7.5 Rule book Release (Article)
A number of the changes this year were pretty far-reaching and led to standardization of text across the entire book. As part of the transition process we also moved out of expensive, difficult-to-use software and into much simpler software (so other people who get the job can maintain it). As a result, many sections of the book had to be touched in order to achieve the goals set forth by the CoM changes. We did the work of several revision processes all in one go. In recognition of that fact, I skipped from 7.3 to 7.5. I didn't go to 7.4 because then we would get the odd/even changes/clarifications thing out of synch.
If you see anything you like in this revision you can credit it to the hard work of the Rulebook Committee, the CoM, and the new Rules Revision Guy (Rath). If you see anything you dislike, you can blame me.
Due to the in-depth alterations required, a few errors may have crept in. I reserve the right to fix those errors over the next few days. Please don't post them here, just PM me with them. I tried to get them all, but you never know. I'll increment the filename to make clear what is going on.
We have the rulebook available in .doc format, now. I'll be releasing that on request once any errors are cleaned out for you guys that like to do weird formatting side projects with the rulebook. Bear in mind that if you start editing the rulebook you're likely to get a nasty letter, but if you're just trying to put it into a different format you're likely to get encouragement.
It has been my pleasure to work on the rulebook and to help it get to where it is now. I am even more pleased to be seeing it change from the purview of just a few men to an open and transparent process managed by the people of Amtgard with an equal voice for all groups.
I would also like to take a second to thank Kurse and Randall, without whom none of the things that have happened over the past couple of years would have been possible. It truly has been a labor of love for all three of us. We have a lot of plans for the future of Amtgard, and I hope you are all as excited about them as I am. We have been in a period of unparalleled improvement in the organization and quality of our society and I hope that, together, we can all push forward into an even brighter future.
