Thanks to Jesse for a well-judged round 109! The next round will begin as soon as Wizard Anton posts the first rule or noon on Monday (troll time) whichever comes first. The theme, as I suggested earlier was going to be "Style Counts." But frankly, I think we need a little more focus then that, so, let's call it "Style Counts in the Final Frontier" Style point criteria are as follows: Positive values Negative values ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wit Boring Brevity Poor spelling and grammar Deviousness (after Deviousness (1st week only) the 1st week) Outer space theme Style theme (yes, it's self-referential, but that's how style is...) Enjoy, Judge Jeremy Eligibilities (All times are troll.no time): Player: Eligibility Expires: Style: Planets Visited: ------------ -------------------- ------ ---------------- Wizard Anton 19 Mar 23:00:57 +4.65 Oz, Pale Quavers, Planet Earth Alpha Centauri Oerjan* 18 Mar 23:04:33 -1.50 Shmedley Aron* 18 Mar 01:38:31 +1.20 Valesparque, Politicus, Yellow Brick Road, No Pets Allowed [all others] 15 Mar 15:53:33 0.00 John-Martin 14 Mar 15:53:33 -0.80 Jason 14 Mar 15:53:33 -0.80 *Liable to change pending votes. Respectable Planets: Name: Minimum Style: Neighbor: --------------------- -------------- ----------------------- Valesparque -1 Oz +3 Planet Earth +1.5 Penal Threat Yellow Brick Road +1 Purple Plastic Highway Alpha Centauri +2 Tarpaulin Ache Arret +1.2 Shmedley No Pets Allowed 0 No Pets Allowed No Pets Allowed -2 No Pets Allowed Despicable Planets: Name: Maximum Style: Neighbor: --------------------- -------------- ----------------------- Pale Quavers +1 Politicus +5 Penal Threat -1 Planet Earth Purple Plastic Highway -6 Yellow Brick Road Tarpaulin Ache +2 Alpha Centauri Shmedley -0.0002 Arret Judgements thus far: Rule: From: Judgement: Style: Amended Style: ------ ------------ ---------- ------ -------------- 110:1 Aron VALID +2.3 110:2 Wizard Anton VALID +0.55 110:3 Aron VALID +0.1 110:4 Wizard Anton VALID +2.9 +3.0 110:5 Aron VALID 0.0 110:6 John-Martin INVALID -0.8 110:7 Wizard Anton VALID +1.1 110:8 Jason INVALID -0.8 110:9 Oerjan VALID -1.5 110:10 Aron VALID -0.2 110:11 Aron INVALID -1.0 Proposals: > >*** Temporary R.O. Amendment 110:A *** > >The following text shall be appended to R.O. 7 for the duration of round 110: > > Every positive style point awarded (and fraction thereof) shall > increase the eligibility period of the author of that rule by a > like number of "bonus" days, however, no bonus will be awarded > for an invalid rule if the author would then become the player > with the most eligibility remaining. The Judge shall, prior to > soliciting the first rule of the round set forth the criteria by > which style points will be determined. The Judge shall also make > every reasonable effort to incorporate any criteria proposed in a > valid rule. The Judge may amend style point awards for up to > four (4) days after making initial judgement. > >****** Passed by a 3 to 0 vote. > PROPOSAL 110:B > That 110:9 be declared INVALID. > END PROPOSAL Voting ends: 18 Mar 1999 02:33:04 Status: FOR: Aron, Anton, Jeremy AGAINST: Oerjan PASSING > PROPOSAL 110:C > Proposed, that rule 110:10, valid by timeout, be declared INVALID for > the reasons outlined in the Judge's (belated) posting on the topic. > END PROPOSAL Voting ends: 18 Mar 1999 16:38:32 Status: FOR: Jeremy, Aron, Anton, John-Martin AGAINST: [none] PASSING >PROPOSAL 110:D >That 110:11 be declared VALID >END PROPOSAL Voting ends: 19 Mar 1999 00:35:39 Status: FOR: Aron AGAINST: Jeremy, Anton NOT PASSING The Rules: 110:1 VALID Style +2.3 > >------------BEGIN PROPOSAL--------- > Each time a player submits a valid proposal, they must travel to one >planet. The proposal must name the planet to which they will travel. >Planets are either respectable or despicable. Respectable planets have >a number, which is the minimum number of style points you must have to >travel to the planet. Despicable planets also have a number, but it is >the maximum number of style points one must have to travel to the >planet. All this information must be given by the first proposal to >name the planet. Beware: the travel will occur just after style points >are awarded to the rule. > >I will travel through hyperspace to Valesparque, a small mars like >planet with few inhabitants. It is respectable, with a style threshold >of -1. >------------END PROPOSAL----------- > Aron Wall Aron has written a clever rule here which does what I think rules should do - test the limits of what we think is possible or allowable. Style: Wit: The name Valesparque might be a pun of some sort, but I don't get it. Aron is encouraged to let me in on the joke if there is one and I will amend this part, but for now I see nothing witty and only a missed opportunity to be so. -0.5 Brevity: +0.5 Deviousness: Could disable further rules during the first week, -1.0 Outer space theme: +1.0 Boring: Not. +0.5 Spelling & Grammar: minor difficulties, -0.2 Style: Wonderful concept, chutzpah in betting the farm that I would not find less than -1 style points, additional use of Style in the round, +2.0 Total: +2.3 Validity: First off, you've got to be carefule of terminology that is found in the R.O.'s (regular ordinances) as conflicts with these can invalidate your rule. Here, you use the term "proposal" in the way that the term "rule" is usually used. The word "proposal" is only found in R.O.'s 8 and 9 with regard to things upon which the members of the FRC must vote. However, I will not invalidate on this count, because the R.O.'s do not reserve this term for that use only. The first line says that [an in-game incarnation of] a player, after submitting a rule must [then] travel to a planet, but does not indicate when this travel must take place. Later the rule says that the travel takes place "just after" style points are awarded to the rule. Thus, the timing of events under the control of the Judge are relevant to the validity of rules. No problem with that in and of itself. But here's an important consideration, are style points awarded before or after validity is determined? Is the proper sequence: Rule is submitted, Style points are given, Travel to planet, Validity is determined? or: Rule is submitted, Validity is determined, Style points are given, Travel to planet? If the second sequence is used what happens if a (now) VALID rule has the wrong number of style points to "travel to" the indicated planet. The player, according to the first line "must" travel to the planet, and the travel "will" occur just after the style point award. In this case, the rule would be inconsistant with 110:1. Recognizing this possibility, the Judge could not decide on the validity of the rule without first determining the style point award. So, one possible paraphrase of this rule would be: "The Judge must award style points before determining the validity of rules." A consequence of this statement is "The Judge may not use the validity or invalidity of a rule as a criterion in determining the number of style points it is to receive." Now, even though R.O. overrule 110:A allows for valid rules to suggest criteria for style point awards, R.O. #7 was not repealed and the line, "The Judge may use any criteria e sees fit for such awards" is still operative. Thus, this rule should be INVALID due to inconsistancy with the R.O.'s. HOWEVER, the R.O. overrule says: "The Judge shall [...] set forth the criteria by which style points will be determined." This the Judge did, and the state of validity of a rule was not among those criteria, so the point is moot! In other words, I have already decided which criteria I "see fit" to use and now am at the whim of the valid rules not only to propose new criteria (which I have to make "every reasonable effort" to incorporate), but also to be limited in what additional criteria are allowable. Let's go back to the paraphrasing: "The Judge must award style points before determining the validity of rules," is this OK? R.O. #1 says: "Fantasy rules shall have no effect on play except as provided for in the regular ordinances." Now, if Aron had written it out just like I have paraphrased it, I might think that this goes over the line by proscribing how the Judge must act, but in fact, this paraphrase is an implication only, it is a natural consequence of the method by which a decision about the validity of rules is made. It looks to me tike the rule squeaks by this one too. How about the Judge's right to amend the style point awards for up to 4 days (110:A)? What if the Judge changes the style points such that the player will no longer be able to travel to the desired planet. It looks like that's not a problem either, since the travel happens "just after" the [initial] style point award. Changing the style points later has no effect, the travel has already happened. *WHEW* the rule is VALID, way to go Aron. 110:2 VALID Style +0.55 > >>>>>>> > > It is indeed a shame that one cannot save the universe from the comfort >of one's armchair. For let there be no doubt - our universe is in peril! >Thus it is that shortly I shall have to abandon the pleasures of planet Oz, >with its respectably high (and highly respectable) +3 style threshold. I fear >that I may never be able to return... > > In a moment I will use my shiny new jetpack to fly off to Pale Quavers, that >den of iniquity (like all despicable planets, its name is a corruption of >that of its respectable neighbour). With there stile barre of +1 ill have too >prey theyll let me inn! > > Each future rule must describe either one unfortunate consequence of the >current crisis or one of the steps that we must take in order to overcome >it. > >>>>>>> > > Anton > Style: Wit: The inclusion of a jet pack, made me laugh out loud, as the jet pack was the (unclaimed) reward for stylish rules in the last round. "I fear that I may never be able to return" is wittily self-deprecating. Like the former rule, a missed opportunity to pun on the planet's name. +0.5 Brevity: +0.5 Deviousness: -0.2 (but I'll not tell you why, ;-) Outer space theme: +1.0 Boring: somewhat, -0.5 Spelling & Grammar: 8 misspellings, 7 to foil a spellchecker, but obviously intentional, -0.75 Style theme: 0 Total: +0.55 Validity: The fact that Anton is on Oz does not imply falsely that his style total prior to this rule is in excess of 3, but rather that he never "traveled to" Oz, or that he once had more than 3, but his despicable behavior while there has lowered it. (I prefer to imagine the latter. Was he rude to Glinda the good witch? Did he pass his time bowling for Munchkins? The possibilities are delicious...) Otherwise, no problems. VALID 110:3 VALID Style +0.1 > Out of the depths of the black void the ships appear. At the word >of their proximity, even the most fierce space warriors tremble. They >are the Style Police. They descend into orbit around Valesparque and >take all inhabitants captive. With one blast of their lasers, >Valesparque is destroyed. An officer comes into the room in which we >are being stored and says: > "This removal of planets with unstylish rules is necessary to save >the universe from the unstylishness crisis. As for you, those with no >more than 5 style will be taken to Politicus. Since the rest of you >cannot be placed on such a despicable planet, you will come with me." > I would escape using my Hyper Drive, but the Style police tell me >that to have the same piece of equipment used twice is very unstylish. >So I accept my fate in the labor camps of Politicus, even though there >are great perils in doing so. For all the rules in which the author >begins in a despicable planet must record some misfortune that occurs >there. > by: Aron Wall Style: Wit: -0.5 Brevity: 0 (rules that continue to require the insertion of more and more story information in rules will be penalized for the increase in length of future rules as well as their own...) Deviousness: 0 Outer space theme: +1.0 Boring: -0.5 Spelling and Grammar: 0 Style theme: The style police concept is on theme, certainly, but shouldn't the style police be somewhat stylish (even over-stylish)? Lots of missed style opportunities here, +0.1 Total: +0.1 Validity: No problems. 110:4 VALID Style: 3.0 >>>>>>> > > While on Pale Quavers I have learnt more about the task that we face. It >seems we are threatened by an evil asthmatic, known as the Daft Raider. What >is worse, he is in league with one of our number! Storm's troopers accosted >me just after I arrived, and confiscated my lovely jetpack. > > Many have tried to stand up to this vile tyrant, but due to a catastrophic >failure of communication have completely misunderstood what it means to "Use >the FRC". So only we can stop him. > > The first step in defeating the Daft Raider is of course to avoid capture >by his men! As his spies are everywhere, we must attempt to cover our tracks. >Henceforth players must name both the planet they are actually planning to >travel to and its respectable/despicable (R/D) neighbour. > > I will shortly be boarding the express shuttle to either Planet Earth >(R, +1.5) or Penal Threat (D, -1). > >>>>>>> > > Anton > So, now the theme has morphed from "Style Counts in the Final Frontier" to "Style Wars," which is much better, I think... Style: Wit: it made me laugh, it made me cry, +1.0 Brevity: +0.5 Deviousness: Anton's found a way around the deviousness inherent in 110:1 and, since the first week is still with us, I'll award +0.5 Outer space theme: +1.0 Boring: Could be laying the groundwork for some interesting things, +0.2 Spelling & Grammar: -0.1 Style theme: Does not concern itself with style itself at all, but nevertheless it is stylish to craft the rule with a single movie reference in mind and keep hitting it home, these cancel out giving, 0 Use of equipment twice: So, what qualifies as use? Anton clearly used the jetpack once to get to Pale Quavers. It can be said he (the author) used it again in order to follow 110:3's requirement to recount a misfortune that occurred on this Despicable planet. It's marginal, -0.2. Total: +2.9 My -0.1 style adjustment for Anton's 110:4 was based on the "misspelling" of the word "learnt." I have found that Websters has this word listed as a variant spelling of "learned," so I am changing that part of the style judgement. The rule is now awarded the maximum; +3.0. -The Style Judge Validity: Looks like Anton made it safely to Planet Earth, VALID 110:5 VALID Style 0 >Note: 110:4 (if valid) does not imply that the rules must be ambiguous >when determining which of a pair of planets is actually traveled to. > >110:5 begins here: >----------------------------- > In Politicus, the indigenous peoples do nothing but discuss >politics (yawn...snore). All rules submitted from Politicus must be >Politically Correct. When I woke up I realized my Hyper Drive was gone. > > In order to use the FRC, a player must first declare themselves >aligned with either the Despicable side of the FRC or the Respectable >side of the FRC (alignments may change). I shall take this moment to >declare myself Respectably aligned. I shall now use the FRC... I >sense... millions of voices... no wait... I sense Oz... the people are >crying out in despair. They have lost their Wizard. The universe may >be saved only if the character known as the Wizard returns to Oz (they >will of course recognize him by his hard earned jetpack). We must find >the Wizard of Oz. In an attempt to find the Wizard, I will travel >(using the FRC) to Yellow Brick Road (Respectable, 1) which neighbors >Purple Plastic Highway (Despicable, -6). > by: Aron Wall Style: Wit: +0.5 Brevity: +0.5 Deviousness: 0 Outer Space Theme: 0 Boring: -1.0 Sp & Gr: 0 Style Theme: 0 Use of equipment twice: 0 Total: 0 Validity: *inhale helium* Follow, follow, follow, follow, Follow the yellow brick road. If ever oh ever a wiz there was, The Wizard of Oz is one because, Because, because, because, because, because, Because of the wonderful things he does! We're off to see the wizard, The wonderful Wizard of Oz! 110:6 INVALID Style -0.8 > >BWAAAHAAAHAAA > >I am the Evil Underlord, on the Despicable side of the FRC of course, >speaking to you, my faceless minions (as well as anyone else listening in), > from the very unstylish planet of Zurk (-2.1) > >Those who folllow the stylish side have fallen for my cover plan and are >seeking to return the Wizard's jetpack. Now we will embark on my true >plan. > >'We want to of course prevent the follower of the other side from getting >the jetpack back > >And > >We seek to find a board certified architect to design my hulking Sunnybrook >Fortress (having one's fortress crumble is beyond being unstylish, it is >tacky)' > >I do not want you to think that I am not doing my part to achieve these >goals, I >am now going to take my dreadnaught to the first moon of Arret, Shmedly >(-.0002), >overrated, as far as I am concerned; or to Arret (+1.2) where I will seek to >convert >the galactically known archtect of Space Terminals to my side after I find >my luggage > >All future rules must put an obstacle in the path of either the Despicable >side of the FRC >or the Respectable side of the FRC. > >Have a nice day > > > By; John-Martin Style: Wit: +0.5 Brevity: 0 Deviousness: 0 Outer Space Theme: +0.2 Boring: -0.5 Sp & Gr: -1.0 Style Theme: 0 Use of equipment twice: 0 Total: -0.8 Validity: 110:1 asks for both the style point limits and the (respectable/despicable) orientation of the planets; INVALID 110:7 VALID Style: +1.1 >>>>>>> > > A tragedy is unfolding here on Planet Earth. I arrived to find the Crown >Prince dead, and his people at war with the Daft Raider's men. Fortunately >I have avoided the enemy patrols, and have managed to make my way to the >edge of one of their vast prison camps. > > I can see three POWs approaching. With hands so low (due to their heavy >shackles) that they are rubbing along the ground. As they reach the fence >one of them whispers to me: > > "Please help us! You must find the prince's slayer! Do not just do this > for our sake, but for the good of all - he has the missing jetpack!" > > Recovering this jetpack will be a major advance as, of course, I always >know where the Wizard can be found... > > Our communications are being monitored by the enemy. Each future rule must >contain extra hidden information, along with an indication of how this >relates to the present crisis. For example, in this rule are concealed the >identities of four of the Daft Raider's traditional enemies. It is very bad >style to reveal information hidden in earlier rules. > > I will now use my portable transporter to travel to one of the pair of >planets Alpha Centauri/Tarpaulin Ache (R2/D2). > >>>>>>> > >Note: To preserve the Judge's sanity, it is probably best to point out to > him in private the precise nature of your hidden material! > > Anton > Style: Wit: Puns galore, and the anagram is impressive (although having used them before for this purpose diminishes the impact somewhat). The way R2/D2 fits into the round so seamlessly is a joy to behold, +1.5 Brevity: 0 Deviousness: Hidden clues are devious, but The Wizard has not put them to any use which might hamper the writing of rules during the first week and I note that the revelation of the hidden clues does not invalidate, but only penalize style: -0.1 Outer Space Theme: 0 (BTW, I am marking these low b/c most of the outer space stuff is required to be in the rule) Boring: -0.2 Sp & Gr: -0.1 (One sentence fragment) Style Theme: 0 Use of equipment twice: 0 Revelation of hidden info: 0 Total: +1.1 Validity: What evil lurks on Alpha Centauri? Only the Wizard knows! 110:8 INVALID Style: -0.8 >>>>>> begin rule 110.8 > >BWAAAHAAAHAAA > >>**I** am the Evil Underlord, on the Despicable side of the FRC >> of course, >>speaking to you, my faceless minions (as well as anyone else >> listening in), >> from the very unstylish planet of Zurk (-2.1) > >>Those who folllow the stylish side have fallen for my cover >> plan and are >>seeking to return the Wizard's jetpack. Now we will embark >> on my true >>plan. >> > >> >'We want to of course prevent the follower of the other side >> from getting >> >the jetpack back >> >And >> > >> >We seek to find a board certified architect to design my >> hulking Sunnybrook >> >Fortress (having one's fortress crumble is beyond > > being > unstylish, it is >> >tacky)' >> >I do not want you to think that I >> am not doing my part to > achieve these > >goals, I> >am >> > > now going to take my dreadnaught to the first moon of Arret, Shmedly >(a >> >suffocating, dispickable planet, -.0002),> >or to >> Arret (respectble, +1.2) > where I will > >convert >> >all galactically known Space Terminal archtecdts to my >> players side after I find> >my luggage all future rules >> >must steal text from invalid rules *OR* >> get a positive style score. I can smell victory in the > air. Bwahahahahaha! > >> Have a nice day > >>>>>> end rule > By: Jason Talk about taking the low road! Style: Wit: For the entire concept, +0.5 Brevity: 0 Deviousness: 0 Outer space theme: 0 Boring: 0 Sp & Gr: -1.5 Way over the top! Please spare me all the gratuitous >'s, I might have reconsidered the theme if I knew I would have to read rules this jumbled! Style theme: +0.2 Use of equipment twice: 0 (what do you get for use of a rule twice?) Revelation of hidden info: 0 Total: -0.8 Validity: D'oh, you forgot to include "an indication of how this [hidden information] relates to the present crisis," INVALID ****************** Unfortunately, in the rush of Friday afternoon this got sent to Oerjan instead of to the list. Technically, the rule did time out valid over the weekend, but I VOTE for 110:B to make it INVALID. I am, however, unless someone strenuously objects, going to include the style point award into the official tally. 110:9 VALID (by timeout) Style: -1.5 >This is my rule: > >> >BWAAAHAAAHAAA >> > >> >>**I** am the Evil Underlord, on the Despicable side of the FRC >> >> of course, >>speaking to you, my faceless minions (as well as >> anyone else >> listening in), >> from the very unstylish planet of >> Zurk (-2.1) > >>Those who folllow the stylish side have fallen for my >> cover >> plan and are >>seeking to return the Wizard's jetpack. Now >> we will embark >> on my true >>plan. >> > >> >'We want to of course >> prevent the follower of the other side >> from getting >> >the jetpack >> back >> >And >> > >> >We seek to find a board certified architect to >> design my >> hulking Sunnybrook >> >Fortress (having one's fortress >> crumble is beyond > > being > unstylish, it is >> >tacky)' >> >I do >> not want you to think that I >> am not doing my part to > achieve >> these > >goals, I> >am >> > > now going to take my dreadnaught to the >> first moon of Arret, Shmedly >(a >> >suffocating, dispickable planet, >> -.0002),> >or to >> Arret (respectble, +1.2) > where I will > >convert >> >> >all galactically known Space Terminal archtecdts to my >> players >> side after I find> >my luggage all future rules >> >must steal text >> from invalid rules *OR* >> get a positive style score. I can smell >> victory in the > air. Bwahahahahaha! > >> Have a nice day > >>>>>> >>Note devious hidden information >about the ancient Planet Earth organization within my grip! > By: Oerjan Here we go again... Style: Wit: Is it witty to steal a stolen rule? Yeah, sure, why not, +0.5 Brevity: 0 Deviousness: declaring it devious does not make it so, 0 Outer space theme: 0 Boring: Twice-baked, yum; thrice-baked, not, -1.0 Sp. & Gr: -1.0 Style Theme: 0 Use of equipment twice: 0 Revelation of hidden info: 0 Total: -1.5 Validity: Anton asked, "...it would be nice if someone would enlighten me as to the sense in which Shmedly "is a corruption of" Arret...." I have not been so enlightened and so the rule is INVALID. ************** This rule has also timed out valid for the same reason as the last, because I sent the Judgement to the author instead of the list. Aron did not realize this, so it doesn't affect the round much. I will in the next post propose to make the rule INVALID. Here's the original post: Rule 110:10 VALID (by timeout) Style: -0.2 > Rule: > All these shocking violations of the style code will thwart any attempt to >save the universe if they are allowed to continue. Hence, I have been FRCd to >take desperate measures to solve the crisis. As the new Rather Enlightened >Style Police Executive Commander of all Tanks, Attack Bombers, Light Energy >Squads, and the Universally Nifty Ideas That Exist, I sign a warrant of arrest >for all players who do not align themselves to the Respectable side in their >next proposal. I will now travel in my starship to my HQ at No Pets Allowed >(R, 0). By the way, Storm's Troopers are keeping the jetpack in storage at the >HQ's neighboring planet, No Pets Allowed (R, -2) (R/R is legal!) >Aron Wall > Style: Wit: +0.1 Brevity: +0.2 Deviousness: 0 Outer space theme: 0 Boring: -0.5 Sp. & Gr: 0 Style Theme: 0 Using equipment twice: 0 Revealing hidden info: 0 Total: -0.2 Validity: Does this phrase from my judgement of 110:6 ring any bells? "D'oh, you forgot to include "an indication of how this [hidden information] relates to the present crisis," INVALID" D'oh, INVALID. 110:11 INVALID Style: -1.0 >My trip is to Planet Earth or Penal Threat. Examination of first >letters reveals who (due to the crisis) has the jetpack (Hint: it can't >be stolen w/o using the FRC). By: Aron Style: Wit: 0 Brevity: +1 Deviousness: 0 Outer Space Theme: 0 Boring: -1 Sp. & Gr: 0 Style Theme: 0 Use of equipment twice: -1 Revelation of hidden info: 0 Total: -1.0 Validity: Aron inserts the words "(due to the crisis)" into the phrase "Examination of first letters reveals who has the jetpack." The crisis has existed since at least rule 110:2, but yet examination of first letters in those the relvant previous rules does not indicate who had the jetpack at those times; INVALID.