Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.rules (
More info?)
David de Kloet <dskloet@cs.vu.nl> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I vaguely remember there was a rule in the old days that prohibited
> 'infinite' loops. If a loop could be done arbitrarily often it was
> allowed only once or something like that. Was there ever such a rule or
> was it probably just in our playgroup?
"only ONCE"? No, that must have been in your playgroup.
421. Handling "Infinite" Loops
421.1. Occasionally the game can get into a state in which a set of
actions could be repeated forever. These rules (sometimes called the
"infinity rules") govern how to break such loops.
421.2. If the loop contains one or more optional actions and one player
controls them all, that player chooses a number. The loop is treated as
repeating that many times or until the other player intervenes,
whichever comes first.
421.3. If the loop contains at least one optional action controlled by
each player and actions by both players are required to continue the
loop, the active player chooses a number. The nonactive player then has
two choices. He or she can choose a lower number, in which case the loop
continues that number of times plus whatever fraction is necessary for
the active player to "have the last word." Or he or she can agree to the
number the active player chose, in which case the loop continues that
number of times plus whatever fraction is necessary for the nonactive
player to "have the last word." (Note that either fraction may be zero.)
Example: One player controls a creature with the ability "{o0}: [This
creature] gains flying." Another player controls a permanent with the
ability "{o0}: Target creature loses flying." The "infinity rule"
ensures that regardless of which player initiated the gain/lose flying
ability, the nonactive player will always have the final choice and
therefore be able to determine whether the creature has flying. (Note
that this assumes that the first player attempted to give the creature
flying at least once.)
421.4. If the loop contains only mandatory actions, the game ends in a
draw. (See rule 102.6.)
421.5. If the loop contains at least one optional action controlled by
each player and these actions don't depend on one another, the active
player chooses a number. The nonactive player can either agree to that
number or choose a higher number. Note that this rule applies even if
the actions could exist in separate loops rather than in a single loop.
--
Daniel W. Johnson
panoptes@iquest.net
http://members.iquest.net/~panoptes/
039 53 36 N / 086 11 55 W
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