# MetalForge Guess The Kit — Photo Quiz

Guess The Kit is a photo-based quiz where users identify a legendary metal drummer from a photo of their drum kit.

## How It Works
- View a photo of a metal drummer's kit
- Identify the drummer from the gear visible (brand logos, configuration, cymbal layout)
- Score points for correct guesses; see the drummer's full gear breakdown after each answer

Each round shows a drum kit photograph. Players have multiple-choice options or can type the drummer's name. After submitting, the full gear breakdown is revealed — including drum brand and series, cymbal brand and line, hardware, and stick choice — along with a link to the drummer's full MetalForge profile.

## Why It Works

Each professional drummer's kit has a distinct visual signature formed by brand logos, shell configurations, and cymbal setups:

**Lars Ulrich** plays Tama Starclassic Maple or Bubinga kits with Zildjian A and K cymbals. His kits feature a large double-bass configuration with prominent roto-toms and Tama hardware.

**Dave Lombardo** has played Pearl Reference and Evans heads with Paiste RUDE and 2002 cymbals. Paiste's large logo on heavy cymbals is a strong visual cue for Lombardo setups.

**George Kollias** uses Yamaha kits with Soultone cymbals — a less common combination that immediately narrows the field. The Soultone logo and Yamaha Recording Custom shell finish are distinctive at a glance.

**Tomas Haake** plays Pearl Reference Pure drums with Meinl Byzance cymbals. The Pearl logo and Byzance series' dark hammered finish are recognisable identifiers.

**Joey Jordison** used Pearl Reference with Zildjian A cymbals and ddrum Dios as his signature kit. The rotating drum riser on live setups and characteristic black-finish kit are iconic.

**Danny Carey** plays Pearl Reference Pure or Reference kits with Paiste cymbals and uses custom electronic triggers alongside acoustic drums — a hybrid setup with distinctive visual cues from the trigger pads.

**Gene Hoglan** is associated with Tama Starclassic Maple and Meinl Byzance, with one of the largest tom configurations in metal — often six or more toms visible.

**Mike Portnoy** played Tama Starclassic during Dream Theater's key period and is recognisable by his massive multi-bass configuration and extensive cymbal array, often 10+ cymbals.

## Kit Visual Cues by Category

| Cue | What It Indicates |
|-----|------------------|
| Pearl logo on bass drum | Pearl Reference, Reference Pure, or Masters |
| Tama logo with maple finish | Starclassic Maple or Bubinga |
| Yamaha Recording Custom | George Kollias or Mario Duplantier era |
| Meinl Byzance cymbals (dark hammered) | Haake, Halpern, Garstka, Casagrande |
| Paiste RUDE or 2002 (bright, heavy) | Dave Lombardo, Scott Travis era |
| Zildjian A Custom (bright, thin) | Lars Ulrich, Joey Jordison |
| Sonor SQ2 (distinctive lug design) | Pete Sandoval, George Kollias older setup |
| DW Collector's Series | Flo Mounier, Matt Halpern |
| Rotating riser or inverted kit angle | Joey Jordison live setup |
| Hybrid e-pads alongside acoustic shells | Danny Carey, Raymond Herrera |

## Scoring

Points are awarded for:
- Correct drummer identification: base points
- Speed bonus: faster correct answers earn more
- Streak bonus: consecutive correct answers multiply points

The leaderboard tracks top scores globally and by genre category.

## Difficulty Levels

**Beginner:** Major acts with highly recognisable kits — Metallica, Slipknot, Pantera, Tool, Dream Theater.

**Intermediate:** Mid-tier and genre-specific setups — Meshuggah, Nile, Cryptopsy, Lamb of God.

**Expert:** Rare configurations, older tour setups, or partial kit views where only one or two elements are visible to identify.

[Play Guess The Kit](https://metalforge.io/guess-the-kit)