A paper/imp launches imps rings from a paper to create a defensive warrior which can be difficult to beat. They tend to tie against most opponents but only claim a small number of wins. The first paper/imp was created by Paul Kline in August 1995.
Paper with Embedded Launch
Diehard-style paper/imp contains a simple imp launcher and is the earliest example of a paper/imp, created by Paul Kline in August 1995. The paper spawns off new copies leaving behind a trail of continuous imp launchers.
step1 equ 4072
step2 equ 3144
istep equ 2667 ; (CORESIZE+1)/3
spl 1 ; 8 parallel processes
spl 1
spl 1
papera spl @0, {step1
mov }papera, >papera
paperb spl step2, {papera
mov }papera, }paperb
spl 0 ; launcher
spl imp+istep
spl imp+istep*2
imp mov.i #1, istep
Jedimp-style paper/imps embed a standard vortex imp launcher in a paper. The paper spawns new copies leaving a trail of vortex launchers. The first example was created by John K Wilkinson in July 1996.
step1 equ 1848
step2 equ 3024
istep equ 1143 ; (CORESIZE+1)/7
spl 1 ; 8 parallel processes
spl 1
spl 1
papera spl step1
mov >papera, }papera
paperb spl @0, >step2
mov }paperb, >paperb
spl 0 ; vortex launcher
add.x imp, launch
launch djn.f imp-istep*8,<7723
imp mov.i #3, istep
Binary-Launched Paper/Imp
A binary paper/imp launches a number of papers spaced evenly in memory. These work together to form imp rings. The first example of a binary-launched paper/imp was demonstrated by Magnus Paulsson in October 1995.
step1 equ 3205
step2 equ 375
istep equ 2667 ; (CORESIZE+1)/3
spl 2 ; 6 parallel processes
spl 1
spl 1
spl boot
mov {boot, {ptr1
ptr1 jmp papera-istep+6
boot mov papera+6, {ptr2
ptr2 spl papera+istep+6
papera spl @0, }step1
mov }papera, >papera
paperb spl step2, {papera
mov }papera, }paperb
mov.i #1, {1 ; anti a-field imp bomb
imp mov.i #863, istep
Spiral-Forming Steps
A paper with spiral-forming steps spawns new copies at distances calculated to form imp rings by spacing some of the copies evenly in memory. An example of spiral forming steps was first published by Paul Kline in February 1996.
step1 equ 435
step2 equ 845
step3 equ istep+1 ; (alternative step3 equ step2-istep)
istep equ 2667 ; (CORESIZE+1)/3
spl 1 ; 8 parallel processes
spl 1
spl 1
papera spl @0, }step1
mov }papera, >papera
paperb spl @0, }step2
mov }paperb, >paperb
paperc spl @0, }step3
mov }paperc, >paperc
mov.i #1, {1 ; anti a-field imp bomb
imp mov.i #2502, istep
Silk-Imps
A paper with silk-imps passes imp-like instructions of the form mov.i #-step*2,}step
to other copies of the paper spaced step
cells apart.
Paul Kline posted the first example of silk-imps in June 1996.
step1 equ -888
step2 equ -1136
step3 equ 1488
spl 1 ; 8 parallel processes
spl 1
spl 1
papera spl step1
mov >papera, }papera
paperb spl step2
mov >paperb, }paperb
paperc spl step3
mov >paperc, }paperc
mov.i #-step1*2,}step1
mov.i #-step2*2,}step2
mov.i #-step3*2,}step3
Example Paper/Imps
Firestorm, Maelstrom, For John, Dawn, Dawn 2, Devilstick, Mascafe and Burning Metal pair a paper/imp with an embedded vortex launch and a standard paper.
Return of the Jedimp and Chainlock v02a are paper/imps with an embedded vortex launch.
theMystery1.5, Night Train, Safety in Numbers, Blowrag, Silkworm, tiny Blowrag and Night Terrors are examples of a binary-launched paper/imp.
The Fugitive, Return of the Fugitive, Decoy Signal and Toxic use spiral-forming steps.
unheard-of and SilKing pair a paper/imp with spiral-forming steps and a standard paper.
Die Hard is a paper/imp with a simple embedded imp launcher.
Defensive pairs a paper/imp with an embedded vortex launch and a paper/imp with silk-imps and spiral-forming steps.
Cinammon is a binary-launched paper/imp which also has silk-imps and spiral-forming steps.
Golden Eye is a paper with a satellite launched stone and vortex launch.
Kosmos is a paper which alternates between two satellites: a stone and an imp launcher with spiral-forming steps.
RetroQ, Fixed, Stylized Euphoria, pdQscan, Simplicity and Mercenary are examples of paper with silk-imps.
Further Reading
- Fixed." Core Warrior 71 (8 Mar 1999). . "
- Safety In Numbers." Core Warrior 76 (12 Dec 1999). . "
- On QScans and CoreWar Strategy." Core Warrior 54 (20 Jan 1997). . "
- Cinammon." Core Warrior 77 (13 Apr 2000). . "
- The Fugitive." Core Warrior 68 (9 Jun 1998). . "
- theMystery1.5." Core Warrior 2 (23 Oct 1995). . "
- unheard-of." Core Warrior 87 (3 Jul 2003). . "