The rules are mostly the same from when Packbat and Feirei ran the game with a few changes and additions. Please read everything carefully.
RULES
Each round, there is one Oracle and a flock of Petitioners.
At the beginning of the round, the Oracle invents a secret rule, completely mechanical, based on - and solely on - the exact wording of the questions asked. This rule will, given the exact wording of a question, tell the Oracle to reply either "Yes" or "No". Examples include:
Any question with an even number of words, reply "Yes"; otherwise, reply "No".
Any question beginning with a consonant, reply "Yes"; otherwise, reply "No".
Effective June 25, 2022, the Oracle starts by giving one question that would be answered "yes" and one question that would be answered "no" for free.
Bear in mind that, first, any overly-complicated rule (e.g. "Any question whose SHA-1 hash ends with an even number, say 'No'; otherwise, say 'Yes'") will get you mocked and shunned; second, every rule is more complicated than it initially appears; and third,
if you screw up three times, you must concede
(and thereby become an object of pity and lose 1d6 points of respect).
During the round, any Petitioner (i.e. anyone other than the Oracle) may either ask questions, or attempt to guess the rule. Each question asked shall be answered in order by the Oracle, according to the rule. Guesses the Oracle shall deal with in one of exactly two ways:
By conceding, and revealing the rule that had been used.
By replying with a question whose answer is different under the actual rule than according to the guess.
For example: if the rule is "beginning with a consonant = yes" and someone guesses "beginning with a W = yes", the Oracle might say, "Had it the ability, would a woodchuck chuck wood?"
The Oracle shall include in each post answering questions and responding to guesses a list of all prior questions, answers, guesses, and responses.
After the Oracle answers 50 questions (questions provided by the Oracle as counterexamples to incorrect guesses count, but not the two free questions), the Petitioners may ask for one hint. Another hint may be requested after the 75th question has been answered. There is a limit of 100 questions per rule, after which the Petitioners may ask for one final hint before they collectively have three more chances to guess the rule. If the three guesses have been made and the rule still hasn't been guessed, the Oracle wins and reveals the rule. The Oracle then has the option of choosing another rule or allowing someone else to do so (though see rule 6).
If the Oracle takes longer than 72 hours to answer a question, the Oracle shall forfeit. If no Petitioners have submitted questions or guesses for 72 hours, then any Petitioner may ask the Oracle to reveal the rule and step down.
The Petitioner who first guesses correctly shall become the next Oracle. If there is no such Petitioner (such as after an Oracle is forced to forfeit) or if said Petitioner does not choose a rule within a reasonable timespan, the first poster to so choose may become the next Oracle.
Petitioners are not allowed to edit. For a first offense, the petitioner’s question or guess will be ignored, but subsequent offenses, even if committed in a later round, will result in disqualification for the rest of the round.
The game is open to all comers. Let the induction begin!
And with that,
I have a rule.
Last edited by StrangerCoug on Wed Jul 27, 2022 4:51 am, edited 4 times in total.
It appears that the rules as written indeed don't place a guess limit on petitioners, only that the oracle must concede if they make three mistakes. Will rule the answer to your question as no and edit.
Nope. You can ask as many questions as you like within the question limit.
Speaking of the limit; the rules make no mention of whether counterexamples to incorrect rule questions count toward it, I will rule that they do. Will update the rules accordingly with this as well.
