IDEA: Nomic
 

This game was introduced at another forum I frequent, and it seemed like something that might go over well here. Basically, it's a game based around changing its own rules. All the rule changes are voted on by everyone playing. The official site is here, but it's kinda boringly written, I warn you now.

I was thinking about bringing this up myself. I'd totally play.

EDIT: I was bored, so I summarized the initial ruleset. There may be some errors.
IMMUTABLE RULES

101. Obey the rules or else.

102. There are two types of rules: Mutable and immutable. Initial 100s are immutable and 200s are mutable. New rules must specify mutable or immutable.

103. Immutable rules must be made mutable before they can be altered or removed.

104. To change or add a rule, it must be proposed and achieve the required number of votes.

105. Everyone may vote. Everyone must vote on every proposal.

(Note: I don't care much for this rule. I think I'd prefer an open game where anyone may pop in and vote without signing up.)

106. Write the rule/rule change out before we vote on it.

107. Rules don't take effect until they are successfully voted for. Players cannot be punished for doing things that a rule prohibits before it is in effect.

108. All new rules and rule changes need to be numbered. When you change a rule, give it a new number.

109. To change a rule from immutable to mutable requires a unanimous vote.

110. Immutable rules always take priority over mutable rules, except for rules that change immutable rules into mutable rules.

111. If a rule proposal is questionable, discuss it until you can agree on it.

112. A player must earn points to win, except for when it is impossible to continue playing; you cannot change this. You can change the required number of points and how they are earned.

113. You can always quit without consequence.

114. There must always be at least one mutable rule. The must never be a rule that forbids rule changes completely.

115. You can change the rules about rule changes.

116. Unless a rule says you can't do it, you can do it. You can't change the rules unless a rule exists that says you can.

MUTABLE RULES

201. All players begin with zero points. Players take turns in a specific order. (Note: This rule should be changed to reflect an open game).

202. Each turn a player may make one rule proposal and have it voted on, and then may earn a random number (1-6) of points.

(Note: Remove turns entirely. Players get 1 point and 1 proposal per post, and may vote on any existing proposals. When a proposal gets the appropriate number of yes votes without a certain number of no votes, it goes into effect.)

203. All proposals require a unanimous vote. If the proposal doesn't get a unanimous vote and isn't changed before the player's turn comes again, it only requires a majority vote. (Note: Should also be changed.)

204. Players who vote against a winning proposal get 10 points.

205. A new rule takes effect when the voting is over.

206. If a rule proposal is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10 points.

207. Each player has exactly one vote.

208. The winner is the first player to achieve 200 points.

209. There cannot be more than 25 number of mutable rules.

210. There is no rule #210. :)

211. If two rules of the same type (mutable or immutable) conflict with each other, the one with the lowest rule number takes precedence, unless the higher rule specifically mentions that it takes precedence over the lower rule. If both rules claim precedence, then use the lowest rule.

212. If players disagree about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a rule, then the player preceding the one moving is to be the Judge and decide the question. Disagreement for the purposes of this rule may be created by the insistence of any player. This process is called invoking Judgment.

When Judgment has been invoked, the next player may not begin his or her turn without the consent of a majority of the other players.

The Judge's Judgment may be overruled only by a unanimous vote of the other players taken before the next turn is begun. If a Judge's Judgment is overruled, then the player preceding the Judge in the playing order becomes the new Judge for the question, and so on, except that no player is to be Judge during his or her own turn or during the turn of a team-mate.

Unless a Judge is overruled, one Judge settles all questions arising from the game until the next turn is begun, including questions as to his or her 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 and that affect the completion of the turn in which Judgment was invoked. All decisions by Judges shall be in accordance with all the rules then in effect; but when the rules are silent, inconsistent, or unclear on the point at issue, then the Judge shall consider game-custom and the spirit of the game before applying other standards. (Note: Change this!)

213. If it becomes impossible to continue playing, then the first player unable to complete their turn becomes the winner. (Note: Change.)

I'd be willing to give it a shot. We'd still need more players to get it interesting, though.

I'll give this a shot. Also, I do suggest you do sign-ups for this and what not, becuase it looks really hard to do without them.

It looks like the game will be done it turns, where when its one person's turn, they make a proposal, then everyone discusses whether its worthwhile or not, and vote yes and no. However, I do suggest not doing the way the rules say for the points, rather just keep the 1d6 point method.

Honestly, if you want to do this game, I suggest no more that 10 people in the initial run of the game, it looks like it will take a little bit to get in the groove of it.

Well, Nayno, some of those seem interesting, and others of them less so. I don't think any rules should be changed beforehand, though. It is, after all, the point of the game.

I didn't make any changes to the rules, I just summarized them so people wouldn't have to read through the whole thing and maybe could generate interest. We'd be using the original rules, if anything.

But yeah. Maybe a closed game would be better, and then maybe we can set up some rules to initiate new players. I still don't like having to take turns though, since we'd be waiting on each other all the time.

See, we could make a rule about that though, which can make the game interesting.

What I think might work would be to have players each take a turn proposing a rule change, we discuss it over a twenty-four hour period, and then all vote on it. Each player could have twenty-four hours to propose something, and if they don't then they miss their turn.

The problem would be if we admitted too many players, then the game would take forever to complete.

Games like Nomic need lots of players. I'd say at least eight or so, but preferably more. Note: I just picked a number that sounds nice.

Grr... I'm grounded from the computer, so I'm not gonna be able to participate. Someone else can start it if they want, though.