[Retros] Re: Musings from a Composer's perspective

[Andrew Buchanan]

I really enjoyed the thoughtful mails stemming from the vertical cylinder 
castling issue.

My own feeling is that there should be a standard set of conventions, 
updated every few years. Unless otherwise mentioned in the stipulation, the 
conventional conventions for the year of the problem's publication will 
apply. 

Initially, the conventions for 2002 can be published, and then it would be 
an interesting and substantial historical exercise to work out what the 
conventions should be for each year in history. 

That way, each problem can be put into its historical context as far as the 
rules are concerned. Each year will have its exceptions, but they can then 
be viewed as such in their historical context. 

The Codex is the obvious starting place for such a set of conventions. The 
current version is rather telegraphic, and would need to be expanded. 

Cheers,
Andrew. 


Ryan M. writes: 


> Let's say I made a PG that uses extended castling around a vertical cylinder. 

> 

> If it appears with the extra stipulation "with Extended Castlings", the intent has been (at least partially) given away.  And the rationale for this damaging extra stipulation is that nobody ever thought of this possibility, so even though it's perfectly legal according to the rules, we don't want to damage a previous problem. 

> 

> It should be the other way around.  Old problems should be considered Vertical Cylinder "with no extended castling allowed".  This does not give the intent away and preserves them in the event they cannot be corrected. 

> 

> -Ryan McCracken