[Fictionary] STONE rules Results

[Nicolas Ward]

On Dec 18, 2011, at 2:27 PM, Jim Moskowitz <jim at jimmosk.com> wrote:

> 5) Players gather in a circle around a large tree suitable for climbing. A small stone is required. On his turn a player must throw the stone over a target bough, called the WHIP. If the throw is not high enough, or the player misses the tree completely, he is out. After making his throw, the current player, or CRACKER, must climb to the WHIP to mark its location. Spectators and players alike should cat-call the CRACKER during climbing; if he falls, he is out. Previous CRACKERS already in the tree may attempt to dislodge the current CRACKER as he climbs, but may not leave their WHIP to do so. The next player must throw the STONE over a new WHIP at least as high as the previous CRACKER. The first CRACKER in a round can choose a WHIP at any height he believes he can throw over and reach by climbing. Play begins with the shortest player, and proceeds in increasing height order, so as to ensure a fair chance to all. One round is complete once the tallest player takes his throw; all players should come down out of the tree, and the next round begins anew with the shortest remaining player. Play continues until all but one player is eliminated. If any player hits any other player with the stone, they are both immediately out; if a throw causes a player sitting on a previous WHIP to fall without hitting him with the STONE, such as by cowardly flinch, only he who fell is out.
> 
> Eric: Would not want to play.  Ten creativity points.
> J-J: Good lord!  This reminds me of the stories that my friend Jimmy used to tell me in college, which invariably ended "...and then Floyd went to the hospital".  This will probably turn out to be real, and I'll be deeply disturbed.
> Linda: Kids used to play dangerous games in the olden days and you weren't supposed to be afraid of a little blood and a few bruises. 2 points for danger.  But isn't Cracker a derogatory term?
> Elliott: Completeness:  Check.  Playability:  Risky!  Compelling reason to involve ``stone'':  Wouldn't a nice, soft ball be better? One point for creativity.
>  --a total of 3 points for Nick, good for the bronze medal.

I was imagining that this would be a game you could play now with a ball, but a stone would have been used due to the lack of plastic and low availability of rubber for balls. I also wanted something I could imagine my sister an I playing in our old backyard (with trees we often used as kickball bases) with friends.

As for cracker, I was going for the whip imagery, and forgot about the pejorative term. I'm aware of it, but it's not in my dialect.

--Nick