Taboo Iiiiiiiv 19791985 Better
The Mystery of the Roman Numerals
First, the spelling: Taboo IIIIIIIV is deliberately broken. Proper Roman numerals for the year range would be 1979–1985 (MCMLXXIX–MCMLXXXV). But the string “IIIIIII” (seven I’s) followed by “V” suggests:
- A countdown or accumulation (I = 1, repeated → approaching V = 5).
- An art prank mocking formal systems.
- A lost taboo index — seven forbidden actions or years leading to a fifth, greater taboo.
Scoring Changes
- Successful guess without hints: +1.
- Guess after Level 1 hint: +1.
- Guess after Level 2 hint: +0 (or +1 to opponents).
- Guess after Level 3 hint: 0 (or deduction).
- Illegal taboo word spoken: -1 and forfeits that card.
1. The Line-Up: An Impossible Cross-Section
While Taboo I (1979) was raw and Taboo II (1980) was suicidally bleak, Taboo IIIIIIIV captured the moment when industrial music learned to swing. It is the only volume to juxtapose:
- SPK’s “In Flagrante Delicto” (metal percussion mix) – never released elsewhere.
- The first collaboration between Coil and Z’EV – a 22-minute track titled “The Tongue of the Hidden.”
- A then-anonymous demo by The Young Gods (mislabeled as “Swans Bingo”).
- A complete, uncut live set by NON (Boyd Rice) recorded at the Mudd Club in 1981, where Rice uses a vacuum cleaner and a Barbie doll as instruments.
- The hidden track: A spoken word confession by an unnamed S&M dominatrix from Hamburg, later revealed to be a young Blixa Bargeld under a pseudonym.
No other volume in the series achieved this density of legend. taboo iiiiiiiv 19791985 better
Part 2: The Anomaly – Why “Taboo IIIIIIIV” is a Rosetta Stone
The keyword’s bizarre spelling, “taboo iiiiiiiv,” likely refers to a specific, ultra-rare mispress of what should have been Taboo IV (1982) or perhaps a compilation of volumes 2 through 6. However, archival research from bootleg forums (now defunct) suggests that Taboo IIIIIIIV (often styled as 8 in Roman numeral chaos) was a double-cassette box set released only in the summer of 1983.
Why is it considered better than the others? The Mystery of the Roman Numerals First, the
How it works
- Stuck Button (digital app or token): Clue-giver presses when they cannot give a legal clue. Opposing team may accept a hint token spend.
- Tiered Hint Levels (app or card-backed):
- Level 1 — Vague Category Hint: single-word category (e.g., "sport", "food") — no penalty.
- Level 2 — Synonym/Related Concept: short phrase allowed (e.g., "fast ball game") — +1 point to opposing team if used.
- Level 3 — Near-Forbidden: one of the taboo words converted to a beep-replacement on app — automatic -1 point for clue-giver's team.
- Time/Use Limits: Each clue-giver per round has 1 free Level 1 and up to 2 paid hints (Levels 2–3). Paid hints cost time penalties (e.g., -5s on the sand timer) or point penalties.
- Challenge Arbitration (app-assisted): If opponents claim a rule break, app reviews audio/text for forbidden words (optional local processing) and adjudicates warnings/penalties; in physical-only play, use card prompts to resolve disputes (majority vote).
- Optional Difficulty Modes: Classic (no hints), Casual (Level 1 allowed twice), Pro (hints disabled; strict enforcement).
4. Taboo IV (1985) – The Blockbuster Era
The Verdict: High Budget, High Gloss
Released in 1985, Taboo IV feels like the "summer blockbuster" of the series. With a higher budget and slicker production values, this entry moves away from the intimate, handheld feel of the original. It introduces a new set of characters and focuses heavily on the "twin" dynamic, played by the iconic Ginger Lynn and others. A countdown or accumulation (I = 1, repeated
- Why it works: If you are looking for pure aesthetic, Taboo IV is arguably the best-looking film of the quartet. The fashion, the sets, and the cinematography scream "1980s." It is less of a psychological drama and more of a sleek, stylized erotic thriller. It captures the excess and energy of the mid-80s perfectly.
1. Why “Taboo IIIIIIIV” doesn’t exist
Roman numerals follow strict rules:
- I = 1, V = 5, X = 10
- Repetition max: III = 3 (not IIIII)
- “IIIIIV” is invalid — would be IV (4) or IX (9)
Likely you meant:
- Taboo IV (4)
- Taboo V (5)
- Taboo IX (9)
- Or a range like Taboo 1–5 (1979–1985)