New Nomic PBM : world creator From: snarff1010@yahoo.fr (Snarff) Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:40:31 +0000 This is the FAQ for the Nomic called "Genesis", hosted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genesis-nomic-d Enjoy. Version 1.1 (10Mar03) by Snarff -- Game not started yet, waiting for 5 players or more. -- Watch out for updates ! Location of the latest version of this file : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genesis-nomic-d ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS IN THIS FAQ ############################################################### # # # FFFFFFFFF QQQQQ # # F AAA QQ QQ # # F A Q Q # # FFFFF A A Q Q # # FF A A Q QQ Q # # F AAAAAAAAA QQ QQ # # F A A QQQQQ Q # # F A A Q # # FFF A A Q Q # # AAA AAA QQ # # # # # # VERSION 1.1 (10Mar03) # # # ############################################################### This FAQ is maintained by the "genesis-nomic-d" Moderator. Contents : A. Purpose of "Genesis" - Who can participate ? B. Which topics are covered ? C. How it works ? A. ***** PURPOSE ***** Genesis is a Nomic. A Nomic is fun ! A Nomic is a social game, with no winners, no losers. Just dreamers ! A Nomic challenges both your creativity and your wits. A Nomic strives to never end and constantly enrich itself. Genesis is about the making up of an "alternate universe", hence its name. This universe is refered to as "AU", for short. Players contribute by making proposals and voting laws at the online forum "genesis-nomic-d". Everybody is welcome; players don't need to be experienced to participate. The AU is fully described in the Encyclopaedia. ("En" for short) All passed laws are compiled into the En, at the online forum "genesis-encyclopaedia". Revoked laws are removed from the En. The players are the body of Encyclopaedists. Both forums are open to the public. To avoid abuse, they are reviewed by their Moderator. Genesis will start when there are at least 5 players. To participate, drop a line to "genesis-nomic-d" stating your pseudo. B. ***** TOPICS COVERED ***** The Encyclopaedia is initially divided into 12 tomes, as follows : Tome I. Foundation AU underlying principles (chemistry, elementary physics, magic, ...) Dependance : none. Tome II. Astronomy Space : general layout, constitution of space and its bodies (geology, climatology, ...). Time : age and history of the universe (cosmogony). Dependance : Tome I. Tome III. Living beings Taxonomy and description of plants, animals --if such terms make sense in the AU ! Dependance : Tome I, II, VI. Tome IV. Ethnology and traditions Social description of the sentient species in their environment Dependance : Tome I (brain mechanisms, perception through sensors), II (calendar, environmental constraints), V Tome V. History of civilizations Dependance : Tome IV Tome VI. Biology Laws of reproduction (genetics) Energy absorption and processing Food chain Dependance : Tome I, II (environmental constraints), III Tome VII. Languages and literature Dependance : Tome IV, V Tome VIII. Religions, philosophy and metaphysics Dependance : Tome I, IV, V Tome IX. Arts and crafts Dependance : Tome IV Tome X. Economy, geopolitics and institutions Ressources and exchanges, currencies, states, cities and governments Dependance : Tome IV, V Tome XI. Technology Level reached in the fields of transportation, medecine, use of energy... Dependance : Tome I, II, V, VI Tome XII. General index Dependance : all. The number and contents of the tomes may evolve as long as the purpose of the En. remains the depiction of the AU. C. ***** INTERNALS ***** Genesis is governed by a set of rules. Rule changes (enactment, repeal, amendment) are discussed and voted on by players on the discussion forum, at http://groups.google.com/group/genesis-nomic-d Voted proposals become rules. They are published by their author in the Encyclopaedia, at http://groups.google.com/group/genesis-encyclopaedia Since the rules always change, we can only provide here the initial ruleset. The current ruleset is the Encyclopaedia itself, available at the aforementionned address. The initial ruleset is adapted from the game of Nomic. Please read on carefuly, because it is not exactly the same as the original Nomic.(see rule 105, for instance). I. Immutable Genesis Rules 101. All encyclopaedists must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form in which they are then in effect. The rules in the Initial Set consists of Rules 101-114 (immutable) and 201-208 (mutable). 102. Initially, rules in the 100s are immutable and rules in the 200s are mutable. Rules subsequently enacted or transmuted (i.e. changed from immutable to mutable or vice versa) may be immutable or mutable regardless of their numbers, and rules in the Initial Set may be transmuted regardless of their numbers. 103. A rule change is any of the following: (1) the enactment, repeal, or amendment of a mutable rule; (2) the enactment, repeal or amendment of an amendment; or (3) the transmutation of an immutable rule into a mutable rule, or vice versa. (Note: this definition implies that, at least initially, all new rules are mutable. Immutable rules, as long as they are immutable, may not be amended or repealed; mutable rules, as long as they are mutable, may be amended or repealed. No rule is absolutely immune to change.) 104. All rule changes proposed in the proper way shall be voted on. They will be adopted if and only if they receive the required number of votes. 105. Every encyclopaedist is an eligible voter. Every elegible voter *MAY* participate in every vote on rule changes. 106. Any proposed rule change must be written down before it is voted on, and the Encyclopaedia tome(s) it relates to must be clearly stated. If adopted, it must reflect the behavior of the alternate world in the form in which it was voted on. 107. No rule change may take effect earlier than the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it, even if its wording explicitly states otherwise. No rule change may have retroactive application. 108. Each rule change shall be given a rank order-number (ordinal number) for reference. The numbers shall begin with 301, and each rule change proposed in the proper way shall receive the next successive integer, whether or not the proposal is adopted. If a rule is repealed and then re-enacted, it receives the ordinal number of the proposal to amend or transmute it. If a rule is amended or transmuted, it receives the ordinal number of the proposal to amend or transmute it. If an amendment is amended or repealed, the entire rule of which it is a part receives the ordinal number of the proposal to amend or repeal the amendment. 109. Rule changes that transmute immutable rules into mutable rules may be adopted if and only if the vote is unaminous among the eligible voters. 110. Mutable rules that are inconsistent in any way with some immutable rule (except by proposing to transmute it) are wholly void and without effect. They do not implicitly transmute immutable rules into mutable rules and at the same time amend them. Rules changes that transmute immutable rules into mutable rules will be effective if and only if they explicitly state their transmuting effect. 111. If a rule change as proposed is unclear, ambiguous, paradoxical, or destructive of play, or if it arguably consists of two or more rule changes compounded or if it is an amendment that makes no difference, or if it is of otherwise questionable value, then the other encyclopaedists may suggest amendments or argue against the proposal before the vote. A reasonable amount of time must be allowed for the debate. The proponent decides the final form in which the proposal is to be voted on and decides the time to end debate and vote. The only cure for a bad proposal is prevention: a negative vote. 112. There must always be at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule changes must never become completely impermissible. 113. Rule changes that affect rules needed to allow or apply rule changes are as permissible as other rule changes. Even rule changes that amend or repeal their own authority are permissible. No rule change or type of move is impermissible solely on account of the self-reference or self-application of a rule. 114. Whatever is not explicitly prohibited or regulated by a rule is permitted and unregulated, with the sole exception of changing the rules, which is permitted only when a rule or set of rules explicitly or implicitly permits it. II. Mutable Genesis rules 201. A rule change is adopted if and only if it gains majority (51% of votes) among the eligible voters. 202. An adopted rule change takes full effect at the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it. 203. Each encyclopaedist always has exactly one vote. 204. At no time may there be more than 25 mutable rules. 205. Encyclopaedists may not conspire or consult on the making of future rule changes unless they are teammates. 206. If two or more mutable rules conflict with one another, or if two or more immutable rules conflict with one another, then the rule with the lower ordinal number takes precedence. If at least one of the rules in conflict explicitly says of itself that it defers to another rule (or type of rule) or takes precedence over another rule (or type of rule), then such provisions shall supersede the numerical method for determining precedence. If two or more rules claim to take precedence over one another or to defer to one another, then the numerical method must again govern. 207. If encyclopaedists disagree about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a rule, then the Moderator is to decide the question. Disagreement, for the purposes of this rule, may be created by the insistence of any encyclopaedist. Such a process is called invoking judgement. The Moderator's judgement may be overruled only by a unaminous vote of the other encyclopaedists, taken before the next turn is begun. 208. If the rules are changed so that further play is impossible, or if the legality of a move is impossible to determine with finality, or if by the Moderator's best reasoning, not overruled, a move appears equally legal and illegal, then the world collapses. This rule takes precedence over every other rule determining the end of the world. Up