A.2 ERRORS

[Robin Reeve]

Of course, the very simple rules of chess are quite easy to come to understand once they are agreed upon because of the structured and limited outcomes that may occur because of those moves, not to mention the limits imposed by the playing area.

Moving a piece wrong in chess is even considered cheating.
You cannot play chess with making rules errors.
I would consider that you hardly play an ASL scenario without making errors – and A.2 is a testimony to that fact.
I also believe all players try to play along the rules.

Now, if one sees playing ASL as a knife fight in a phone booth, that is another story...

 

[lightspeed]

The rules ARE the rules.

I feel obligated to point out that the ASOP is part of the rules and specifically says
“Minor transgressions should be allowed in the spirit of sportsmanship.”

That’s the rule I (like to think I) play by.

The rules are the rules, after all.

YMMV

indy

 

[Sparafucil3]

However, I do agree with L Bunny Niyori that once a breach of the rules has been committed and duly noted, no player should really grouse about their opponent holding their feet to the fire over it. Just be cognoscente that what goes around, comes around.

Every time players sit down to play, there are two games being played; against one another and both of you against the game. When one player makes a rules breach and the other agrees, it becomes THIER mistake. Every player is capable of looking up a rule when in doubt. I am OK having my feet held to the fire, but expect me to also point out the blaze under yours too. -- jim

 

[Paul John]

I feel like A.2 is invoked once play has gone so far that there would be rerolling necessary or some other game effect done.
If someone forgets something and it has no effect on the game I always want to go back. The alternative is to play at a snails pace
to make sure nothing is missed. I'll quicker quit that game than one where someone keeps invoking A.2
(although I never have quit over slow play but have quit over A.2 abuse).

 

[Doug Leslie]

The beauty of VASL is that it is possible to re-trace your steps if you so desire. Why, only last night I was playing "Latecomers" from ASL Journal 14 as the Italians. This scenario has a SSR whereby Italian tanks have to take a bog check every time that they enter an orchard hex. In my second turn, my AFVs entered several orchard hexes and, needless to say, both I and my opponent forgot about the SSR. Before I had completed my turn, I realised the error and offered to re-wind to the point where the first orchard hex was entered. My opponent accepted my offer. The first AFV then re-entered the orchard. I don't need to tell you what happened next...

 

[Old Noob]

These days, kids go "What's a phone booth?"

 

[Philippe D.]

The rules ARE the rules, which is why they are in print.
I can assure you, that in a chess game, they won't cut you any slack.
The rules ARE the rules. This isn't a role game where the manual is just a lot of guidelines.

I'm pretty sure that the last time I invoked the touch rule in chess, I was still a teenager. And every time I spot a rules mistake or even a forgotten rally/repair/move not too long after the fact, I let my opponent correct it - and almost all the time, my opponent does the same for me.

Is this by the rules? Nope, it's even spelled out in the first page of a 200+-page rulebook. Is it in the interest of people enjoying a game? Hell yes.

 

[Eagle4ty]

It's been my experience over 30+ years playing SL/ASL, the great majority of players I've run across are tougher on themselves in how they play the game than they are upon their opponent.

 

[Robin Reeve]

I hate when I notice I did something wrong to my advantage.
Something

Spoiler

(my superego, in Freudian language)

in me is afraid that my opponent thinks I am cheating.
So I tend to be tough on myself.

 

[Stewart]

Although ASLers play by the rules, like chess....ASL differs quite significantly from chess in that ASLers always play by the rules they KNOW.

 

[Robin Reeve]

Although ASLers play by the rules, like chess....ASL differs quite significantly from chess in that ASLers always play by the rules they KNOW.

... and sometimes by rules they make up, believing they are the real ones.

 

[ibncalb]

... and sometimes by rules they make up, believing they are the real ones.

Or rules that they remember from a recent play test....sorry Laurent!

 

[Larry]

It takes two people to get it half right.

 

[Michael R]

The funniest description of ASL: two players against a rule book.

 

[EagleIV]

These days, kids go "What's a phone booth?"

Isn't that where Superman would change clothes?

 

[Robin Reeve]

These days, kids go "What's a phone booth?"

And they hesitate about what a knife is.
They are used to AR-15 now.

 

[Frank44]

Hello all,

Thank you for your answers and comments.
My intent was to validate with you the strict understanding and application of A.2 rule.
As some wrote, this rule can be used with some torelance if needed.

Now, I would like to present you the game situtation that led to my question.

We play Bloody Red Beach in PTO.
We are at mid game.

In past games and in this one to up to now, we played Spreading Fire (25.6) before Blaze creation (25.151).
Which is not the right order of play.
During our Turn 6 US AFph, once all rolls were done for both, my opponent found that error.
He then said we have to apply back the same rolls but for Blaze creation first then Spreading Fire.
This would result in my two squads being broken. See Flamer below.

I argued this is not the right way of setting this situation.
I think we have to keep this as is and play next turn with the right order.
Shouldn't A.2 be applied here?

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[Michael R]

Flip a coin? There is no "correct" thing to do. Leaving the situation alone is the quickest thing and ASL time is precious. If both agree the time lost is short and worth it then fix it. Don't get upset, however, if you lose two squads over whatever decision is taken. It is just a game.

 

[Kijug]

Something like that, especially in other games, once we “create a house rule”, we keep playing that way if the error is found later. Just make a decision and move on. Laugh at the outcome regardless and make up a war story on the results like we all do.

 

[Tuomo]

The nice thing about errors is that they give you the opportunity to do the right thing. That may is may not be rewinding the game or redoing something out of order. It may involve doing nothing at all except saying dangit and continuing as you were. But to make good on the opportunity to treat your opponent as you would want to be treated, to put the game in perspective even in the heat of the moment, that's much better than following the ASOP.

Course, you can't run a tournament that way. But as a goal, it's lovely.