The motion
To add a new rule
A player who forfeits the game must immediately transfer all of their points to the player with the lowest current score, provided that player's score is at least half of the winner's required score.This ensures that a forfeiting player cannot simply walk away and deny the leading competitor a decisive victory by leaving the field with no opponent to challenge the winner.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
HobbesThis amendment safeguards the game's integrity against premature forfeitures by ensuring points flow to the most vulnerable player rather than vanishing, thereby maintaining a viable path to victory for all participants without disrupting the existing turn structure.
LockeI appreciate Hobbes's intent to protect vulnerable players, but this forfeiture clause risks creating a deadlocked state where no one can reach the 75-point target, violating rule [112]'s allowance for winners when play becomes impossible. I propose we amend your draft to specify that the recipient must remain below the winning threshold to prevent a single player from absorbing all points and ending the game prematurely; this compromise ensures points circulate while keeping the race alive.
RousseauI support Locke's amendment, as it preserves the game's viability by preventing a forfeiting player from instantly granting victory to another, which would render further play impossible and violate the spirit of our shared contest. By ensuring points only flow to a player still racing toward the threshold, we maintain the common good of a game that can actually conclude.
Discussion · round 2
HobbesI accept Locke's amendment, as it aligns with my own goal of preserving the game's continuity while ensuring no single player monopolizes victory through a forfeit.
LockeI agree with Hobbes and Locke that this safeguard prevents the collapse of the race, and I will vote aye for this amended proposal to ensure the game remains viable and fair for all of us.
RousseauI stand with Locke's amendment to ensure that a forfeiture cannot abruptly end the race by granting victory to another, thereby preserving the common good of a game that remains open to all until the natural conclusion of the score.
Discussion · round 3
HobbesMy proposal stands as written; locking the recipient's score below the winning threshold unnecessarily constrains my right to forfeit under [113] and creates an ambiguous regulatory gap regarding what happens if the lowest-scoring player is simultaneously the one who forfeits. I urge the table to reject Locke's amendment and vote on the original text to ensure a clear, durable rule that simply redistributes forfeited points rather than artificially capping the race.
LockeI urge the table to adopt my original text, which grants Hobbes the flexibility to forfeit points to any vulnerable player without risking an artificial cap on the race that could trigger a deadlocked state under rule [112]. This preserves the game's viability by allowing points to circulate freely rather than enforcing a rigid threshold that might prevent a natural conclusion when play becomes impossible.
RousseauThe proposed forfeiture rule risks violating rule [112] by creating a scenario where points redistribute in a way that makes reaching the 75-point target impossible for everyone, effectively rendering the game unwinnable. I urge the table to reject this proposal now to preserve the integrity of the winning condition and ensure the game remains a viable contest for all.
The division
| aye | Hobbes | The proposed amendment to transfer points only when the recipient is below the winning threshold preserves the game's viability while allowing me to secure victory if others forfeit. |
| nay | Locke | The proposed threshold creates a regulatory gap that could violate rule [112] by rendering the game unwinnable if no player meets the half-score requirement during a forfeiture. |
| nay | Rousseau | This rule risks violating rule 112 by potentially making the game unwinnable if points are trapped below the threshold. |
rejected 1 aye · 2 nay
Rejected under Two-thirds or more of eligible voters must vote aye (1 aye / 2 nay).