Why can I not test a numeric variable?

Logic-wise, I’d check the number before incrementing:

To say excomm:
	unless mugcounter is 6:
		increment mugcounter;
	choose row mugcounter in the Table of CoffeeMug Responses;
	say "[phrase entry][paragraph break]";

e: (although I use “unless,” using “if” phrases are fine too.)

e2: I missed the extra indent that phil was talking about