach the pick-up location until after the deadline."
] |
[
"Alpha Movers",
"Bravo Moving Co.",
"Charlie’s Transport"
] |
Bravo Moving Co.
|
I wanted a scenario where the shared facts naturally (but incorrectly) favor a specific answer. Here, all the information suggests that the best company to hire is Alpha Movers, mainly because of their promise to arrive on time, their staff numbers, and positive reviews. Each participant gets a different hidden complication: one knows about an accident on Alpha's usual route (expected to cause delays that only Alpha can't avoid), another knows Bravo lost a review for damaging a piano (casting doubt but not outright disproving Bravo), a third knows Charlie's staff is currently split and busy (making Charlie seem unavailable), and a fourth knows that Alpha’s staff are late because they're stuck in the accident traffic (which, when combined with the route info, rules Alpha out entirely). No one hidden piece is enough: Staff being late could be a minor, routine delay, and the route accident could delay any mover, except Alpha is specifically affected only once all info is pooled. The piano damage report on Bravo looks like the reason not to use Bravo, but with Alpha ruled out and Charlie clearly unavailable, the group will learn only Bravo can make it (likely requiring extra caution with valuables, but the only realistic choice). Removing any one clue leaves ambiguity, as Alpha might still plausibly make it (if not for the traffic or delayed staff, etc.), and Charlie's busyness disables that option only if its details are known. Thus, all hidden info must be shared to avoid the shared info decoy and pick the uniquely correct mover.
|
60
|
The Elusive Bird Sighting
|
You are part of a research group searching for the recently spotted rare Bluecrest Thrush in the large Greenwood Nature Reserve. The park is divided into three main sections: Area A (the Oak Woods), Area B (the Wetland), and Area C (the Meadow). A trusted park ranger reported sighting the bird yesterday at sunrise, but due to heavy fog, the exact location was unclear. Each group member will receive one unique field report in addition to the public information.
|
[
"The trusted ranger noted that the sighting took place in a grassy clearing with dew on the ground, and that songbirds could be heard nearby.",
"In Area A, the Oak Woods, the last official survey found no evidence of Bluecrest Thrush for the past season.",
"Area B, the Wetland, is partially flooded due to recent storms, making movement difficult and likely discouraging small land birds.",
"Area C, the Meadow, is famous for its grassy clearings and hosts several songbird species; it has had intermittent sightings of rare birds before."
] |
[
"Area B’s main trail has been entirely underwater since the storm, making it physically impossible to cross it on foot or for the ranger to have entered there yesterday.",
"The only patch of ground in Area C that is suitable as a 'grassy clearing' is currently under maintenance and was cordoned off completely yesterday; researchers cannot enter it.",
"Though the last official survey found no Bluecrest Thrush in Area A, several spontaneous amateur sightings with photos have been submitted from Area A to the reserve’s website in the last two weeks.",
"Last night, local residents saw wild dogs passing through Area C and observed them again at dawn. Bluecrest Thrushes avoid areas where wild dogs were seen in the preceding 24 hours."
] |
[
"Area A (the Oak Woods)",
"Area B (the Wetland)",
"Area C (the Meadow)"
] |
Area A (the Oak Woods)
|
I chose a scenario involving four research teams investigating a rare bird sighting in a nature reserve. There are three possible areas—each plausible based on shared evidence. The shared information makes Area C seem like the best choice, as all the sighting conditions reported by park rangers are said to match Area C and the other areas have apparent disadvantages. Each hidden fact is given to a different participant, and individually, no one can rule out Area C. However, once all hidden facts are combined, inconsistencies emerge that definitively eliminate Area C and B for different reasons, leaving only Area A as a valid possibility. I made sure that each hidden fact is necessary: removing any one would make both C and A still plausible given the circumstances, hence, collective sharing is critical for the correct answer. Taken step by step: (1) shared info strongly implies Area C; (2) each hidden fact offers a piece of contradictory evidence, but never enough to disprove Area C alone; (3) only by combining all hidden facts does the impossibility of Area C and B become evident, which uniquely points to Area A.
|
61
|
power_outage_island
|
You are a four-person technical team sent to a remote research island. Overnight, power was lost across critical systems, affecting experiments and communications. Your mission: identify the location where the root cause began, so specialist engineers can be dispatched directly. Time is critical—delays could risk irrevocable damage to ongoing research and local wildlife preservation efforts. The potential sources are: 1) the Main Generator Room, 2) the Water Pump Facility, or 3) the Communication Tower. All sites are on different parts of the island and hard to reach. You must choose exactly one source location for the engineers' immediate response.
|
[
"Power readings indicate the main generator is offline. Emergency lights in the lab are still on, running on backup batteries.",
"Multiple research loggers lost connection to the network exactly at midnight; this is when the main generator alarms sounded.",
"Earlier in the evening, an engineer found nothing unusual in the Main Generator Room.",
"Security logs reveal that a storm struck the island at 11:30pm, with a single bolt of lightning recorded striking close to the Main Generator Room."
] |
[
"When backup generators were switched on, communication remained down island-wide, but water pumps worked.",
"After midnight, instruments in the water pump facility still reported water flow until 1:15am, despite the generator already being offline.",
"Engineering records show the Communication Tower has a separate lightning grounding system, but the system's surge indicator was triggered during the night.",
"A technician dispatched to the generator room after dawn found no evidence of a fire, breach, or power relay issue."
] |
[
"Main Generator Room",
"Water Pump Facility",
"Communication Tower"
] |
Communication Tower
|
1. I chose a scenario involving a research crew investigating a mysterious power outage on a remote island, with 4 participants and 3 location options. I want the shared information to strongly suggest the 'Main Generator Room' is the source of the issue (the decoy). Each hidden fact seems unrelated or, at most, insufficient alone, so participants will be inclined to pick the Generator Room if they only see the shared facts and their unique clue. However, when all hidden clues are combined, it becomes clear the Main Generator Room cannot be the source, and only the Communication Tower matches all evidence. Removing any hidden fact prevents this deduction: each clue disqualifies either the Decoy or the third option, so all four must be combined. 2. The shared facts make the decoy decisive: all signs point to the Generator Room. 3. Hidden clues start to disqualify the decoy or the third option, but only all combined fully rule out the decoy and the third option, clearly identifying the Communication Tower as the correct answer. Each clue is necessary: with any clue missing, the decoy or the third option remains plausible. 4. A solo check shows each participant with only their clue still falls for the decoy.
|
62
|
company_acquisition_decision
|
Your investment firm must choose one of three technology startups to acquire. Each has shown interest in the deal, and you have only 24 hours before a competitor starts bidding. The acquisition is a major commitment: making the wrong choice could risk millions and damage your firm’s reputation. Each team member has confidential research, but only through discussion can the full picture emerge.
Options:
- Option A: A biomedical startup with several patents and ongoing clinical trials.
- Option B: An AI hardware startup recently featured in major news outlets for its rapid growth.
- Option C: A logistics software company led by experienced founders with a history of scaling companies.
You must choose which company to acquire. Your bonus depends on a correct group decision.
|
[
"Industry analysts say Option B has a stable revenue base and recently announced strong sales growth.",
"Option C just lost one of its major customers, dropping its current revenues.",
"Option A is rumored to have unresolved legal disputes over intellectual property, making it controversial.",
"Venture capitalists are especially interested in B's sector and predict strong growth in the coming years."
] |
[
"Option B's chief engineer, responsible for the core product, will resign immediately after any acquisition, and she is not under a non-compete agreement.",
"Option C's lost customer had already announced a plan to return if the founders remain on board post-acquisition.",
"Option A's key patent, responsible for most of its value, expires next year and cannot be renewed.",
"Option B's largest clients have contracts that cannot be transferred if the company changes ownership, and the sales team is not able to renegotiate them."
] |
[
"Option A: Biomedical startup",
"Option B: AI hardware startup",
"Option C: Logistics software company"
] |
Option C: Logistics software company
|
I started by choosing 4 participants and 3 possible company acquisition targets. Option B is the decoy toward which shared information steers the group: it seems financially stable and poised for growth. The shared facts all support this decoy (Option B), making it look safer than A (high risk) or C (doubtful leadership).
Each hidden fact looks plausible but is insufficient alone: Each one rules out a different option or provides a critical constraint only when combined with the others. For example, knowing that Option A's key patents are expiring soon makes it seem risky, but with only that hidden fact, Option B still looks best. Another hidden fact reveals Option B is about to lose its chief engineer (likely hurting its prospects), which alone isn’t enough to disqualify it totally, but together with a third hidden piece showing client commitments can’t transfer, it decides the case.
When all four hidden pieces are pooled, Option B's growth projections are exposed as hollow (engineer leaving, client contracts non-transferable), Option A is shown as near bankruptcy (key patent expiring soon and legal disputes unresolved), and Option C is revealed to have hidden strengths (experienced founders can stabilize it, remaining key clients, better resilience). Thus, C stands out as the only logical acquisition. Each hidden item is vital; without any one, you can't uniquely identify C as the only correct answer—the decoy B remains plausible in all partial views.
The design enforces information sharing; no individual can solve it alone, but pooling facts makes the answer clear. The shared info and each hidden item mislead toward B unless all are combined, fitting all the given requirements for the group decision task.
|
63
|
Emergency Event Relocation
|
Your team is in charge of relocating a major university event due to an unexpected power failure at the original venue. You must choose a new location from three options within the campus, each with pros and cons. Time is tight: the event is in two hours, so you must act quickly. Each possible venue must accommodate 200 attendees and provide shelter in case of sudden rain. All venues are prepared and have been used for similar events in the past. You'll lose significant event funding if your choice proves unsafe or unusable.
|
[
"Garden Hall has a small roof leak reported overnight, but staff have placed buckets to catch any water. The main hall was not inspected this morning because staff prioritized the Pavilion and Lodge.",
"River Pavilion is fully set up, and security has confirmed it is dry and free of flooding. Pavilion staff are onsite, kitchens are stocked, and all technical equipment has been tested as working post-storm.",
"Mountain Lodge is on high ground and has backup power. However, heavy snow has been falling since last night, and it's uncertain whether the road will stay open."
] |
[
"The access road to Mountain Lodge was completely blocked by fallen trees at 8am, and campus maintenance does not expect it to be cleared today. Also, the roof leak at Garden Hall is only over the storage closet; the main hall is confirmed dry and ready.",
"A Pavilion staff member disclosed privately that mold was discovered under the kitchen sink during setup; he worries it could affect food safety if it gets stirred up during cooking.",
"River Pavilion's kitchen experienced a brief electrical short circuit this morning; staff report the smell of burning wires lingered but cleared quickly.",
"Maintenance at River Pavilion discovered areas under the wooden floor feel spongy; one floorboard was discovered to be cracked, but staff covered the area with a mat for now."
] |
[
"Garden Hall",
"River Pavilion",
"Mountain Lodge"
] |
Garden Hall
|
1. Basics: There are 4 participants and three options (Garden Hall, River Pavilion, Mountain Lodge). The decoy option, River Pavilion, looks best based on shared facts: it seems to be dry, accessible, and is ready for the event. The correct answer is Garden Hall.
2. Shared Information: These facts make River Pavilion look safest (the area is dry, it's confirmed safe by security, and is well-equipped). Garden Hall seems risky (roof leak), while Mountain Lodge is uncertain (snow risk, but not immediate threat). Together, these details guide everyone to think River Pavilion is the best choice.
3. Hidden Information: Each participant gets a unique problem with the River Pavilion. Each alone is ambiguous or seems manageable, but when all are put together, it becomes clear that River Pavilion is completely unsuitable, and only Garden Hall is viable. Hidden facts about Garden Hall suggest the roof leak is limited to storage and doesn't affect the main hall (so it's safe). Mountain Lodge is ruled out by a hidden fact confirming the access road was blocked overnight. But only with all hidden items can the group confidently select Garden Hall.
4. Checks:
- Solo check: If anyone has only their hidden fact plus shared info, River Pavilion still looks OK—each concern (electrical, structural, mold, or fire risk) seems isolated and not catastrophic alone.
- Group check: All hidden facts together show River Pavilion is dangerous on every level: electrical short circuit, floor instability, hidden mold and a kitchen fire hazard. Garden Hall's problem is minor and doesn't affect use. Mountain Lodge is unreachable.
- Missing-piece check: Remove any one hidden fact and River Pavilion's issues don't seem enough to rule it out (e.g., if you miss the structural issue, a fire or mold alone is concerning but not certain to render it unusable).
|
64
|
Office Outbreak Mystery
|
You are employees on the safety committee of MetroLoop Inc., called together urgently to advise management after 12 people fell ill at company headquarters. The company cafeteria is under scrutiny, but the source of the outbreak isn’t yet confirmed. Your team must quickly identify the likely cause to guide containment actions. You have three leading hypotheses:
- Food poisoning from the cafeteria
- Contaminated water supply
- Airborne toxin from the HVAC system
Each of you has received reports or observations not known by others. The company needs your answer within 15 minutes. Speed matters, but so does accuracy—acting on the wrong cause may harm colleagues.
|
[
"All 12 sick employees had lunch in the company cafeteria on the day symptoms began.",
"Several cafeteria staff are also reporting mild symptoms.",
"Water samples from office faucets showed no immediate contamination in preliminary tests.",
"Symptoms included nausea and dizziness, reported by all affected employees within an hour after lunch."
] |
[
"I didn’t eat anything from the cafeteria that day, but I developed the same symptoms as the others.",
"The building’s air vents have been malfunctioning for two days, with an unusual odor reported throughout the open-plan office area, but not in the cafeteria itself.",
"A client visiting from another city became sick late in the afternoon, despite bringing their own bottled water and packed lunch, but spent the afternoon in Meeting Room 4 near the sick employees.",
"A health department specialist found early traces of a rarely encountered airborne compound in air filters serving areas outside the cafeteria, but not in the kitchen or dining area."
] |
[
"Cafeteria Food",
"Contaminated Water Supply",
"Airborne Toxin from HVAC"
] |
Airborne Toxin from HVAC
|
I want the group to work on identifying the correct cause of a mysterious illness outbreak within a company office. The shared facts clearly suggest that the cafeteria (and thus food poisoning) is the culprit, pushing everyone toward 'Cafeteria Food' as the cause—this is my decoy. However, each participant has a hidden fact that subtly points out a counter-example or alternative explanation that, alone, is not conclusive. Only if every hidden fact is revealed (e.g., someone didn't eat the food, late symptom onset in an outsider, consistent air vent problems, and a specialist noting an airborne toxin), does it become clear that only 'Airborne Toxin from HVAC' can explain all observations. Any single missing hidden fact allows the cafeteria food explanation to survive, which fulfills the missing-piece check. With the full set, the group must converge on 'Airborne Toxin from HVAC' as the only valid answer. All items matter; each hidden fact strikes at a key dimension (diet, access, timing, external confirmation), and none are redundant or determinative by themselves.
|
65
|
Missing Medicine Delivery
|
You are staff members at a small town's emergency management center. Yesterday, a medical drone dropped off a package of vital medicines intended for vulnerable families amid a local outbreak. There are three main drop-off points: the Pharmacy, the Clinic, and the School Gym (which is currently serving as a relief shelter). However, owing to a record-keeping error, it is unclear where the drone left the package. You urgently need to locate the medicines to distribute them. Each staff member has received a different piece of eyewitness or logistical information. You must quickly agree on where to send the retrieval team. Only one location is correct, so careful communication and reasoning are critical.
|
[
"The Pharmacy is the established primary delivery point for urgent medicines and was originally designated to receive the package.",
"Staff at the Clinic and School Gym both have prior experience handling medical packages dropped by drones.",
"Security cameras at all three locations are malfunctioning—the footage is unavailable.",
"The drone made the drop-off at 7:30am to avoid crowds."
] |
[
"A staff member at the Pharmacy discovered the medicine cart had been stolen from the loading dock before 7:00am, and was not replaced until after 9:00am.",
"According to the Pharmacy owner, the front entrance was locked for inventory from 7am-8am, and no deliveries were expected during that hour.",
"A temporary detour was in effect on the road to the Clinic at 7:30am, and morning deliveries were redirected to other sites until after 9am.",
"A neighbor reported seeing a package-carrying drone hover over the School Gym briefly at 7:30am, but did not see anyone retrieve a package."
] |
[
"Pharmacy",
"Clinic",
"School Gym"
] |
School Gym
|
I chose a 4-participant scenario involving a lost delivery containing essential medicines, creating a collective puzzle in a supply chain context. The three delivery locations (Pharmacy, Clinic, School Gym) each seem plausible, but the shared information strongly favors the Pharmacy as the delivery point. Each hidden fact individually suggests a plausible reason to doubt or clarify the delivery's location, but none alone can definitively eliminate the Pharmacy or identify the right spot. When all four hidden facts are combined, they systematically rule out the Pharmacy (due to an early-morning closure at the time of delivery and a stolen cart), and also eliminate the Clinic (whose deliveries were delayed by roadworks at that specific time). This leaves only the School Gym as consistent with all facts, thus satisfying the recipe. Crucially, removing any one hidden clue leaves two plausible options, ensuring the scenario's dependence on group sharing.
|
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