Re: [piecepack] piecepack modification discussion - aces and numbers

["M. Hale-Evans" <marty@...>]

> The stated reason for having an Ace instead of a 1 in each suit is
> that the piecepack can use Aces as a "special" value if designers so
> desire.  In Poker, Aces aren't 1, but are the highest card.

Strictly speaking, they are both the highest and lowest,
conditionally.  It's true that this is a feature that can be exploited
in game design with a special-designation ace. (Additionally, it's a
concept that a lot of people are familiar with because of playing
cards, so it's an added potential factor that doesn't carry a lot of
"playability baggage", if you see what I mean.)

> You can do the same thing with a piecepack Ace.  The same thing is
> true of using Null instead of 0.  Thus, the piecepack has two
> "special" values, which somewhat makes up for its not having "face"
> values (Jack, King, Queen, etc.).

The other interesting thing about having a null and ace, as opposed to
a 0 and 1, is that they can stand apart from the numerical components
as a binary subset of components.

> I realise the system you listed above was just a for-instance,
> however, I run the oldest I Ching mailing list on the Net (founded
> in 1995 or so), I've written several pieces of I Ching software, and
> I consult the I Ching on a monthly if not a weekly basis, but even I
> couldn't tell you what the first six I Ching hexagrams look like.
> (They're definitely not in binary order.)

To play devil's advocate here, if we're talking about a four-suit
system, the four trigrams that appear on the Korean flag are pretty
recognizable.  It's fairly easy to choose other trigrams that are also
recognizable to fill in to six or eight suits, if desired.

> Responding to yet another message, I don't think it would hurt if you
> put some of the rule sets that haven't yet made it to piecepack.org in
> the Files area of the group.  There are some rule sets there already.

I think this is a great idea, BTW.

Keep thinking, JT -- some things may hit and some may miss in the long
run, but I like your creativity. :->


Marty

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*
Marty Hale-Evans       marty@...       Seattle, WA USA
          Dig me further at: http://www.martynet.org

  "To dance is to be out of yourself, larger, more powerful, 
   more beautiful. This is power; it is glory on earth and it 
   is yours for the taking."  -- Agnes de Mille