Asmor's FRPG Corollary to Godwin's Law

[Asmor]

Quick background for the uninitiated: There's this law on the internet known as Godwin's law. Basically, Godwin's law is that, as a discussion on the internet grows larger, the chances of someone comparing the topic of the discussion to nazis or Hitler approaches 1.

This leads to a common rule that once that comparison is made, the discussion is immediately over, and whoever made that comparison automatically loses the discussion at hand.

Anyways, enough background information. I wish to propose a corollary to Godwin's Law, specific to discussions on fantasy roleplaying games.

Asmor's FRPG Corollary to Godwin's Law: As the length of a discussion on an FRPG-related topic grows larger, the chance of someone proffering an argument based on what happens in the Lord of the Rings trilogy approaches 1.

As a convenient example to my corollary (though certainly not the only example, just the most recent one I've come across), I present this post, a discussion on weapon sizes which invokes the corollary by pointing out that Frodo should thus have had a penalty for wielding Sting.

I also heartily endorse the whole "auto-lose" provision for my corollary.

 

[Bront]

I always thought Godwin's Law was the one about procesing power doubling every 18 months? Or is that Moore's Law?

 

[Asmor]

That's Moore's law, and it's funny that you bring it up...

Just as Godwin's law is often confused for the auto-lose rule based on it, Moore's Law is often incorrectly quoted as well... Moore's law is "that the number of transistors that can be inexpensively placed on an integrated circuit is increasing exponentially, doubling approximately every two years." (-Wikipedia), NOT that processor speeds double every two years.

 

[trancejeremy]

Is there a law about Monty Python being quoted at a gaming table approaching 1?

 

[Asmor]

My gaming table is sadly deficient in Monty Python quotes. If it weren't for me, it'd never come up. I need better friends.

 

[death tribble]

I believe that this is a very valid point and that it could be broadened to also take in Howard's Conan work as well.
The point is that both Lord of the Rings and Conan have been made into films and are thus more accessible to the non-reading public at large. So even if they have not read the books they can be familiar with the material. And thus make assumptions on it.

 

[Wystan]

I think this post is like Hitler and the Nazis discussing the difference in weapon sizes in Lord of the Rings and Conan...


(What? you knew someone had to say it)

(Is it possible to Auto-Lose twice in one comment? I proffer that it is.)

 

[Asmor]

I think this post is like Hitler and the Nazis discussing the difference in weapon sizes in Lord of the Rings and Conan...


(What? you knew someone had to say it)

(Is it possible to Auto-Lose twice in one comment? I proffer that it is.)

Yes, but not on purpose.

You LOSE, sir! (at losing, I mean, so you lose in that you don't lose. You with me, or did I lose you? Crap, now I'm lost too. I'm such a loser.

Hmm... I seem to have lost a closing parens, too. Oh well.

 

[Jesus_marley]

Is there a law about Monty Python being quoted at a gaming table approaching 1?

The law of Nee!

 

[Hairfoot]

How about the law which states that any new supplement or edition will be compared to either a computer game or anime? Usually by Hairfoot.