unforum

[Jaeneas]

[SPEC] Counterpoint

[Tintintin]

Oooh, that's a fascinating thought. It would explain (or give context to) both the Perplexians' mainly collaborative rather than antagonistic approach to adversity, and their abhorrence of violence and conflict.

It's interesting certainly that this is as close as we've seen to Perplexian military thinking thus far...

[e_nygma]

[Tintintin]

[e_nygma]

[GregT]

A game of double-bluff with your opponent behind a velvet curtain, where their actions cannot be perceived directly but instead inferred from the full context of the information flow? Sounds like Counterpoint players might find a home amongst ARG players... I often wonder if anything happening in Perplex City is really happening, or if we're all being jerked around like puppets by a single individual in control of the communications stream.

Imagine a legion of followers in an alternate dimension, trained to crack military encryption and devastate police response times on command - willing to jump through any bizarre hoop in return for a pat on the head and being told they're "helping". Cube? Who needs a cube, when you have an army of puzzle monkeys to commit your evil for you!

[EvilGenius]

[GregT]

[jenn2d2]

I have been wracking my brain all day to try and remember what "Counterpoint" reminded me of, only to finally remember now that I'm at work and don't have access to my books.

From what I remember, in Peirs Anthony's Adept series, Stile participates in a tournament of games (to win citizenship on Proton). Each phase is a different, collectively chosen game from a set of criteria. One of them is like Counterpoint; in fact, the solution that Kurt gives as his entry to the Academy, is how that round concludes. The books are centered around two worlds which are essentially mirrors of one another, connected through a computer/oracle which is hidden in a maze. There are several ranges of adepts (like red, blue, brown, etc.) in both realms who have more power than others.

I'm not sure if this truly relates to this game, or if it is mere coincidence. The whole "two worlds" and the collection of different games things got me thinking though.

[GregT]

The Adept series! I remember that! Those books were crazy. Do you think we're in any danger of Perplex City passing a law requiring the lower classes to be naked at all times?

[SpinneNetz]

Dunno bout you all, but I would love to play this game.

[achenar]

[Jaeneas]

More conjecture based upon nothing more than too many late nights and Newcastle Brown Ale, (see 'Ales of the World'). Enjoy.....

The Cube is a weapon which destroys whole areas, from the Grainer diaries. "13 April 1736
Edwina has been busy with her calculations these three days. She tells me that she has taken many useful readings which go to prove what we have long suspected: the entire place will be destroyed. "

The Brotherhood fo the Six write ''''For does not the Cube show us the way in building, and was not Gyvann himself a builder and shall we not then build? Let us, therefore, build. And they built a great fortress, yet by the power of the Cube it was toppled to the ground, and they built a mighty tower, yet by the power of the Cube it was utterly removed, thus they built a lowly shack and it was good.'''

The Academy is using the playing of Counterpoint as an entry test.

Presuming (?!) that using the Cube is like playing counterpoint....

Are the Academy looking for people who would be good at playing Counterpoint, keeping track of a multitude of information, in order to train them to use the Cube?

So someone with a 'High score' (Insert Your Name Here....) Kurt, would be a shoe in for the job of Grand High Cube Wrangler. Possibly why Sente is keen to keep Kurt close.

I hope that the Cube can be used for good as well as evil. Maybe the Academy want to undo all the bad done previously and are digging for erm.. Cube Fuel, or something in Viendenbourg, obviously the old 3P stick in the muds are anti this, for some reason, and are throwing spanners in the works. Er.. is this bit a bit too far fetched?

I also hope that the corner shop has some more Dog, I'm really thirsty.

Ta Ra