Disputatio

Academic Disputatio
There are three types of disputationes: epideictic, which attempt to praise or blemish an opponent; deliberative, which express a point or opinion; and forensic, used judicially to prosecute or defend a legal issue.

The first challenger is called the opponent, the defender the responder, and both contestants are called disputers. The disputers debate until one has proved the other’s argument inadequate or faulty, thus defeating his challenger and winning the disputatio. Every disputatio has a judge, someone who is more versed in the topic to be disputed, such as an older student for classroom disputes, an elder magister for teacher disputationes, or an experienced legal judge for forensic debates. This judge then poses a series of questions germane to the disputed topic. The disputer who has been selected as the opponent offers the first statement, to which the respondent replies in defense. Then, the respondent offers his counter argument, and the opponent replies in response. This exchange of the opponent’s statement and the respondent’s reply, and the respondent’s statement and the opponent’s reply, constitute one exchange of the disputatio. Once finished, the judge offers a second question, and a second exchange is undertaken by the disputers. Disputationes have a set number of questions, determined beforehand and usually numbering seven, nine, or twelve. Mechanically, both exchanges are treated like a round, although this is an abstraction used to govern the flow of the disputatio.

Affects of Virtues & Flaws:
If an academic character and a Tytalus character ever do engage in a debate, let each character use his style of debate. Calculate the Tytalus character’s Debate Totals as per the rules listed in Houses of Hermes: Societates. Use the diputation rules here to calculate the academic character’s Disputatio Totals. Engage in the debate as normal, back and forth, allowing the Tytalus character to switch his debate tactics. The academic is restricted his more rigid style.

Audience Participation
In epideictic and deliberative disputationes, judge may call for questions from audience. Storyguide generates an Attack Total against the opponent's Defense Total. Disputers do not return statements to the crowd, meaning that both suffer free "attacks."

At Advent and Lent, universities host public disputationes. Both opponent and respondent field questions from the crowd, one after another, offering no reply or counter-argument in response to the field of questions. Set in academic environments, at universities or cathedral schools, these disputationes last all day long. The winner is the disputer who lasts the longest.

At end of Disputatio, roll Over-Exertion check:

Stamina + Stress Die vs. Number of Rounds of Disputatio

Failure incurs 1 real fatigue, botch adds 1 long-term fatigue per 0 on roll

Tytalan Disputatio
Before the debate begins, the opponents must decide how long it will continue; an independent arbiter (such as the praeco at a Tribunal) might allow the debate for continue for a preset number of rounds (typically 5–10), or else decide arbitrarily when it is over. A debate ends in any case if one debater’s position is left “unconscious” by an attack of his opponent. In each round of the debate choose which of the three Attack Abilities (Folk Ken, Intrigue, or Artes Liberales) and which of the three Defense Abilities (Charm, Guile, Leadership) you are employing. Much like a certamen, the debate rules depend on six totals. Attack Abilities: Folk Ken, Intrigue, AL

Defense Abilities: Charm, Guile, Leadership