Initial Set of Rules of Nomic

Initial Set of Rules of Nomic

1. Immutable Rules

101. All players 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 are in effect whenever a
game begins. The Initial Set consists of Rules 101-116 (immutable) and 201-213
(mutable).

102. Initially, rules in the 100's are immutable and rules in the 200's 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repealed; mutable rules, as long as they are mutable, may be amended or
repealed.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 player is an eligible voter. Every eligible voter must participate in every
vote on rule changes.

106. Any proposed rule change must be written down before it is voted on. If
adopted, it must guide play 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 proposed 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If a rule is repealed and then re-enacted, it receives the ordinal number of the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 re-enact 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or repealed, the entire rule of which it is a part receives the ordinal number of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 unanimous 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. Rule 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 is
an amendment that makes no difference, or if it is otherwise of questionable
value, then the other players may suggest amendments or argue against the
proposal before the vote. A reasonable amount of time must be allowed for this
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. 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, and rules that establish a winner
when play cannot continue may be enacted and (while they are mutable) be
amended or repealed.

113. A player always has the option to forfeit the game rather than continue to play
or incur a game penalty. No penalty worse than losing, in the judgment of the
player to incur it, may be imposed.

114. There must always be at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule changes
must never become completely impermissible.

115. 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.

116. 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.

2. Mutable Rules

201. Players shall alternate in clockwise order, taking one whole turn apiece. Turns
may not be skipped or passed, and parts of turns may not be omitted. All players
begin with zero points.

202. One turn consists of two parts, in this order: (1) proposing one rule change and
having it voted on, and (2) throwing one die once and adding the number of
points on its face to one's score.

203. A rule change is adopted if and only if the vote is unanimous among the
eligible voters.

204. If and when rule changes can be adopted without unanimity, the players who
vote against winning proposals shall receive 10 points apiece.

205. An adopted rule change takes full effect at the moment of the completion of
the vote that adopted it.

206. When a proposed rule change is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10
points.

207. Each player always has exactly one vote.

208. The winner is the first player to achieve 100 (positive) points.

209. At no time may there be more than 25 mutable rules.

210. Players may not conspire or consult on the making of future rule changes
unless they are teammates.

211. 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 lowest ordinal
number takes precedence.

If at least one of the rules in conflict explicitly says of itself that it defers tog
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.

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 to decide the question. Disagreement, for the purposes of this rule, may be
created by the insistence of any player. Such a 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,
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 teammate.

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's only guides shall be common morality, common logic, and the spirit of
the game.

213. 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 judge's best reasoning,
not overruled, a move appears equally, legal and illegal, then the first player who
is unable to complete a turn is the winner
This rule takes precedence over every other rule determining the winner.