Ghyll talk:Keglacians

Good first entry! Care to tell us more about yourself on your user page? Click on my nick for an example of one. Any plans on becoming a regular player? The next few turns are extended for the holidays, but we normally maintain one-turn-per-week timelines. --Morbus Iff 21:45, 27 Nov 2004 (EST)

Thanks. I have done just that. I wasn't sure if there was any sort of "approval" process or if it was a sink-or-swim deal. Glad you liked it. Looking forward to continuing to play.--DrAckroyd 20:36, 28 Nov 2004 (EST)

It's largely sink or swim - entries will be copyedited by numerous folks to handle any formatting, spelling, grammatical, or linkage issues, and any "uh, that doesn't really work..." discussions are had in these Talk: areas (or, as you've seen here, general accolades or comments, and often easter egg reveals or inspiration and "Designer Notes"). Necessary fixes like continuity or impossibilites can be fixed after a turn's deadline, but besides those, the only "approved" edits-after-the-fact are copyedits, just-discovered bugs, or scholar comments (see, for example, the in-game discussion at the bottom of AuroAnthropology). --Morbus Iff 21:51, 28 Nov 2004 (EST)

I actually wrote all of thee rules for hoopkah before I realized that it had little to do with the Keglacians themselves. I put it here because I can.

Rules

The traditional rules of this pastime are fairly simple as is the equipment. A flat area no larger than four unanits to a side is divided into four quadrants of roughly equal size.

A hoop and ball are used. The ball is a modern replacement for the traditional flergit beast bladder. The hoop can be made of wicker or woven reeds or in professional play it is often made of studier driftwood.

The two players are positioned in quadrants of opposing corners. Traditionally they are the southernmost and northernmost quadrants but there does not seem to be any reason for this.

A “flurry” begins when the first player – the baller - throws the ball at his opponent. The opponent – the hooper - has to toss his hoop at the other player. Each player tries to dodge the projectiles by leaping into one of the adjoining squares.

At the end of each flurry, the roles of baller and hooper are reversed and a new flurry begins. A game is played to 16 flurries.

Terms

• If a player was struck by a hoop and not encircled by it he is called “bumped.”
• If a player is struck by a hoop and has any limb appendage or body part still within the circumference of the hoop when he stops dodging he is “hooped”
• If a player is not struck by a hoop but has any limb appendage or body part within the circumference of the hoop when he stops dodging he is “hoopkahed”
• If a player is struck in the body or limbs by the ball but still manages to catch it he is “bunted”.
• If a player is struck by the ball anywhere and does not catch it he is “bounced”.
• If a player catches the ball without it striking his body the player is “safe”.

Scoring

At the end of the flurry points may be scored as follows: If both players land in the same square, the points are awarded in reverse.

          Hooper    Baller
Bounced	    0         1
Bunted      1         2		
Safe        2         0
Hooped      0         2
Hoopkahed   2         1
Bumped      1         0

Penalties

A referee is generally present at these games and he determines the scoring as well as assesses penalties. The penalties fall into four categories:

1. Aim penalties:
   • Throwing out of bounds
   • Not throwing at the opponent
   • Throwing too hard.
2. Timing Penalties
   • Moving after a dodge
   • Throwing before the flurry has begun
   • Throwing after the dodge
3. Fouls
   • Throwing at vulnerable parts of the anatomy
   • Shoving
   • Hitting
   • Rocking (using a rock instead of a ball)
4. Movement Penalties
   • Dodging out of the playing field
   • Dodging twice
   • Rebounding (bouncing a ball back into the baller, or bumping the hoop back into the hooper)

Many of these moves can be valid tactics, since the points are still awarded even if the player commits a penalty since the judge can only penalize any player by plus or minus 1 point. The judge can however balance things by penalizing both players – one positively and one negatively.

This can backfire, however, since committing five penalties or more in a game may get you kicked out.

The Sport

This sport has become a favorite among school children and many school hoopkah leagues are forming. Professional hoopkah is still in its infantcy but the real stars of the game today are mostly of Keglacian heritage.

The leaders of the EvesqueValley Hoopkah Club for the past six years are

Year	Team
-4 EC	Folktown Flergit Beasts
-3 EC	Iganefta Fefferberrys
-2 EC	Folktown Flergit Beasts
-1 EC	Folktown Flergit Beasts
0 EC	Cranee Deathbugs
1 EC	Iganefta Flergit Beasts