It's time to learn how Hidden Immunity Idols will work this season!

Soon enough you'll notice a forum on the main page titled "The Nine Dragons". In here are nine different subforums, one for each set of dragons. Only the three of you can see or will ever see what's inside. You are free to use the forum to communicate however you'd like!

However, that's not all it will be used for. The three of you are meeting at a unique location around the base of Mount Huangshan. Each location has the potential of a Hidden Immunity Idol.

You'll find a map of the surrounding area inside. For the first round, you must all choose a starting area. To do so, take your map image into paint or photoshop and place your memory wall icon where you wish to start. No two people may start on the same space. We will post an updated version of the map with all of your icons on it shortly after you all choose a space. Here's an example of a map:




You may begin searching for the Idol as soon as your starting space is selected. Just like the show, there will certainly be luck involved. If you happen to begin searching in the correct area, your chances of finding it will likely increase.

Every round following challenge results, we will inform you that the hunt may continue. Once we post in here, you may state your movements. First come, first serve.


If you or your tribe won the Immunity Challenge, a reward in the form of food will give you a boost. You may move one extra space in that round.


Here's where your dragons come into play. For every member of your dragon set remaining in the game, you get one additional move. If all three of you are in, you each get three moves on top of your one or two from winning or losing the challenge. If you're the last of your dragon set remaining, you'll only get one move on top of your IC bonus.

If you're allowed to move three spaces for example, you must post in the Hunt thread and say "North, East, North". That would move you up one, right one, and up one more. Be sure to make it very clear how you intend on moving.

If you move through the edge of the frame on any side, you will come out on the opposite side. Think of it like Pac-man. If you move up North, you'll come out from the South. This is to allow you to move around areas of the map more quickly.

On top of that, you are allowed ONE relocation in any round of your choosing. If you don't like your position on the map and want to change, you must announce so in your movement post for that round. Captains, you are allowed TWO relocations in any two rounds of your choosing. This was the advantage that you earned from winning. With potential clues to help narrow down your search, a relocation is a significant advantage.


Just one of these spaces has a Hidden Immunity Idol hidden within it. If you are the first to search that space by either landing on it or passing over it, you will be informed that you received the Hidden Immunity Idol. If you make a move and aren't informed of anything, you found nothing. If someone already collected it, and you're on the correct space where it was, you will not be told.

There are THREE Hidden Immunity Idols up for grabs. Once three players discover the Idol hidden on their map, all other Idols will remain hidden forever. If you cross the space where yours once was, you will not be told

There will be opportunities to earn or discover clues throughout the game. Clues will help narrow down where the Idol may be located. Be on the look out.


You will have just TWELVE hours from the start of each Hunt (after IC results) to make your move. This is to keep things flowing quickly and to allow us to update well before Tribal Council if you've found an Idol (and also for you to see the update in time). Once IC results are posted, we will announce that the hunt has begun. You have 12 hours from that announcement to post your move in your hunt thread.

- The Idol is on a different, fully randomized space on all nine maps.

- You may not stand on the same space as another player. You may move through a player. That will count as one move.

- Every space can be moved on, including the trees and rocks.

- You cannot edit or delete a movement. Once you post, it's finalized. We will update the board with your movement as soon as we can.

- Ask us any questions you may have. Be sure to read through this thread very carefully.

Update!

Change due to a slight error. We had two size maps during planning and used the rules for the bigger map but ended up using the smaller map. For this first round, all that will count is your initial map placement as a move + the first direction you posted if you won Immunity.

For all rounds, we'll be using the correct rules for the 10x7 map that we're using:

- Every round you move one space for each Dragon remaining in your set.

- The winning tribe gets one additional movement. The losing tribe gets no bonus movements.

Everything else remains the same.

Going through and processing all of your moves now. Your face is where you're currently standing. The marker you left behind is a space you've previously searched

Now that your second Immunity Challenge has been posted, it's time for the next rule in the Idol format: Idol passing.

In past seasons we've allowed players to pass Idols across tribes at any point. With the no cross-tribal format in place, things will change a bit.

If you wish to pass a Hidden Immunity Idol to a member of another tribe, you must do so DURING an Immunity Challenge.

Once the IC has been posted, you have up until the IC results to pass the Idol if you wish to do so. To pass it, simply post in your Idol thread in your confessional. The person you pass it to will be informed that it came from you. Note: You still may not communicate with this person in any way unless they are your dragon.

If you wish to pass to a player on your tribe, that works the same as it always has and can be done at anytime.