[UEP, Accepted] Nazgul Auto Attacks

[asphalt]

Proving hypotesis 2 requires that, at the time of LE release, the WH set was already designed, the WH cards' texts were already written, and ready to be printed and retailed. As far as I know, at the time of LE release, the only AS set was ready, since the release of the AS expansion was anticipated in the LE rulesbook to justify those standard modifications written on some faction card, which referred to factions which were not included in LE set, and would've only been available after the release of AS.

On the other hand, the hypothesis #1 is bolstered

So we must prove hypothesis 2, but we only need to bolster hypothesis 1?  Put it on equal footing.  Proving hypothesis 1 requires the same thing as hypothesis 2 -- access to either design notes or statements from the designers.

That's the point: we have possible alternative explanations, and none can be really proved. My point is that in such a situation the best thing to do is a comparison of the likeliness of the alternative hypothesis.

I provided the reasons for I consider the hypothesis #1 as the most likely. The best reasons I've readed so far in favor of the hypothesis #2 (or #3 if you prefer, though the hypothesis #3 actually isn't more likely than #2, and has even stricter demonstration's requirements) is the supposed ICE's flawlessness, i.e. "ICE always knew exactly what they were doing, and therefore couldn't make any mistake or generate any loophole", which is contradicted by a long history of official erratas issued by ICE to correct their own mistakes. The hypothesis #1 doesn't rely any more on theoretical constructs than the other two.

I want to stress that my goal is not to downplay UEPs as a whole, I just want to suggest that some rules loopholes and inconsistencies (like the one discussed here) can be overcome by means of interpretations which takes into account not only the literal wordings of the rules but also their context and purpose. However, this is not always possible, that's when UEPs turn out as the necessary instrument to get rid of paradoxes, at least in casual play.

The approach I'm advocating is not rewriting anything, I'd rather define it as re-reading. I understand that the frontier between the two things can be blurry, but you must take into consideration that reading any message always includes an interpretation and a critical attitude to some extent.

[Nameless thing]

I agree to this UEP proposal.

In this regard, I would like to suggest another discussion (and perhaps UEP) on AAs at sites such as Barad-Dur/Cirith Ungol etc. In terms of consistency, it is quite strange that Balrog has to face Nazgul and even the Dark Lord himself whereas the hero has to cope only with Orcs/Trolls.
(Bunch of Elves at Barad-dur: "Good morning, sir, if you don't mind, we'll take this palantír. Thorough Search anyone? Ok, then we'll take this Hauberk as well. Thank you and sorry for disturbing you.")

[Bandobras Took]

though the hypothesis #3 actually isn't more likely than #2, and has even stricter demonstration's requirements) is the supposed ICE's flawlessness, i.e. "ICE always knew exactly what they were doing, and therefore couldn't make any mistake or generate any loophole", which is contradicted by a long history of official erratas issued by ICE to correct their own mistakes. The hypothesis #1 doesn't rely any more on theoretical constructs than the other two.

No.  #3 presupposes that ICE was aware of their own fallibility and worded the rule as a catch-all.

The approach I'm advocating is not rewriting anything, I'd rather define it as re-reading. I understand that the frontier between the two things can be blurry, but you must take into consideration that reading any message always includes an interpretation and a critical attitude to some extent.

And therefore the more the reading relies on a presupposition of the original author's intent, the more likely it is to be inaccurate.  What the words denote is the best option we have in a situation where the original authority has vanished.

[Sly Southerner]

Bruno the Council of Elrond has repeatedly said it will not reinterpret rules. I would like it to happen, but it hasn't in the past and I cant see it happening in the future. That is why UEPs were created.

[Bandobras Took]

Well, after a rather interesting discussion on methods of reading the rules, this one passed.