First, words have rules. The mansion of the Word Wizard has many rules. The game of Ad Verbum also has rules. Much of the problem-solving and puzzle-unpuzzling of the text is in recognizing the rules in play and using them to get out of sticky situations. In fact, the player (via text) and adventurer (via sound) are warned by a mysterious and booming, sonorous voice before entering a room, ?You may be very, very frustrated if you walk in there without reading the WARNING.? –Edmond Chang —Words Matter: Nick Montfort’s Ad Verbum (ENGL 668k: Digital Studies)

A student paper submitted for Matt Kirschenbaum’s class.