As work continues on the new version of the Primary Reality Guide, the following list of errata and proposed changes will hopefully serve to coordinate our efforts. Those with items to add should email the mailing list or myself.

Change Codes

To facilitate the change process, each proposed change is numbered and placed into one of the following five categories:

Clarification

A clarification is a proposed change which elaborates or modifies existing material without altering its meaning. Examples would include a rewording of the definition of the standard contest, or adding steps to a How-To.

Correction

A correction is a change which alters existing material in order to bring it into line with current rules (or grammatical standards :-)). Examples might include correction of typos, of indication of incorrect procedures.

Rule Change

Unlike a clarifaction or correction, a rule change is called for when actual underlying mechanics of the system are being altered. Generally, this will involve removal of old material as well as the addition of new text; purely novel changes are covered by suggested features, below. Examples of rule changes might include an alteration to the DRF, or a new decay law.

Suggested Feature

Sugested features constitute new material, rules, or document features not present in the current version. Examples of suggested features might include new examples, new rules, or a new generic list of some sort.

Other

Our catchall category, "other" is intended for changes which cannot be easily fit into the above taxonomy. In the even that a large number of "other" changes are produced, the change taxonomy will be modified to offer a better categorization.

In addition to the above, changes are roughly divided into those which are pending for the next revision, and those which are intended for future versions (but which aren't going to be implemented right away).

Proposed Changes

PRG Version 1.1

1 - Correction - Test procedure in HOW-TOs

Current order of test procedure in HOW-TOs indicates that rolling targets are to be subtracted from die rolls to produce success margins; this should be reversed.

2 - Correction - Grammatical Error on p13

"Does no translate" should obviously read "does not translate."

3 - Correction - Stated number of attribute categories

Currently reads "...into five basic categories"; should read "...into four basic categories".

4 - Clarification - Prerequisite definition

The reason for the use of the term "prerequisite" (as opposed to "default") should be clarified in the initial definition.

5 - Correction - Acronyms in index

The index should include all acronyms, as well as their translations if possible (current version links many to their translations directly, and is confusing for those searching on the acronyms themselves).

6 - Suggested Feature - Glossary

A glossary of AR terms would facilitate use of the PRG.

7 - Rule Change - Weapon Tables

Weapon damage, properties, etc. need to be revised.

8 - Rule Change - Aging Rule

Current rule does not function appropriately, and requires revision.

9 - Clarification - Inheritance

Inheritance is not explained sufficiently in the PRG; the particular type of OO and the possibility of multiple inheritance similarly need to be addressed.

10 - Suggested Feature - Object Tree

A formal object hierarchy must be added to the generic lists.

11 - Correction - Weapon Damage Codes

Current version incorrectly specifies damage type codes (e.g., (S)tabbing should be (I)mpaling).

12 - Rule Change - Materials List

Material properties must be changed to match empirical data, and to be compatable with the object tree.

13 - Rule Change - Skills List

Skill prerequisites and containment hierarchies must be revised.

14 - Rule Change - Generic Objects List

Objects must be revised and corrected (e.g., no rollerblades under furniture) and must be compatable with object tree.

15 - Other - Copyright Change

The AR license must be modified to include a derivative works statement.

16 - Suggested Feature - Sample Characters

A number of sample characters should be added to the PRG; these could include generic archetypes from which actual PCs might inherit properties.

17 - Suggested Feature - Examples

All rules should have at least one illustrative example.

18 - Rule Change - Scaling Modifiers

The procedure for adjuticating scaled contests should be brought in line with Karim's method.

19 - Clarification - Object Quality

Object quality should be clarified, moved to a more reasonable position in the PRG.

20 - Clarification - Ranged Combat

The Ranged combat rules should be presented in a more digestable fashion.

21 - Correction - Inverse DRF (Numerical Format)

1.57096 should read 1.570795.

22 - Correction - Derivation of Continuous DRF

Integration needs to be fixed.

23 - Clarification - Derivation of DRF

Explanation of Cauchy-like behavior of DRF should be added.

24 - Rule Change - Speed Factors and Parrying

End of section text should be changed from "...an implement may only be used in a parry if its SF (Speed Factor) is faster than or equivalent to the weapon of the attacker," to "...an implement may only be used in a parry if its SF (Speed Factor) divided by the blocker's ACT macro is less than or equal to the number of ACT Counts used in the attack."

Future Versions

1 - Suggested Feature - CDO vs. Real World

A means of relating CDO attributes to empirical data should be added.

2 - Suggested Feature - CDO descriptions for actual societies

Sample CDOs for Primary Reality societies should be given.

3 - Rule Change - Concentration and Median variables

Concentration and median variables should be linked to the parameters of the gamma distribution.

4 - Rule Change - Cost of objects

Cost of objects should be inherited from CDO variables.

5 - Suggested Feature - CDO level 2 attributes

Level 2 attributes such as population, etc. should be added to the current description of the CDO.

6 - Suggested Feature - Speedup/Slowdown for tests

Characters should be able to take more or less time for actions, thereby increasing or decreasing their chances of success.

7 - Suggested Feature - Bleeding

Rules for constant blood loss should be added.

8 - Suggested Feature - Grappling System

The grappling system (currently in development for the Martial Arts MRS) should be added to the PRG.

9 - Suggested Feature - Animal Rules

Rules for creating simple animals should be added (perhaps via generic lists).

10 - Suggested Feature - Vehicle/Machine Rules

Basic rules for vehicles and automatic machines should be added to the PRG (perhaps via the generic lists).

11 - Rule Change - Ranged Combat

The ranged combat rules may need to be revised.

Carter Butts, ctb+@andrew.cmu.edu