[MidniteXpress]

Think of this as a game. Basically if you see a funny or bizzare (or maybe both) post, then quote it here.
The rules are simple:
1) You can't quote yourself
2) You must give credit to the person who posted the original, and say what thread the quote is from.

To start I have a cracking one from DL, taken from the "Just bought elfball and can't wait to try it" thread in general

[Magic Dave]

That quote is form the thread Putting together siringit.

great idea can we do post's from different forums?

[MidniteXpress]

sure, and oops. was looking at the other thread just before posting lol

[Mad Jackal]

The BEST one this this one.

Galak on Talk-fantasy football .com I can't recall which thread in particular, but  bet Darkson could find it easy.

And it's in my signaure. (not the wise man part. but the quote itself.)

[Darkson]

[Mad Jackal]

[GalakStarscraper]

The funny thing is I was being serious when I wrote that ... not tongue in cheek as it might sound because I was really getting tired on that thread of arguing about things that were already in the rulebook.  

Galak

[Stout Youngblood]

[Dark Lord]

You know in our leage Bl00d B0wl and Elfball alike, we always played the same way we played RPGs. During the game the rulebook does not get opened. Ever. The ref makes a ruling on the spot and looks it up later if we care to, otherwise it's just played that way from then on.

We don't play every game that way, but I think with Bl00d B0wl it came from the sense that this was not really a competitive game. The specifics aren't important to us because winning and losing isn't the object of the game. 3rd edition especially wasn't built on a framework that encouraged serious competition, and if you cared about winning so much that you felt you needed to rules lawyer during a game, you didn't last long in our leagues.

All Grandma Wendy products used to talk about playing within the spirit of the rules rather than strictly to the letter, and now that philosophy is gone.
Now it's all about knowing the letter of the rules, quoting the rulebook during play and exploiting the rules to become the dominant army/team.
Such a shame.

That doesn't interest me in the slightest. Say whatever you want, and look down your nose at those who have not memorized the rule book, but IMO those are the people who are really enjoying themselves because they have the same amount of fun when they lose as when they win. They enjoy telling the stories about their player being mangled as much as they enjoy telling stories about mangling others.
Memorizing an ever changing rulebook so I can quote rules at some stranger and win a plastic trophy is nowhere near as much fun as laughing at bad pass that gets my player killed and making a new friend.

[GalakStarscraper]

DL,

I think you missed the majority point on this one.

I agree with you that I like a relaxed game.

BUT IF you come onto a forum to ask a rules question ... I think even you have to agree that at that point ... you really should have at least read the relevant part of the rulebook right?

How a group plays I've always thought is the way that is the most fun.  But there is to me a basic level of forum protocal that made me say that quote they are discussing.

Galak

[Dark Lord]

Well, discussing the wording of what is actually IN the rulebook, yes I agree.

Discussing what SHOULD be in the rulebook, no, I don't agree.

Also, there's a major difference between reading the rules and memorizing them. The discussion thus far as been about not remembering what exactly the rules say, and there was also talk about it beyond forums. But as far as forums go...

I think it's an off putting attitude to have, especially to new comers and those that don't play the game as a contest of skill. You end up with a forum where some people feel they are more right in everything they say simply because they have the time and inclination to memorize a set of rules...whether they play the game on a regular basis or not. I mean, extending that logic to those who only play in tournaments, they should not be commenting on discussions about league rules, no?

But the way it plays out is, a person with a myopic view of one set of rules earns the right to take pot shots at every suggestion from another who has played several hundred different games.

Likewise, a person who plays the game 4 times a year a tournament but has encyclopedic knowledge of the rules, feels that they are somehow more knowledgeable than somebody who plays the game weekly in a loose manner, along with 10 other games at regular intervals.

Experience /= knowledge and not knowing exactly what page 27 says about fouling shouldn't make a person's opinion less valid, nor should it be considered less rude condescend to that person than it would be normally.

IMO, that's a horribly exclusive attitude to have and one that is really illogical. It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth when it is brought to the surface. Everyone believes their own opinion is correct, but regularly telling other that is so based on an illogical measuring stick, is a little rude.

[Norse]

actually Tom, I disagree with you

if I have a problem with Excel and need help - do I read the manual?  do I use the Help files?  do I consult the talking paperclip thingy?  

no, I phone the Helpdesk and ask a random stranger to give me the answer or send a Tech-monkey person to my desk..

I think 99% of people in the world are lazy, which is why FAQ sites are rarely used (just like forum searches for previous topics which match).  If you are in the 1% who would reach for the manual and try to work it out yourself, I am very happy for you, but that aint the way the rest of the world works homey...

[brownrob]

One thing I may throw in Rams is that ElfBall and other FF rules are pretty much free to download whereas you pay for Excel etc

What I mean is that Excel is usually used for work and ElfBall for play, tech service is provided for Excel as its pretty complex, and Im sure the user manual wouldnt be 20 pages with pictures either!

You can also pretty much dive in and work away with excel, besides you dont have a paperclip in Elfball to tell you something entirely silly (Note for tom, perhaps Impact should supply a paperclip with each box set so that players can ask it how to roll for a disengage challenge?!   )

You pretty much need to read the rulebook to play the game, but then again, you can be shown by a mate (who should have read the rulebook!)

[MidniteXpress]

I'm going to sit on the fence with this one. As someone with a bad memory, asking questions (especially mid game) helps. BUT, even I have seen people on forums asking pretty basic questions that are explained on page 1 of the rule book. what you've all talked about so far is the difference between knowing the rule book by memory and living by it. something i would say applies to mid level and advanced players. i would agree with Galak's quote as far as new players go. when learning any game, be it a Grandma game, D&D or even monopoly, new players should at some point read the rules at least once.

[Xtreme]

[Dark Lord]

Oh sure, I agree with that 100%.

What I don't agree with is what it turns into. It gets snarky and condescending. During a discussion of the rules, one person makes a mistake and suddenly there's eye rolling, and snarky comments. And when it comes from people who admit that they don't even play the game weekly, or even monthly it's just ridiculous. I'd rather post on a board where people are wrong, apologize and move, than a board where people are snarked for being wrong and discouraged from posting. And sorry, but claiming that people haven't even read the rules, because they got something wrong IS being condescending and snarky.

I mean let's face it, the fantasy football rulebook is hardly a shining example of great organization and rules written in stone. I've seen smaller rulebooks  that change less often that at least have an index.

[The Warden]

[Mad Jackal]