Circular linear game question!!!

[kky215]

Hi I have a general question regarding circular linear games.
I understand that when you encounter a circular linear game, when the number is even, you should divide it by 2 and the quotient becomes the number of spokes that you draw.
However when do you know for sure that the game requires two separate diagrams; one that goes clockwise and the other that goes counter clockwise? This seems to matter significantly with block rules or the rules that indicate adjacency.
I have encountered 2 circular linear games and one of the games required drawing two separate sketches while the other did not.
Can you please clarify?
Are there specific wordings that trigger multiple sketches?
Please help!
Thanks!!

[Jon Denning]

That's a good question. The key to showing adjacency like you describe (no specific direction/order) is simply to place one of the variables and then show the adjacent variable on either side of it with a slash "/" to indicate the either/or idea. That way you show that two variables must be consecutive, and you allow for movement clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the situation. This also saves you from having to draw a separate diagram for each order.

Of course, if the two possible orders each had a significant impact on the remaining variables, then it might be wise to show two diagrams as templates for how the game could progress. But typically that won't be the case.

A final, related point on circular games: usually the specific placement of a variable (midnight vs 6 o'clock, say) is less important than the number of spaces between variables on the circle, so pick a variable or variable set that the rules restrict and simply place it on your diagram. From there you can begin to insert other variables when/where appropriate (for instance, a rule that says A and B sit directly across from one another would allow you to put A and B at either end of a spoke, but it wouldn't matter which spoke you chose).

I hope that helps!

Jon