RPS Ladder Tournament!

[Franklint]

After working out exactly where C. Urbanus and I stand in our match, I realised that we haven't actually quite finished, and have edited my previous post accordingly. We're currently at 3 wins to 2 to C. Urbanus.

Sorry guys.

Cheers,
Franklint

[martinburley]

custardchuk's challenge match against me is tied up at 1-1 so far:

custardchuk P - S martinburley
custardchuk R - S martinburley
custardchuk S - S martinburley

[C. Urbanus]

Well, the web filter at the PBRPRPSCLCS headquarters blocks both the e-mail account I use for RPSgame and RPSgame itself.

So the conclusion of our match will have to wait several hours, Franklint.

[Maxamillion]

hey Martin,
you challenge first match (No492) & won with P to my R
I challenged Second Match (No551) we drew R to R
You challenged third match (No552) with P I replied with S.  So we are even 1 match each.

RPSGame site would not accept my next challenge to you.
Is this because my challenge to cohrs has not been completed yet?
Meaning each player can only have one match at a time through RPSgame.

Mixed up or messed up?
Max

[martinburley]

No, you should be able to have multiple challenges going at the same time. You can only have one challenge open against a particular player (i.e. if you've already challenged me, you can't challenge me again until I've replied to the first challenge), but I just checked the site and you don't have any challenges open against me, so that isn't the issue.

I suggest you try again, and if it still doesn't work, try sending the challenge to a different email address of mine (which I've just sent you in a message).

[Master Roshambollah]

I look forward to participating in this much-anticipated and well-run tournament.

[Maxamillion]

Thanks Martin I will get the hang of this game, my challenge will arrive one way or the other.

Interesting observation Rosh.

I think this might be the legacy our ancesters left us.
ie a ladder to climb a mountain of technology to play a game designed to entertain humans before spoken language was developed.

As you say it is providing the means to play international RPS.
It also enables me to play matches & see how the top internationals think.
An opportunity i am gratefull for.

Perhaps it is the ladder to success!

Experientially you are probably at the top of the ladder.
Assuming the game is played for enjoyment. Is the best way to enjoy the sport not to play?
If so, by not playing will there be any decendents of the sport for you to be an ancester to?

What do you enjoy about the game now?

I trust you will accept my comments in the spirit of my learning that i intended.
I currently percieve you as the ultimate master & teacher

I am all ears Rosh,

Max

ps sorry about my naff spelling

[Master Roshambollah]

Max,

WELCOME, SEEKER...

You embarrass me with praise, but you are probably right; I have more RPS experience than anyone on the planet.  I accept, temporarily, the role of "ultimate master and teacher" (sorry, Franklint!)  In the early stages of RPS discipleship, it may be useful for the student to project such an image onto the teacher. Of course, in the end you must teach yourself, but such a projection can be useful in the beginning.  YOU are the ultimate source of any wisdom you glean from "Master" Roshambollah.  Comprende?

In that spirit, I would again remind you that you are not playing real RPS, merely an online simulation.  It is true, as you say, that this enables you to see how top International Players think.  It does not, however, enable you to see how they play.  This is a subtle distinction, but it is important.  I have seen many occasions in person where custardchuk could not think, but could still play RPS.  One must meditate deeply on this. 

What do I enjoy about the game now?  A lot of things.  I enjoy the friendly pickup match against a stranger.  I appreciate high stakes money matches played in public places where other sorts of gambling are illegal.  I like playing the media game, trying to stay as much as possible on the line between hoax and reality.  I really enjoy the opportunities for travel the sport has given me, from Toronto and Sonoma to Philly and Vegas; from LA and San Fran to Hong Kong and Sydney.  When I can swing a working gig, I enjoy getting paid to play.  Most of all, I enjoy the company and friendship of many top players, administrators and referees in the sport, too numerous to mention.  This alone has been worth the many lifetimes I spent to ascend the ladder of Master.  Hope this helps, Max, but if you have any other questions be sure and ask. 

Speaking of ladders, I have a few questions for Martin (whom I am about to challenge, so consider this notification):

If you are challenged by two other players, the second challenger's challenge is postponed until the first match is completed.

I assume you're keeping track of this, Martin?  What if a player is challenged by two individuals, loses, has their position drop a few pegs, and is then challenged by two new individuals?  It's a lot to expect for the players to have to remember these things; that's usually admin business.  Just checking to make sure.

And the biggie:

5. You can challenge either of the players 1 or 2 places above you.

For example, if the ladder is:

1 = Bob
2 = Cob
3 = Dob
4 = Fob
5 = Gob

then Gob can challenge Fob and Dob (but not Cob or Bob), Fob can challenge Dob or Cob (but not Bob), Cob can challenge Bob or Dob, etc...

This is contradictory, Martin.  There is no provision in the rules for higher-ranked players to challenge lower-ranked players.  Indeed, the rules explicitly state that players may only challenge players 1 or 2 ranks above them (not below them.)  However, your example shows Cob challenging Dob, a lower ranked player.  Nothing in the written rules allows for this. 

This makes custardchuk's current challenge against martinburley illegal; higher ranked players can not challenge lower ranked players under the rules.  The other matches are legal:

Burley (#6) can legally challenge Max (#4)
Franklint (#2) can challenge Urbanus (#1)
Max (#4) can challenge Cohrs (#3)

This is because in all of these examples, the challenged player is higher.  This is legal under the rules of the tourney.

Again, there is no provision for a higher ranked player to legally challenge a lower ranked player (#5 custardchuk can not challenge #6 martinburley.)  Therefore, the current match between burley and chuk is null and void, and my challenge to burley gets bumped up a notch.

This is most unfortunate, since we all remember Martin's words on the subject of rule change:

(By the way, Rosh, I take your point about the rule change. You'll be glad to hear all the rules are now finalised - the Strategic Forces Department has confirmed that will be no further changes to match format, challenge rules, etc..

Martin, I await your confirmation on this ruling, though under your own rules such a confirmation is not necessary.  Incidentally, if you want me to look over your tourney rules in the future to check for clarity I'd be more than happy to offer my services.

[Franklint]

C. Urbanus and I have finished our match, and he beat me soundly.

I've edited my comment a couple of posts back with the results of the games that I sent out. Unfortunately, that's the only throw information I have. The other games will be up to C. Urbanus to report.

Anyway, final score was 4-2, to C. Urbanus.

Now, the real business.
__________________________
Rosh,

...How could you?

__________________________
Max,

This means WAR. I can't be bothered working out where you are on the ladder, but rest assured I will be delivering, to you, a beatdown, once I figure out whether I can challenge you. I know how you amateurs play. I experience it every day at school, countless times over. Hell, I know what you're going to throw long before you do. I was like you once. Long, long ago.

You stole my Roshie. Prepare to die.

EDIT: I just thought I'd add a smiley in here so you know I'm not serious. I'm sure we both have a lot to learn from Rosh. However, I think the other veteran Bullboarders are getting jealous of his attention.

Cheers,
Franklint

[Master Roshambollah]

Franklint, this is why you'll never be an apprentice of mine.  You're one of the sheep.  A follower.  This notice hereby terminates our pre-apprenticeship period.  We're done.  And if I have my way, you'll never work in this town again.

Still waiting on word from Martin as to whether or not I'm first in line with an rpsgame challenge since his match against chuk is negated (due to Martin's own rule that a player may not challenge a lower-ranked player; Martin has promised he won't change the rules further, and I believe him.)

Another question for you, Martin.  Under your tournament rules:

5. You can challenge either of the players 1 or 2 places above you.

10. You cannot refuse a valid challenge.

13. You can claim victory by forfeit if your opponent takes more than a week to make a throw

11. If you are challenged by two other players, the second challenger's challenge is postponed until the first match is completed.

Let's go back to our good friends Bob, Cob and Dob.  Bob is still #1, Cob is still #2 and Dob is still #3.

Dob wants to advance in the ladder by making a valid challenge, which in accordance with rule #5 can only be against players one or two rungs higher on the ladder.

Since Dob is doing the challenging here, and since he is following the tournament rules, he can challenge either Bob or Cob (unlike custardchuk, who can not legally challenge martinburley, since chuk is a higher-ranked player.  This is accordance with the tournament rules; one would expect the tournament organizer to be aware of this, especially as regards a match in which he is involved.)

Anyway, Dob challenges Bob, since there is no point in him challenging the #2 player.  Cob also challenges Bob, since there is no one else to challenge. 

Bob accepts Dob's challenge.  According to rule #11, Cob's challenge against Bob is postponed until the completion of Dob's challenge against Bob.

However, rule #13 states that a player may claim victory by forfeit if the challenged player "takes more than a week to make a throw."

A challenge is not a throw.  These are two totally separate concepts.  The fact that the "challenge" between Bob and Cob is delayed, does not remove the fact that Bob must deliver a "throw" within one week of being challenged, or forfeit the match.

Therefore, according to your own rules, Martin, Cob may claim victory by forfeit over Bob if Bob's match against Dob takes more than a week.  There is no other provision in your rules for what happens when a player makes a challenge that is postponed for more than a week due to the challenged player already being involved in a match.  Bob loses by forfeit through no fault of his own, especially if Cob is jockeying for the #1 spot and is intentionally stalling the match.

I've found another paradox in your tournament structure.  You know I'm right. 

I reckon the 2008 Masters of the Bull Board tournament was a smooth affair compared to this debacle...

[Franklint]

Franklint, this is why you'll never be an apprentice of mine.  You're one of the sheep.  A follower.  This notice hereby terminates our pre-apprenticeship period.  We're done.  And if I have my way, you'll never work in this town again.

Boom. Just like that. My dreams of being apprenticed to everyone's favourite Master are smashed upon the footpath (or sidewalk, as you yanks say).

I'm not quite sure how I'm classified a sheep and your new apprentice isn't. After it was made clear that I had chosen to glean all I could from your teachings, Max proceeded to do the same.

Anyway, the Washington lunch is still on, unfortunately for you. You'll have some talking to do. Bring Max along with you. You'll need him to defend you from my barrage of fury .

Cheers,
Would-be-apprentice-brushed-aside-in-exchange-for-some-upstart

[R Cohrs]

My university is switching our email accounts to a different server.  Kind of angry because I didn't know they would be doing this and lost a bunch of addresses that I won't be able to get back, but if anyone has challenged me (and it looks like Max did) please try again, as I am just now starting to receive mail again after 3 days off.  Or someone please let me know who is safe to challenge as I have no idea if the standings have shifted already.

[custardchuk]

Sorry, I've been away again.

Funny old game RPS. Brings out oddballs and idiots, legends and losers.

max,
I'm going to assume that you are pandering to Rosh's ego in order to gain an advantage, and not being a suckhole.

Won't work.

Just pay up and get with the programme.

regards
custardchuk

[Franklint]

I'm now officially custardchuk's apprentice. He won't kick me out for some rank amateur.

When do we start, chukky old boy?

Cheers,
Franklint

[Maxamillion]

Hi R cohrs,
Tried to re-send the challenge it said "I already have a live game (No 137562) with this player"

I sent  I sent paper.

Hope this helps you catch up cause its a right headache when internet providers do that.

Cheers Max