Zhyl
23-02-2008, 01:12 PM
Rock, paper scissors is not a new game by any means. Our ancestors, not long after learning to walk on two feet, were using their newly free hands to do many new and interesting things. One inspired young man/ape, probably a cousin to the man/ape who discovered fire (who then married the woman who characteristically invented the wheel) stumbled across an interesting little ame where you would hid your hand behind your back and then after counting to “og” would then reveal your fist to your opponent. The only limitation to the game was that neither paper nor scissors had been invented yet, so the combatants would resolve to seeing whose rock was harder by means of smashing it into their companion’s skull.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4913/264958443c03ebc14c611c7eq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The game caught on, and is now played nationally in tournaments, between close friends or lovers or on dodgy internet sites. But what is rock, paper, scissors? What does it MEAN? And, more importantly, how do you win? This article will examine the standard rules, customs, practices, ideologies and tactics of standard “best of three” RPS.
Rules and gameplay
The first thing you have to do when playing a game of RPS is that you have to have a willing opponent. Make sure you know that they can stand up to great pressure and have enough skill to present a challenge. You stand, face to face, arm behind your back, staring each other out, trying to read every twitch in their face, every drop of perspiration that drips off their brow; every clue is vital to drawing the item that will crush your opponent’s chance of victory and send them running. It is at this point that you make the all important decision:
Rock, paper or scissors?
If you pick rock, you clench your hand into a fist and prepare to show. By doing so you are ensuring that your scissor-choosing nemesis will be defeated by you blunting their sharp and deadly accessories. You are also accepting that if your opponent is a man or woman of the paper, then you will be smothered quicker than Heather Mills left in a room full of pillows with Paul McCartney. The third possible result is reflection from an equal and opposite rock, meaning that the round is a draw and the possibility of a play-off is all the more likely.
The two dimensional paper people, while feeling triumphant at their victory over the rock, must also be afraid of the sharp and cutting scissoriers, who will slice through their weak origami asses as soon as look at them. As such, any followers of the scissors make seek comfort in the fact that whilst they are inferior to their rocky masters, they are, indeed, greater than a thin sheet of wood pulp and bleach.
Having made the decision, you and your rival will count to three and then where the fourth number would be, instead is a revealing of your magnificent weapon and the consequent glorious victory or sad defeat. The round is then ended.
Three rounds are played (unless there are draws, in which case potentially thousands of rounds could be played before an end result), the first person to two victories is the winner, who will then be crowned, bathed in chocolate and sent to meet the queen. Not necessarily in that order, though.
Advanced Technique and Psychology
Now you’ve (hopefully) mastered the basics, we can proceed to how you can actually win. Over the many years the game has been evolving, there have been many combinations of play, most famously the “Fist fulla dollas” which brought success to MC Rock in his winning of the 1977 Dallas RPS world championships in the heavyweight males category. Not all combinations can be as successful, however, so I will take some time here to discuss the varying advantages and disadvantages of each set of tactics. As these will only cover a standard match, and play-off will have to be played ad lib.
Paper, Paper, scissors – “Point from Obscurity”
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/848/paper1117e523vt3rs2.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/848/paper1117e523vt3rs2.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8185/scissors1brgb1190ce9ax3.png (http://imageshack.us)
This is another of the bluffs which makes your enemy THINK you’re trying to lull them into a false sense of security. This false impression that you cunningly planted in their foolish mind will enable you to counter-phwip their attempts to judge you and as such you can take the victory with ease.
Rock, scissors, rock – “Needle on the rocks”
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8185/scissors1brgb1190ce9ax3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)
This example of rebound tactics can really shake your opponent, especially if it’s the opening match a marathon or group based tournament. The unexpected progression along the hierarchy chain will lead your opponent to think you are going to conclude the natural progression with a “full progression” tactic, and will naturally opt for scissors in order to counter your looming paper. However, you will out-manoeuvre your opponent, regressing at the last moment for a clear victory and an abashed, defeated rival.
Rock, rock, rock – “Timefreeze: stone age”
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)
If you are particularly sadistic, you may want to use this one to mess with your opponent’s minds. This is one for playing in the middle or towards the end of a session, or in the knock out stages of a tournament. Your opponent will try to outwit you with intricate twists and turns whilst you stand as an unmoving wall of resistance. Use consecutively for and epic conclusion.
Use these tactics wisely, as they contain power beyond measure.
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4913/264958443c03ebc14c611c7eq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The game caught on, and is now played nationally in tournaments, between close friends or lovers or on dodgy internet sites. But what is rock, paper, scissors? What does it MEAN? And, more importantly, how do you win? This article will examine the standard rules, customs, practices, ideologies and tactics of standard “best of three” RPS.
Rules and gameplay
The first thing you have to do when playing a game of RPS is that you have to have a willing opponent. Make sure you know that they can stand up to great pressure and have enough skill to present a challenge. You stand, face to face, arm behind your back, staring each other out, trying to read every twitch in their face, every drop of perspiration that drips off their brow; every clue is vital to drawing the item that will crush your opponent’s chance of victory and send them running. It is at this point that you make the all important decision:
Rock, paper or scissors?
If you pick rock, you clench your hand into a fist and prepare to show. By doing so you are ensuring that your scissor-choosing nemesis will be defeated by you blunting their sharp and deadly accessories. You are also accepting that if your opponent is a man or woman of the paper, then you will be smothered quicker than Heather Mills left in a room full of pillows with Paul McCartney. The third possible result is reflection from an equal and opposite rock, meaning that the round is a draw and the possibility of a play-off is all the more likely.
The two dimensional paper people, while feeling triumphant at their victory over the rock, must also be afraid of the sharp and cutting scissoriers, who will slice through their weak origami asses as soon as look at them. As such, any followers of the scissors make seek comfort in the fact that whilst they are inferior to their rocky masters, they are, indeed, greater than a thin sheet of wood pulp and bleach.
Having made the decision, you and your rival will count to three and then where the fourth number would be, instead is a revealing of your magnificent weapon and the consequent glorious victory or sad defeat. The round is then ended.
Three rounds are played (unless there are draws, in which case potentially thousands of rounds could be played before an end result), the first person to two victories is the winner, who will then be crowned, bathed in chocolate and sent to meet the queen. Not necessarily in that order, though.
Advanced Technique and Psychology
Now you’ve (hopefully) mastered the basics, we can proceed to how you can actually win. Over the many years the game has been evolving, there have been many combinations of play, most famously the “Fist fulla dollas” which brought success to MC Rock in his winning of the 1977 Dallas RPS world championships in the heavyweight males category. Not all combinations can be as successful, however, so I will take some time here to discuss the varying advantages and disadvantages of each set of tactics. As these will only cover a standard match, and play-off will have to be played ad lib.
Paper, Paper, scissors – “Point from Obscurity”
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/848/paper1117e523vt3rs2.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/848/paper1117e523vt3rs2.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8185/scissors1brgb1190ce9ax3.png (http://imageshack.us)
This is another of the bluffs which makes your enemy THINK you’re trying to lull them into a false sense of security. This false impression that you cunningly planted in their foolish mind will enable you to counter-phwip their attempts to judge you and as such you can take the victory with ease.
Rock, scissors, rock – “Needle on the rocks”
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/8185/scissors1brgb1190ce9ax3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)
This example of rebound tactics can really shake your opponent, especially if it’s the opening match a marathon or group based tournament. The unexpected progression along the hierarchy chain will lead your opponent to think you are going to conclude the natural progression with a “full progression” tactic, and will naturally opt for scissors in order to counter your looming paper. However, you will out-manoeuvre your opponent, regressing at the last moment for a clear victory and an abashed, defeated rival.
Rock, rock, rock – “Timefreeze: stone age”
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5315/tnida1168489op4uz3.png (http://imageshack.us)
If you are particularly sadistic, you may want to use this one to mess with your opponent’s minds. This is one for playing in the middle or towards the end of a session, or in the knock out stages of a tournament. Your opponent will try to outwit you with intricate twists and turns whilst you stand as an unmoving wall of resistance. Use consecutively for and epic conclusion.
Use these tactics wisely, as they contain power beyond measure.