Calvinball interest?

[Shadowbourne]

OK, so today I was sorting through a closet of my old crap, and I happened to stumble upon a stack of "Calvin & Hobbes" treasuries. Of course, I ended up spending over an hour and a half reading through the books, and in my reading came across the game of Calvinball. Calvinball, of course, is the game which Calvin and Hobbes frequently play, the only rule being that you can never play with the same rules twice. This led me to thinking: would it be possible to hold a Calvinball tournament on NSSports? A quick search of the forum has revealed that there have been several attempts to hold a Calvinball tournament, although the last was over 3 years ago. There would be one obvious problem with holding a Calvinball tournament: it would be almost impossible to scorinate. However, I would be willing to try my hand at scorinator, and hopefully, there are some others who would be, too. I have found a workable set of rules here. So, NSSports, how do you feel about holding a Calvinball tournament?

[Kriegiersien]

Ha, I had the same thought some days ago, when I found a Calvin & Hobbes in my friends bookshelves. Yes, that could be some crazy fun.

However, if a game is allowed to build up some mad, senseless scores, then it is Calvinball. Not that the other sports here are free from a certain subjectiv view and err... blind chance?

[Subramani]

The game looks interesting.

[Soviet Canuckistan]

I'm very interested though scorination would be weird.

[West Angola]

I am quite interested (putting it mildly).

[Shadowbourne]

I'm very interested though scorination would be weird.

Yeah, I've started working on a scorinator, but it's almost impossible because the scores are supposed to be crazy stuff like "31-Q to B-87".

[Qazox]

I'm not interested, but you just could MAKE up scores and RP that... which would be about as close to true Calvinball as you can get.

[Tilson Valley]

This sounds like fun, count Tilson Valley in. Qazox probably has the right idea on scorinating this.

[Nekoni]

This sounds delightfully mad.

Would join.

[Free South Califas]

I'm into it.

IMO, the trick is for teams to decide which scorinator(s) to use when scheduling matchups (like a more intensive version of the GCF process). Once we have that down, the scores, periods, innings, extra time, etc. can mean whatever significance is attached to them by the participaants. This way we can actually have a consistent table, if we want, without creating some bizarre new scorinator.

To emulate the aspect of near-meaningless score information in Calvinball, we can require the person scorinating a match to add at least one non-numerical symbol and use dice or a random number generator to randomly reverse the results (I.e., one team seems to score less but draws or wins due to a one-time random event after scorination).

Thoughts, anyone?

[Shadowbourne]

-snip-

I like this idea. Also, in terms of RPing, I think it would be best to use Brevity Cup-style challenges, given that it would be kind of hard to write a lengthy RP about the game itself.

After thinking about things for a while, I think the best way to do things would be to have a different predetermined method of scorination for each matchday. For example, on matchday one, scores may be determined by scorinating a 9-inning baseball game, with each inning representing one 7-minute period, and each run being one made foul-shot while bouncing on a pogo stick and singing "The Pogo Stick Song". Then, as FSC suggested, there would be a chance for a random results reversal, most likely done using random.org. This is where RP bonuses would come in to play: each team would have a different chance for a positive result depending on their RP bonus. Finally, the host would be required to add one non--numerical character to the score, just to simulate the odd scores typical of Calvinball.

I like this idea, because it keeps with the "no playing be the same rules twice" rule by switching the scorination method each matchday. It also seems like it will be fairly easy to scorinate, and it will also make it easier to RP if there is a predetermined set of rules for each game.

Let me know what you think.

[Free South Califas]

Additionally, after further reflection, I think the number of non-numerical characters, the role of RP bonus, and the number of reversal chances (with the possibility of multiple reversals) should be subject to agreement by the two teams scheduling a game. I'm OK with there being some (rotating?) defaults for just about anything here, since it will be hard to schedule matches if a lot of detail is required. But adding more detail to the agreement could perhaps influence both teams' RP bonuses later, for example. Just throwing out ideas here.

I think the most stability and flexibility should be the goal here: anyone should be able to schedule a game of Calvinball without having a concrete vision, but anyone with a vision should be able to do whatever they want as long as it uses the 3 R's to some degree. JMHO. (I read a lot of that stuff and have had my own "well I guess I'm reading these now" days with probably the very same books, BTW.) The compromise isn't always easy, but it's doable: perhaps each matchday scorinators and RPers can suggest new tweaks or amendments to the rotating defaults.

For example, let's say there are three sets of defaults, and Set 1 is as such:

* Baseball, home advantage
* One non-numerical character
* Two possible reversals
* Cricket, home and away

Someone can suggest a rule (perhaps by just mentioning a sport, a number near the word "reversal" or "character", etc.)--for instance, "Canadian football, draws allowed" and, randomly selecting Set 1, the person scorinating the next match would assume this default once:

* One non-numerical character
* Two possible reversals
* Cricket, home and away
* Canadian football, draws allowed

Etc.


Thoughts?

ETA: Another idea. It seems like occasionally teams would stumble and set up an identical game to one someone else has had. It seems impossible for scorinators to follow this and prohibit it. Instead, there could be a Calvinball Disregulation Board to receive complaints after the fact; if they find that a game used the same rules as one scorinated earlier, the results of that second game are reversed one last time.

[Bearded Moose]

This is, in all fair honesty, a slice of genius. I'm very interested.

A little addition to the great idea of FSC above. Maybe the 'tournament director' (board leader, field owner, free to name it as it comes up) could set a default set before each matchday. Than each can add an amendement to those rules, until one side decides to stop making amendements, then the other one can add a rule one more time. This is done in RPing style and determines the RP Bonus.

Ex. given, if the fierce nations of Calvonia and the US of Hobbesium decide to play a game and the tournament director has given as set of rules
"* Baseball, home advantage
* One non-numerical character
* Two possible reversals
* Cricket, home and away"
Calvonia can say "And a random letter from our nation name"
US of Hobbesium says "Lose one of the reversals"
Calvonia says "Add basketball, no home advantage added"
US of Hobbesium says "Add another non-numerical character and a stop of amendements"
Calvonia says "The away game of cricket is eliminated and null and void."

Then a game is scorinated with:
"* Baseball, home advantage
* One non-numerical character
* One possible reversals
* Cricket, home
* A random letter from the nations name
* Basketball, no home advantage
* One non-numerical character"

I just realise that being director of a tournament of Calvinball should be quite epic as well, taken the liberty to invent pre-play-off-kick-out-robin-rounds.

[Shadowbourne]

-snip-

I like this idea, although I do have one question: When there are two or more sports included in the scorination plan, does this mean that the scores of the sports are to be combined?

[Saugeais]

This is godmodding beyond all godmodding. I don't think Calvinball would be feasible on NSSport, but if I can be proven wrong, go ahead.

[Free South Califas]

-snip-

I like this idea, although I do have one question: When there are two or more sports included in the scorination plan, does this mean that the scores of the sports are to be combined?

When I originally proposed that aspect, I was imagining each sport counts as one goal/score/point etc. For example, if we play basketball and baseball, and you win one and I win the other, the raw result would be 1-1. Then come the non-numerical characters, the reversals, perhaps a minigame, who knows?

[Shadowbourne]

When I originally proposed that aspect, I was imagining each sport counts as one goal/score/point etc. For example, if we play basketball and baseball, and you win one and I win the other, the raw result would be 1-1. Then come the non-numerical characters, the reversals, perhaps a minigame, who knows?

It seems to me that this would produce scores that are far too low. Maybe it would be better if we included some sort of weighting in the scorination? For example, we could take 30% of the basketball score, 50% of the baseball score, etc. This would also add an additional variable that teams would be able to change (as Bearded Moose suggested).

[Free South Califas]

I can get behind that. An additional variable would seem to be better than an additional rule or ruling, here.

[Shadowbourne]

I can get behind that. An additional variable would seem to be better than an additional rule or ruling, here.

Alright then, now that we have the method of scorination settled, do you want to schedule a friendly and see how it works?

[Free South Califas]

I know I offered suggestions and I should be somewhat accountable for bringing them to fruition, but lately I've just been cruising NS Sports occasionally during breaks from my domestic baseball RP. I'm focusing on that and it may well take all three remaining days to complete. Splitting my attention would do a disservice to both, and I'll need some time off from RP and the forum when I finish that league. Let's let some other people in on the fun instead.

[Bearded Moose]

I wouldn't mind scorinating the friendly if an opponent for Shadowbourne is found.

[Paradystopia]

This sounds like sheer lunacy ...

But I would be interested in competing in a friendly exhibition match ...

[Shadowbourne]

No problem, FSC. Paradystopia, when do you want to schedule the match?

[Paradystopia]

The sooner the better for me I think.

April's already gonna be a crazy month for me in RL. Will be moving house at some point in the near future but no definite date as yet, then on the 22nd April, off to Bosnia to be a volunteer for a year. All this interspersed with prepations for the aformentioned events.

So yeah, I was meant to be cutting down on my RP commitments ...

Meh, whatever.

Let's do this thing!

[Shadowbourne]

-snip-

Alright, then, I'd be willing to schedule a game for next Monday, if that's okay with you. Of course, that also depends on if Bearded Moose will be able to scorinate that day.