Hello everybody, Due to public pressure for their early release, here are the Initial Set of Rules for Nomic World. Please note: we have spent considerable time thinking about and writing these. Many good ideas raised in the pre- game discussion have been included. Please do not allow this post to become the basis for further pre-game discussion. All further changes can be proposed in-game. ***************************************************************************** * __ ___ ___ \ / ___ | * The truth is where the scuptor's chisel * *|__ | |__ \ / |__ | * chipped away the lie. * *___| | |___ \/ |___ o * * *gardner@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au* They Might Be Giants * ***************************************************************************** ----------------- Immutable Rules. # 101. Obey the Rules. All players must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form in which they are then in effect. The rule in the Initial Set are in effect whenever a game begins. The Initial Set consists of Rules 101-114 (immutable) and 201-211 (mutable). # 102. Definition of Immutable and Mutable. Initially, rules in the 100's are immutable and rules in the 200's are mutable. Rules subsequently enacted or transmuted (ie. changed from immutable to mutable or vice versa) may be immutable or mutable regardless or their numbers, and rules in the Initial Set may be transmuted regardless of their numbers. # 103. Changing the Rules. 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 Immutable rules, as long as they are immutable, may not be amended or repealed. No rule is absolutely immune to change.) # 104. Voting On and Passing Proposals 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, and quorum is achieved. # 105. Proposing and Adopting Rules. Any proposed rule change must be written down (or otherwise communicated in print media) before it is voted on. If adopted, it must guide play in the form in which it was voted on. # 106. Applying Rule Changes. 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. # 107. Numbering Rules Changes. Each proposed rule change shall be given a rank-order number (ordinal number) for reference. The numbers shall begin with 1000, and each rule change is proposed in the proper way shall receive the next successive integer, whether or not the proposal is adopted. # 108. Inconsistencies in Rules. 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. Rule changes that transmute immutable rules into mutable rules will be effective if and only if they explicitly state their transmuting effect. # 109. Making Proposals A proposal shall be made by placing it on the voting noticeboard. All proposals shall be preceded by a heading which very briefly summarizes the content of the proposal. Once a proposal has been placed on the voting noticeboard, it cannot be removed until voting has been completed. Each player shall have at any given time in the game at most one proposal on the voting noticeboard. # 110. Discussing Proposals. Before a proposal is placed on the voting noticeboard, it may be placed on the discussion noticeboard for any period of time. Proposals placed on the discussion noticeboard need not subsequently be placed on the voting noticeboard. A proposal may be placed on the voting noticeboard without prior discussion. The proponent decides the final form of the proposal and the time to end debate and put the proposal to the vote. # 111. Winning the Game. The state of affairs that constitutes winning may not be changed from achieving n points to any other state of affairs. However, the magnitude of n and the means of earning points may be changed. # 112. At least one mutable rule! There must always be at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule changes must never become completely impermissible. # 113. Rules Changes about Rules changes. 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. Voting Procedures After a proposal has been placed on the voting noticeboard, there shall be a prescribed voting period (specified in Rule 213) during which players may vote upon it. Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. Players may vote either for or against any proposal currently on the voting noticeboard. Players who do not vote within the prescribed period shall be deemed to have abstained. Mutable Rules. # 201. Rules Adoption and Scoring. If and when rule changes can be adopted without unanimity, the players who vote against winning proposals shall receive 10 points apiece. Players whose proposals are adopted shall receive a random number of points in the range 1-10 inclusive. # 202. Effect of Rules Changes. An adopted rule change takes full effect at the moment of the completion of the vote that adopted it. # 203. Defeating Rule Changes and Scoring. When a proposed rule change is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10 points. When a proposed rule change is defeated, the proposal will be placed on the failed proposals noticeboard. # 204. Number of Votes for Each Player. Each player always has exactly one vote. # 205. Conflicting Mutable Rules. If two or more mutable rules conflict with one another, or if two or more immutable rules conflict with one another, the the rule with the lowest 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 procedence. If two or more rules claim to take precedence over one another or to defer to one another, the the numerical method must again govern. # 206. The Judge and Rule Legality. If players disagree about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a rule, then Judgement is invoked and a Judge selected. Once a Judge is selected, (ie has accepted their selection) they then have exactly one week to post an official Judgement on the issue for which their Judgement has been invoked. If they fail to do, 10 points is deducted from their score, and a new Judge is selected. The Judge's judgement may be overruled only by a unanimous vote of the other players. If a Judge's judgement is overruled, then a new Judge is selected, and a new Judgment made. Unless a Judge is overruled, one Judge settles all questions relevant to the disagreement which the Judge was selected to settle, including questions as to their own legitimacy and jurisdiction as Judge. New Judges are not bound by the decisions of old Judges. New Judges may, however, settle only those questions on which the players currently disagree. All decisions by Judges shall be in accordance with all the rule then in effect; but when the rules are silent, inconsistent, or unclear on the point at issue, then the Judge's only guides shall be common morality, common logic, and the spirit of the game. # 207. Selecting Judges If Judgement has been invoked, then a Judge will be selected randomly from the Pool of Judges. The Pool of Judges shall be constituted by those players who are registered as Judges when Judgement is invoked. When a Judge has been selected, they shall have 3 days in which to accept or refuse their appointment as Judge. A prospective Judge must signify their acceptance or refusal of the appointment by sending mail to the discussion noticeboard. Any player who refuses to accept an appointment will have 10 points deducted from their score. A prospective Judge who does not respond by email to the discussion notice- board within 3 days shall be deemed to have refused their appointment. If a Judge refuses their appointment, a new Judge shall be selected. # 208. Discrimination. Any rule that acts or discriminates with respect to any specific player(s) on the basis of identity or personal characteristics will be void and without effect. # 209. What is a Player? A player shall be any person who is registered as such. Registration as a player is constituted by inclusion in the Nomic Mailing List. No person who is not thus registered may vote on any issue. All persons are free to observe and to contribute to the discussions of any and all proposals prior to and during the period they are voted upon. # 210. Quorum and The Required Number of Votes Initially, proposals shall be adopted only by unanimous vote of the players who vote within the prescribed period, and only then if quorum is achieved. Quorum is defined to be 20% of players at the time the proposal is placed on the voting noticeboard. # 211. The Prescribed Voting Period The prescribed voting period shall be exactly one week from the time that the proposal is placed on the voting noticeboard.