[FSPA] Preplays VUK

[Joe Schober]

Several folks have pretty well covered the rules and intentions here.

Preplays are meant to replicate the conditions of normal league play as much as reasonably practicable.  For example, this is a large part of the reason we require preplays to be done with another person: multi-player games can be very different from single-player games as far as maintaining (or not) your rhythm on a game, jackpot-stealing / lock-stealing and similar features on some games, etc.

One key rule of normal league play -- too obvious to be explicitly written, though alluded to in rule 5 -- is "no mulligans".  You get exactly one try at each game, and you record whatever score you get, good or bad.  (There are rare exceptions related to Interference or Malfunction rulings.)  The same is true of preplays: per rule 9, you explicitly state when you start a game that this is a preplay, and then the result of that game is recorded as your preplay.  You don't get to play a game several times until you get a score you like, and then retroactively claim that as your preplay.  The same rule specifically notes that any preplays in progress at league start time are stopped, and the score shown is recorded as your preplay score.  Doing otherwise would allow for mulligans (Dave H provided some great examples), which wouldn't be fair.  So do not start a preplay before league if you don't think there's a reasonable chance you can finish it by scheduled league start time.

For after-league play (whether preplays or just for fun), there's no specific rule, but the Golden Rule is always a good guide... check to see if any groups still need to play the game you're about to start.  I'd be somewhat reluctant to add a rule that blocks all preplays just because one group is having an epic game 4, but we can take that under consideration per Dave's request.

I encourage everyone to review the full rules at <http://www.fspazone.org/complete-rules/ <http://www.fspazone.org/complete-rules/>>, especially if you have insomnia.  They're long and cover lots of things that aren't really a factor 99% of the time.  But every rule was created for a specific reason, and many of them have been fine-tuned several times, based on what 22 years of experience says works best for the most people most of the time.  Don't hesitate to ask your league officers, or here on the mailing list, if you have any questions about them.  We also accept suggestions for rule additions or modifications; this feedback will be reviewed and (loudly) debated by all league officers between seasons, and voted on.

Thanks!

--Joe

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