[Icehouse] A Zendo variant

[Ryan McGuire]

At first blush, I don't like the idea.

It DOES seem like it may lead to an (arguably) desireable result through 
most of the game, BUT I think it then breaks down in the end game.  In many 
game recently (including those on Super Duper Games), I start a turn with 
one or two stones and just a small set of possible secret rules, given the 
expected level of the game.   Then I need one last stone to really tie up a 
win.  With the "safe" mondo rule in play, I mondo and then start my guess 
barrage.

With the "risky" mondo rule, on the other hand, what are my options?  I 
could...
A) master, in which case I have less of a chance to win.
B) mondo and take my guess, in which case I have (for the sake of 
discussion) a 50% chance of going down in flames.
C) mondo but abstain, which is merely an attempt to entice my opponents into 
betting an losing it all their current stones.

I could just start my guess barrage with the X-1 stones I have.  Then not 
only do I have less of a chance of getting the rule on that turn, but I also 
have to reveal my line of reasoning, thus making more likely that one of my 
opponents will sudenly get it.  That's dissatisfying.

Sure, I could just wait until next turn and build another koan that I hope 
will narrow down the possibilities more.  But, if I interpret other messages 
in this thread correctly, speeding up the game is one of the motivations 
behind the introduction othe risky mondo.  Giving me a reason to wait one 
more round of student turns means the game is acutally prolonged.

DISCLAIMER: This is all how it seems to me now, without having tried it.  It 
may just be that the new rule leads to other changes that counterbalance 
what I currently see as disadvantages.  I'll try it when I get a chance.

Ryan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kory Heath" <kory at koryheath.com>
To: <icehouse at lists.looneylabs.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:58 AM
Subject: [Icehouse] A Zendo variant


> For any Zendo fans out there interested in trying an experiment, I've been 
> thinking about a "risky" variant of the Mondo rule in Zendo. Here's the 
> idea:
>
> When someone calls Mondo, you may answer with a black or white stone, or 
> secretly abstain by putting neither stone in your fist. When you abstain, 
> you get nothing either way. If you answer correctly, you get one guessing 
> stone. If you answer incorrectly, you lose all your guessing stones.
>
> I haven't had a chance to try this yet. If anyone else feels like giving 
> it a whirl, please post back to the list and tell us how it went!
>
> -- Kory
>
> _______________________________________________
> Icehouse mailing list
> Icehouse at lists.looneylabs.com
> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse