⚡ Lightning Mode — Host How-To

What is Lightning Mode?

Lightning Mode is a faster way to run the regular trivia rounds. Instead of reading each question, pausing for answers, and scoring three separate times per round, you read all three questions back-to-back under one timer and score the round as a single combined total per team.

The host screen automatically rotates between Q1, Q2, and Q3 every 15 seconds so your overhead displays stay in sync with what you're reading aloud.

Where it applies

Turning it on

1. 1 Open your host control panel (the nav screen) before the show starts.
2. 2 Click the Turn Lightning Mode On button.
3. 3 The page will reload. The button will now read "Turn Lightning Mode Off" and a new ⚡ AUTO ROTATE control will appear.

Running a Lightning round

Auto-rotation

When you load the first question of a round (e.g. R1-Q1), the auto-rotation kicks in automatically the first time. From then on, the display advances:

• Q1 → Q2 → Q3 → Q1 → Q2 → Q3 …
• Every 15 seconds
• Continues until you leave the round (go to splash, score view, or change rounds)

Quick-jump buttons

If you want to skip ahead instead of waiting 15 seconds, use the jump buttons:

→ Q1 → Q2 → Q3

The currently displayed question is highlighted so you always know where the overhead screens are.

Pausing or resuming the rotation

The big ⚡ AUTO ROTATE button toggles auto-rotation on and off without leaving the round. Use it if a team needs you to repeat a question or you want to hold on a sub-question.

The timer

The timer defaults to 5:30. That single timer covers all three Lightning questions in the round — you don't restart it between Q1, Q2, and Q3.

You can pick a different duration from the dropdown if your venue prefers a longer or shorter window, but 5:30 is the recommended default.

Scoring a Lightning round

Instead of three separate per-question scores, each team gets one combined score for the whole round. The available point totals are based on the round's tier:

To score a team:

1. 1 When the round ends, scroll to the team list.
2. 2 For each team, click the button matching their combined total for that round (e.g. if they got the 5 and the 1 right but missed the 3, click 6).
3. 3 The team is locked in for that round once you click. The screen will show "X pts recorded."

Switching back to normal mode

Click Turn Lightning Mode Off any time between rounds. The page reloads and the regular per-question scoring buttons return. Already-scored Lightning rounds keep their totals — switching modes does not erase scores.

Troubleshooting

The display isn't auto-rotating

• Confirm Lightning Mode is on (the button should read "Turn Lightning Mode Off").
• Confirm the ⚡ AUTO ROTATE button is showing as active (red/highlighted).
• Auto-rotation pauses on splash and score-view screens. Return to the question view to resume.
• Auto-rotation does not run on Halftime, Final, or Tiebreaker — those rounds work normally.

I see normal score buttons in a Lightning round

• The page may not have reloaded after toggling. Refresh the host control panel.
• Make sure you're on a regular numeric round (R1–R6 for trivia, R1–R12 for XL).

I toggled Lightning Mode mid-round and now scoring is weird

• Avoid toggling mid-round. If it happens, contact support — scores stored in the wrong format may need a manual fix.

Quick reference