From owner-frc@troll.no Sat Mar 11 19:16:11 2000 Received: from root@svin12 [131.155.71.135] by svfile1.win.tue.nl (8.9.3) for id TAA17094 (ESMTP). Sat, 11 Mar 2000 19:16:11 +0100 (MET) Received: from lupinella.troll.no [195.0.254.19] by svin12.win.tue.nl (8.9.3) for id TAA08460 (ESMTP). Sat, 11 Mar 2000 19:16:06 +0100 (MET) Received: by troll.no id ; Sat, 11 Mar 2000 19:15:36 +0100 Sender: owner-frc@troll.no Precedence: list X-Loop: frc From: Jesse Welton Message-Id: <200003111815.NAA15854@campbell.mps.ohio-state.edu> Subject: Round 131 Final Summary To: frc@troll.no (Fantasy Rules Committee List) Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 13:15:12 -0500 (EST) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: RO Final Summary of Round 131: Secret Societies and the Laws of Magic, or The Laws of the Secret Societies of Magic. All other suggested themes (Palindromes; Goedel, Escher, and Bach; and Hunt the Wumpus) were also incorporated eventually. The Wizard-Judge of Round 131 was Jesse. The Wizard-Judge of Round 132 shall be Christian, dead though he is by the wrath of Obatalla for not resurrecting Henry. All hail the new, dead Wizard-Judge! Player eligibilities: Player Eligible until Style Christian 2000-03-15 00:09:00 +9.5 Expired Players Ineligible since Henry Towsner 2000-03-10 23:49:32 +2.5 2000-03-08 20:49:20 -- Xylen 2000-03-07 20:49:20 +1.5 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-07 18:09:12 +3.0 Aron Wall 2000-03-06 21:01:28 +6.0 Summary of rules: 131:1 Henry Towsner 2000-03-01 20:49:20 VALID +1.5 131:2 Aron Wall 2000-03-01 21:19:57 VALID +2 131:3 Christian 2000-03-02 15:45:16 VALID -1 131:4 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-02 18:09:12 VALID +0.5 131:5 Christian 2000-03-02 18:21:53 VALID +1.5 131:6 Aron Wall 2000-03-02 21:01:28 VALID +0.5 (was +1.5) 131:7 Christian 2000-03-03 15:46:04 INVALID +1 131:8 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-03 17:08:39 INVALID +1.5 131:9 Christian 2000-03-03 20:35:30 VALID +2 131:10 Henry Towsner 2000-03-03 23:49:32 VALID +1 131:11 Aron Wall 2000-03-04 00:12:39 INVALID +1 131:12 Xylen 2000-03-04 09:47:42 INVALID +1.5 131:13 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-04 12:24:02 INVALID +1 131:14 Aron Wall 2000-03-04 15:54:33 INVALID +1 131:15 Christian 2000-03-06 19:09:44 INVALID +2.5 (was +1) 131:16 Aron Wall 2000-03-07 04:21:57 INVALID +1.5 131:17 Christian 2000-03-07 21:04:51 INVALID +1.5 131:18 Christian 2000-03-08 00:09:00 VALID +2 Complete rules and judgements: 131:1 Henry Towsner 2000-03-01 20:49:20 VALID +1.5 > > ---131:1--- > Like all rules, this one contains an excerpt from the Code of Conduct > of one of the four secret societies of Magi, in this case from the > opening chapter of the Code of Conduct of the Secret Society of Fire, > Radience, and Combat Magi: > > This document defers to the two grand laws of all Magi: > 1) No Magus shall state an excerpt from the Code of Conduct > of a Secret Society other than their own. > 2) No Magus shall slay another Magus except on a Tuesday or > alternate Wednesday. > ---131:1--- Validity: No problems. Style: The rule itself doesn't particularly thrill me, but I quite like the combination of The Laws of Magic with Secret Societies. Shazam! 131:2 Aron Wall 2000-03-01 21:19:57 VALID +2 > > 131:2 > >>>>> > The Wizard's Society Handbook > > Membership: > > 1) Only a being with positive or zero style may be a member of the > Society. > > 2) Any reference to the Wizard by any name other than "Wizard", "the > Wizard", or "The Wizard", shall result in immediate and permanent > expulsion from the Society. > > 3) Only a member of the Society may be aware of its existance, or > post any rule with information that only someone aware of its existance > could know. > > 4) In order to support the buisness of our patron necromancers, > members are obliged to explicitly slay a member of another society in > all of their VALID rules in which a slaying is allowed. > > Henry Towsner, I hereby command you to drop dead. > >>>>> Validity: No problems. Style: I like the resurrection of the old restriction on references to the Wizard. The style requirement is quite appropriate. Can item 3 be binding on those outside the Wizards Society, who couldn't even know of this restriction? That's some powerful magic, and on the theme of secrecy to boot. On the negative side, it's a tad long, and any niceness in supporting the business of necromancers is more than made up for by the slaying of our dear, departed Henry Towsner. (Not much of a penalty on this latter, because as yet being dead doesn't seem to be a terrible disability.) Pouf! 131:3 Christian 2000-03-02 15:45:16 VALID -1 > >>>>> > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 1) All practioners of Voodoo must invoke the power of one or more of the > Loa in each of their rules. > 2) No Vodunista shall reveal the location of the sacred Wumpus to an > outsider. > > I call upon Baron Samedi, guardian of the grave, to resurrect Henry as a > zombie in my service. Zombies, being undead, regain the ability to post > rules which they lost at death. A zombie may not, however, harm, restrict, > or reduce the eligibility of his master. > >>>>> Validity: As long as I take this to imply that rules posted by dead players may not be valid, rather than that dead players are ineligible to post rules, I don't think this conflicts with the ROs. I certainly don't see any other potential conflicts, so this is VALID. Style: Voodoo is good. I like the inclusion of the Sacred Wumpus. However, the inability of dead players to post is harsh, as is the inability of a zombie to restrict eir master, especially for the second day of play. Fuop! 131:4 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-02 18:09:12 VALID +0.5 > > ---131:4--- > > I use the spell 'Imprint Command' on Aron Wall to let him raise a zombie. > The effects of this spell are described as below. > > The Code of the Conduct of the Living Dead states: > > In the Chapter Limitations: > Just after using magic for the second time in a day, the Magus will > drop dead from exhaustion, or will revert back to dead when the Magus > is un-dead (like zombies are). > > In the Chapter Will Power and it's use: > The 'Imprint Command' spell: With this spell a Magus can be given > a command that he has to execute before he can do other things. > Time restrictions on these commands can not be given with this spell. > > ---131:4--- Validity: No problems. Style: Although it seems strange for the Living Dead to constitute one of the four Secret Societies of Magi, and the excerpts don't have much to do with a code of conduct, this rule is entirely in line with the other sense of "Laws of Magic". Is it bad for a magus to drop dead from two magic uses in a single day, or will it simply have the effect of reducing overall magic use? Time will tell. I like the Imprint Command spell, although it could make things difficult for Aron if there aren't any more dead bodies lying around. Throw in the traditional small bonus for a first rule, and I'll give this +0.5. 131:5 Christian 2000-03-02 18:21:53 VALID +1.5 > >>>>> > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 3) Only evil Vodunistas may use voodoo dolls. > 4) Like all magi, any Vodunista who submits a rule while another magus lies > dead must resurrect that magus to some non-dead status within that rule, > lest Obatalla strike *him* down, and give his life (or other non-dead > status) to the fallen. > > Damballah, hear me, thou serpent spirit! Envenom this pin with which I > prick the little finger of the left hand of this voodoo doll, crafted in > Aron's likeness! If he uses the letter Q, A, or Z henceforth, he shall > surely perish. > <<<<< Validity: No problems. Style: As Christian says, this makes it less likely for death to be a lasting problem for the dead. That is, at least as long as there are sufficiently many live players to keep restoring the dead... I like it. Why do I get the feeling we're moving distinctly in the direction of what is perhaps the one theme I *didn't* suggest for this round, The Zombie Game? Muad'dib! 131:6 Aron Wall 2000-03-02 21:01:28 VALID +0.5 (was +1.5) > >>>>> > I seem to have created a zombie somehow earlier today. Rather > annoying, aren't they-- drooling and all. But at least its low > maintenance. By the way Christian, next time you'd better specify > *when* I'll perish. I already knew I was going to die eventually... > > Wizard's Handbook, Part IV: > "THIRD LAW: After the sixth rule, restrictions must be one of these > three types: Laws, Social Contracts, and Spells." > > There are Seven Laws. Two have already been revealed in the first > rule. Each Society currently knows exactly one more of these Laws. The > Laws affect all Magi and Societies equally. > > Social Contracts are rules specific to one Secret Society. They may > only restrict members of that society and the possession/ revelation of > information peculiar to that society. Only a Magi from a given society > may create Social Contract restrictions for that society. > > A Spell is a restriction together with (optionally) a ritual used to > cast the spell. A spell fails if it is inconsistent with previous VALID > rules, itself, or the R.O.'s. If two spells contradict each other, the > one which, in The Wizard's opinion, has the more difficult/stylish > ritual takes precedence, and the other Spell is lifted. If a Spell > fails, this does not necessarily make the rule INVALID--the Spell just > has no effect. Conversely, even a Spell in an INVALID or UNSUCCESSFUL > rule can have an effect if it doesn't fail. > > I'm sure you all want an example: > > " `No melon, no lemon.' Christian is now a toad. Toads cannot cast > Spells." > > But note that he can still cast a Spell if it nulls this one due to > a better ritual (say using a longer palindrome). > >>>>> Validity: First, whom did Aron raise from the dead? Since no one was raised in 131:5, someone must have died since then. I believe I know who it is. Do you? Second, Aron's attempt at escaping Christian's curse gives me pause. Does this rule contradict the curse? Actually, neither rule seems to give a definitive answer; we'll just have to wait and see... Third, is it (internally) inconsistent for a spell preventing the casting of another spell to be nullified by the other spell if the other spell's casting is more stylish? That is, can the casting of the second spell take place in the first place to even consider if it's more stylish? I guess I can agree with that. Style: As Aron notes, it's a long rule. That costs it somewhat, but it's still a good rule overall. I like the distinction being drawn between Laws, Social Contracts, and Spells, although I would have liked to see more Magical Principles as well. Spells cancelling each other by the power of style is clever, and I like it. I also like the use of a palindrome in Aron's spell (it would have been still more stylish if the palindrome was topically related to the spell). Eki-eki-eki-ptang! Style: In retrospect, the limitation of restrictions to Laws (of which there are very few), Social Contracts (which are essentially useless when each magus is in eir own secret society), and Spells (which aren't to the point of the theme) is more damaging than I first realized. I've therefore adjusted the style of this rule from +1.5 to +0.5. Ni! 131:7 Christian 2000-03-03 15:46:04 INVALID +1 > >>>>> > Ayza, protecting spirit, be praised! Aron's feeble, yet vexing, spell was > of blessedly short duration, expiring at dawn. Damballah's poison having > worked it's magic, I call upon Baron Samedi to bring me vengeance by > resurrecting Aron into my service as a zombie. > > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 5) Any Vodunista calling upon the power of a Loa which has not been > previously invoked must identify that spirit's sphere of influence. > 6) Only non-evil Vodunistas may call upon the aid of the Wumpus. > > Book of Laws > Fourth Law: Undead magi must immediately renounce any secret society > affiliations they possessed while alive, and become members of the Living > Dead, a society open only to undead magi. > <<<<< Validity: Laws must affect all magi and all societies equally. For a law to state that only undead magi may be members of the Living Dead is clearly in violation of this. INVALID. Style: Breaking Aron's spell would have been better than just having it fizzle out. I like the idea of causing the undead to become members of the Living Dead, especially given the limits placed on restrictions in 131:6. In fact, as I think about it, I notice that 131:6 pretty well prevents any cross-disciplinary restriction-making other than the casting of spells and an all-too-limited number of laws. With only four magi, split among four societies, social contracts become essentially irrelevant unless the magi start funneling into one society somehow. In retrospect, I'll dock Aron a point and award it to this rule. +1 Ssssssssssssssssssfp! 131:8 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-03 17:08:39 INVALID +1.5 > ---131:8--- > > I use the Imprint Command spell again on Aron Wall with the command: > "Use the spell God's Breath targetting Henry Towsner" > > I found an interesting spell in the Code of Conduct of the Living Dead : > > The spell God's Breath consist of saying the words 'Dog, forever of God' > preceded by the name of the target. That target will receive from some > God the needed essence to regain life, on the condition that the target > was undead. > > While searching some spells I found in the Code of Conduct of the Living > Dead they have a structure of obedience: > > The title of 'Undead Lord' is granted to the member with the > longest known affiliation. > A member may not restrict the Undead Lord, nor cast spells on him unless > he is forced to it. > > ---131:8--- Validity: This rule restricts the Undead Lord (who would not be allowed to restrict the Undead Lord), and is therefore INVALID. Style: The palindrome isn't half bad, and I like the restoration of undead players to true life, especially when undead slaves can't restrict their masters. I'm less thrilled by the Undead Lord bit. Disallowing players from restricting oneself is unsporting. Emphah! 131:9 Christian 2000-03-03 20:35:30 VALID +2 > >>>>> > Frooak! Hopping nimbly into the ashes of last night's fire, I croak the > words of an incantation. "Straw? No, too stupid a fad; I put soot on > warts." Praise Obatalla, creator of all life! A toad no more, my human form > is restored unto me. > > "Dammit, I'm mad," I shout, calling upon the power of Ogu Bodagris, spirit > of war, to destroy the corpse of foul Aron utterly. Aron is now an undead > Restless Spirit, doomed to wander the earth bodiless and unable to afflict > others with his baleful magics until the end of time. > > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 5) Any undead Vodunista is immediately expelled from the Society. > 6) Christian, as the Society's current high priest (or Bokor), may expel > any Vodunista as he sees fit. He reserves the right to sacrifice them to > the Wumpus, as well. > > Book of Laws > Fourth Law: No magus may be a member of more than one Society at a time. > <<<<< Validity: A quite stylish counterspell to Aron's enchantment allows Christian to proceed. As long as "Aron is now an undead Restless Spirit..." is considered to be part of Christian's spell, I don't see any problem there. The reference to Aron's corpse establishes that Aron died of Christian's letter curse. Christian must ressurect him to non-dead status, and does, if not particularly charitably. Style: "Frooak" is cute. The wart-relieving treatment Christian applies is very stylish. The Law is solid. I'm not so fond of utter destruction of fellow magi, however. (Fortunately, by 131:6, we know this has to be undoable, despite the permanency implied by the spell's wording.) On balance, I give it a +2. Hoshhoshimini! 131:10 Henry Towsner 2000-03-03 23:49:32 VALID +1 > ---131:10--- > As noted in the Code of Conduct of my society (the Secret > Society of Fire, Radience, and Combat Magi), "No FRC Magus shall seek > vengeance upon another magus, but shall rather turn the other cheek > and forgive him." I therefore forgive Aron, however reluctantly. > Indeed, as proof I offer the following, an invocation to the founder > of the society of FRC magi: > "Ah, Aristides opposed it, sir, aha!" > This is a counter-spell to the one cast in 131:9. It > reverses the effect from the victim to the caster, restoring Aron but > punishing his over-vicious attacker. Sadly (or not, depending on > your point of view), Aron is no longer able to slay people, since he > has benefited from the protection of great Aristides, who wrote in > the Code of Conduct "I grant my protection even unto the undeserving, > but the undeserving surrender their harmful magics when they receive > my aid." > ---131:10--- Validity: 131:3 doesn't allow Henry to harm or restrict Christian, his master -- unless this spell breaks the one from 131:3 as well as that from 131:9. In the Wizard's opinion, this spell's casting is definitely more stylish than either of those, so that's all right. (However, note that breaking Christian's resurrection spell leaves Henry once again dead. Sorry, Henry. This also seems to only reverse the effect of Christian's spell from 131:9, not the one from 131:5, so Aron is also "restored" to a dead state rather than a live state. This is a little more ambiguous, though.) Style: I like the way the quotations work with the rule, and the generous action of restoring Aron. The palindrome is right on target, too. As I read it, the effects of Christian's spell on Aron are visited on Christian himself, namely that his corpse is destroyed and he may never cast his baleful magics on others. Only in this case, since the casting is so much more stylish, the spell is harder to break, and correspondingly more brutal. (And what does it mean for Christian's corpse to be destroyed when he's still alive?) I'm counting off for that (more than I counted off Chistian's original casting), but Henry is left with a healthy +1. Zzzzzap! 131:11 Aron Wall 2000-03-04 00:12:39 INVALID +1 > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > 6 1 8 T_ab = R_ab - (1/2)g_abR > 7 5 3 d psi/ dt = -i H psi > 2 9 4 R_abcd;e + R_abde;c + Rabec;d = 0 > > May the gods of style accept my sacrifice! > Of a day of eligibility and the gizzard of a Cockatrice, > The head of a Wumpus, seasoned with spice, > Formulae of power invoked thrice! > > Void past and future spells alike, with a "blip" > If they change my societal membership. > > And if they ruin my spells, or force my rules to be INVALID > Then destroy their spell, its effects from the earth rid! > > And note this, Christian, you who are cursed by The Wizard, > This spell keeps me alive through the power of the gizzard. > > Henry, your spells and mine alone are exempt, > For my counteraction, your spell did preempt. > > Bind the spell with the season of thyme, > And seal the spell with verse in rhyme. > And for the enduring effects of time, > Square the circle with an old tarnished dime. > > ABRACADABRA > ABRACADABR arexi rebitigo whitterdam innundaes > ABRACADAB > ABRACADA > ABRACAD Henry, do not question the mystery of the > ABRACA SEVEN > ABRAC 7 > ABRA > ABR > AB > A * * * * > * * * > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Validity: This rule was obviously never meant to be VALID. It doesn't even bother quoting a passage to satisfy 131:1. Style: First, to the style of the spell, I don't find most of the rhyming verse particularly compelling or difficult. I do like the inclusion of additional ornamentation like the magic square and physics equations, but again they're not particularly difficult, nor stylishly related to the spell. The difficulty factor is further lessened by being in an intentionally INVALID rule. That said, the core of the spell is good, and I do think some parts of it are quite stylish (like the exempt/preempt lines). It's a tough call, but I think it's just good enough to lift Christian's alphabetic curse. It's probably not the rock-solid sheild Aron was hoping for, though. At least it gets him his life back. +1 131:12 Xylen 2000-03-04 09:47:42 INVALID +1.5 > ---131:12--- > I apologize to my fellow magi of the Secret Society of Fire, Radience, > and Combat Magi, but I have been doing some research in the Ancient > Books. With the revelations of several of the Great Laws which affect > all magi, I felt the need to check some obscure writings. On the seventh > page, of the seventh chapter of the seventh book of our Society, is the > following: > > "Heed my words, all Magi of our most noble Secret Order of Fire, > Radience and Combat. Upon the very hour of the very day that the Seventh > Great Law is revealed, great calamities will befall the world. The > Magi's of our order must prepare themselves with spells never before > used, in order to protect ourselves and the innocent from the doom of > that day." > > I should remind the magi of my order, that the undead are considered > innocent. > > ---131:12--- Validity: Contrary to my initial impression, this rule's validity does not appear to depend upon the number of Laws yet to be revealed, so there's no problem there. However, the Social Contract given, that the order's Magi must prepare themselves with spells, is not carried out. I find it very difficult to reconcile a reading of this which applies only to future rules, given that the reference is presented as a previously standing requirement. So I think this is INVALID. Note that (were this VALID) I think I must treat "great calamities will befall the world" as a Law, since it is clearly a restriction that doesn't appear to be either a Spell or a Social Contract. That leaves me in a bit of a bind as to the nature of the first paragraph; I suppose since only members of the Society may report the contents of that page, it must be a Social Contract to specify what it is. (This is an issue that only recently came to mind, which affects earlier rules, as well.) So I guess it's okay, other than the Social Contract problem. Style: Great Calamities (TM) don't do much for me, but I like the clauses about preparing with previously-unseen spells, and protecting the innocent. The Sevens are also a nice touch. Ptchew! 131:13 Luk Vandelaer 2000-03-04 12:24:02 INVALID +1 > ---131:13--- > > I'm relieved that I will be saved when doom comes. > > In the chapter about members in the Code of Conduct of the Living Dead, we > can read the following passage: > > "A magi who applies for membership, must be allowed when he is > undead, and only when he is undead. When he becomes alive again, he > will be expelled from the Society." > > It is known that all magi, when they die, get a note tucked into > their pocket, with a description how they can apply for membership. > > ---131:13--- Validity: I said before that I thought this would be VALID, but only if the last sentence can be considered restriction-free. While it certainly doesn't appear to be a practical restriction on the style of play we've seen so far, it does strike me that it does establish a fact about all magi that could conceivably be contradicted later on. So it seems it would have to be a Law. I feel I'd have to treat the first sentence similarly, which contradicts the one-Law-per-Society clause of 131:6. Style: The heart of this small rule is a nice Social Contract. +1 131:14 Aron Wall 2000-03-04 15:54:33 INVALID +1 > >>>>> > I note that the FRC Magi have very recently discovered the secret > which until now has only been known to the Wizard, myself, and the three > other members of The Wizard's Society. I suppose it would not hurt to > inform them of the good news as well-- that the Seventh Law (because it > must, by definition, be revealed last) will not be fully known until the > secret meanings of all the other Laws are revealed. To quote the > Wizard's Handbook: > > "Take the Second Law, known from antiquity, which says that a Magi > may only slay another Magi on a Tuesday or an alternate Wednesday. It > is obvious that the secret meaning of this Law is that the revelation of > the Seventh Law can only take place on one of these days, so that the > Magi will be prepared for the occasion with their death spells. Only > this fragment of the Seventh Law is known to our society: > > `... and only the most stylish, self-restrictive secret society > shall survive.' " > > Ajicum Adoriicum, Prosti Xegnosti, through the Power of the Laws I > restore Luk Vandalaer to life on the condition that he join The Wizard's > Society (though he probably won't stay alive for long without a good > shielding spell like mine). > >>>>> Validity: In order for this rule to be VALID, the first paragraph must describe a Law formerly known only to the Wizard's Society. That means that the Third Law could not have been amongst the laws refered to in 131:6's "Each Society currently knows exactly one more of these Laws." These four Laws therefore constitute Laws 4 through 7, which means the Seventh Law is known, which contradicts the paragraph. This is therefore INVALID. Style: I like the idea of merging Secret Societies, so the spell here tickles me. The rest of the rule tries to do too much, resulting in a proliferation of fragments that must be Laws -- it doesn't seem as though this kind of rule can work anymore. I don't really care for the "hidden message" idea. +1 131:15 Christian 2000-03-06 19:09:44 INVALID +2.5 (was +1) > >>>>> > "Resistor diode aphasia path? No." > > I wander'd lonely, as a cloud, turning and twisting the words of Henry's > incantation in my (incorporeal) mind, desperately seeking a way to break > his enchantment and reclaim the flesh I had lost. > > "His oasis hid a pop tart desire? No." > > My restless wandering had carried me far from my tiny island home, and I > now found myself roaming the trackless wastes of the Egyptian desert. It > was here, as I crested a dune and gazed down upon the wonders of the fabled > Valley of the Kings, that it came to me. > > "So, a dead pharoah is spirit site!" > > I have inscribed rule 131:15 here on the wall of Akhenaten's tomb just > prior to invoking these words, words which shall clothe me once more in > blessed flesh. Know, then, that I wait within this stone sarcophagus, > biding my time, dead, but not (I trust) forgotten. Know, too, that soon I > shall awake... > > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 7) Any Vodunista expelled from the society for being undead is > automatically readmitted upon loss of that status. > 8) Any Vodunista may be restored to life by inscribing upon the wall of > their tomb the following words: "I am the Wumpus. Goo goo ga joob!" The > magus will arise at dawn following his interment. > <<<<< Validity: Is it just me, or have the rules been increasingly narrative since the restriction of restrictions to Laws, Social Contracts, and Spells? To which of these categories would we assign the restriction that Christian is now in a sarcophagus? Or is that a non-restriction? Fortunately, I don't think I have to decide that. For one thing, Christian isn't dead; he's an undead Restless Spirit, contradicting "...biding my time, dead..." For another thing, the quotations from the Vodunistas Code of Conduct aren't proper Social Contracts, since they affect Magi expelled from the Vodunistas and therefore no longer part of that society. Style: Long, but I like the pharoanic material and the Wumpus incantation. +1 Further notes: If the incantation is a spell, I don't think it's quite good enough to break Henry's spell. If it's not a spell, it has no power in an INVALID rule, anyway. Gebbeth uxi hralvar vlee! Style Adjustment: I hadn't noticed that the phrases Christian uses are anagrams of Henry's "Ah, Aristides opposed it, sir, aha!" This is really much more stylish than I first realized, so I'm bumping the style award from +1 to +2.5, and consider this spell to break Henry's spell. 131:16 Aron Wall 2000-03-07 04:21:57 INVALID +1.5 > >>>>> > The Wizard: We have called this meeting together to discuss two > questions of pertinance to all of us. (Secretary Findon, are you > transcribing this into The Wizard's Handbook?) The first one is the > issue of Xenofer's most heinously unstylish transgression... > > Xenofer: No! I didn't mean it! I meant to call you Wizard! It was > only a slip of the tongue. I can ex-- Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ! > > > The Wizard: Now for the next order of buisness, somewhat lighter than > the one about my name. We are here to discuss the complete annihilation > of the universe! I fail to see, despite the arguments of our esteemed > member Aron, how the universe could possibly be constructed from only > Seven Laws. Do you not consider it likely that, Magi being the fools > that they are, the Laws will quickly be filled up with useless baggage > to fulfil their own personal agendas, while the more important task of > finding the Principles of Magic will become forever barred? If only all > Magi were in the same society, so that Social Contracts could support > the rules necessary to a well-oiled round! > > Aron: Ah, but have you overlooked the fact that one of the Laws could > be a schema of restrictions, and hence in essence allow for an unlimited > amount of restrictions? > > Luk: I have something sort of like that about Social Contracts. It is > known to the society of the Living Dead, to which I previously belonged, > the next Law, namely: > "As soon as this Law reaches the ears of the Wizard, it shall take > effect. Secret Societies must now be consistant in their acceptance or > rejection of other Society's Social Contract restrictions. If they > accept the contract's restriction, they must obey it as if it was their > own. If they reject it, they must disobey it in all of their VALID > rules in which it is possible to do so VALIDLY." > > The Wizard: I love it! It creates restrictions between Magi in > different societies! For inviting Luk into my Society, Aron, I am > forced to give you a style rating of... > >>>>> Validity: Unfortunately, this law is contrary to the definition of Social Contract: "They may only restrict members of that society and the possession/ revelation of information peculiar to that society." If others are required to either obey or disobey a Social Contract, then it does *not* restrict only members of that Society. Style: At first I didn't like this, but as I mulled it over, I came increasingly to think, "What a great idea!" Even though I don't like the narrative form of this rule (which gives me some difficulty with respect to classifying restrictions) I really like the portrayal of The Wizard, and the philosophical discussion. Just a little off for length. ...Ohm Ampere Ohm... 131:17 Christian 2000-03-07 21:04:51 INVALID +1.5 > >>>>> > The Wumpus and the Carpenter > Were walking close at hand: > They wept like anything to see > Such quantities of sand: > 'If Christian were alive today,' > They said, 'it would be grand!' > > 'O Christian, come and walk with us!' > The Wumpus did beseech. > 'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, > Along the sandy beach: > I give you back your life, Bokor, > That Voodoo you may preach.' > > 'The time has come,' the Wumpus said, > 'To talk of many things: > Of codes of conduct which declare > That Vodunist beings > May not leave our Society > Except on Death's black wings.' > > 'O Wumpus,' said the Carpenter, > 'This was a lot of fun! > But now he's in the guild again, > Is our good work not done?' > The Wumpus said 'Now he's been told > Of our rule six-plus-one!' > <<<<< Validity: The third stanza tells us another Vodunist Social Contract, but it doesn't contain an actual excerpt from the Code of Conduct as required by 131:1. It also seems to contradict item 6 of the Vodunist Code of Conduct. INVALID. Style: Nice poem. Yothu Yindi! 131:18 Christian 2000-03-08 00:09:00 VALID +2 > >>>>> > Wizard: A valid rule would be nice. Not much time left... > Christian: I'll see what I can do. > Wizard: Don't disappoint me! > Christian: No, I would never dream of such a thing. > Wizard: Good. So I hear you've joined the Vodunistas? > Christian: Yes, assuming this rule's Code of Conduct is OK. > Wizard: So, will this be a valid rule? > Christian: I think so. > Wizard: OK. > > Society of Vodunistas Code of Conduct > 7) O Papa Legba, let the Society never deny entrance to any who desire > membership! > > Christian: OK? > Wizard: I think so. > Christian: So, will this be a valid rule? > Wizard: Yes, assuming this rule's Code of Conduct is OK. > Christian: Good. So I hear you've joined the Vodunistas? > Wizard: No, I would never dream of such a thing. > Christian: Don't disappoint me! > Wizard: I'll see what I can do. > Christian: A valid rule would be nice. Not much time left... > <<<<< Validity: I suppose "O Papa Legba" counts as invoking the power of one of the Loa as required by rule 1 in 131:3. I think allowing entry to anyone doesn't contradict rules 5 or 6 (131:9), either; the undead for instance may join, but are immediately expelled. And I suppose the conversation is about as restriction-free as is possible. I don't see any other potential problems, so this is VALID. Style: The final piece falls into place in our mishmash of stylish elements. Well executed! Now I'm off to figure out which of our local Magi yet live. -- Rule Date: 2000-03-11 18:15:36 GMT