clarifications and rationales

diff --git a/house-rules.md b/house-rules.md
index b5aa015ec51ae62763883220d04b713c806efd99..4bdf0b7b1426e3415cb9177c4470ad2ab13eeb3b 100644 (file)
--- a/house-rules.md
+++ b/house-rules.md
@@ -4,18 +4,25 @@ HOUSE RULES
 Turn taking
 -----------
 
-In all but the last round: [??? insert Ben's version here]
 In all but the last round:
 
 If everyone is waiting for someone else to decide whether to draw, the
 person with the emptiest pot chooses (and if necessary draws) first.
+Ties are broken by the Fortune Teller card turn order.
+
+[Rationale: the official rule suffers from a perverse incentive.
+This rule approximates natural player behaviour, formalising the edge
+case.]
 
 Greens
 ------
 
 When a green chip talks about "the last or second-last chip in your
 post", apply the rule for each of the last *three* chips, not just the
-lst *two*.
+last *two*.
+
+[Rationale: Greens seem not to come up.  In my experience, even with
+this change they are still quite weak.]
 
 Test tubes vs pot droplet vs rats
 ---------------------------------
@@ -28,9 +35,13 @@ Subtle points: (i) For these purposes, your rat is placed in your pot
 *before* drawing the Fortune Teller card; but its position is adjusted
 again as necessary *after* (or as a result of) the Fortune Teller
 card, as usual.  (ii) If you advance your pot droplet and have your
-rat counter in the pot, advance your rat counter too.
+rat in the pot, advance your rat too.
 
-Locoweed book [???] "last coloured chip"
-----------------------------------------
+[Rationale: test tube droplets seem overpowered.]
+
+Locoweed book VI "last coloured chip"
+-------------------------------------
 
 This chip costs 9, not 10.
+
+[Rationale: This chip is hardly ever a good buy at 10.]