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Author Topic: Nomic: A game of Self Amendment  (Read 224 times)
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lc
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« on: February 23, 2010, 04:04:20 PM »

Summed up in a nutshell, nomic is a game in which players make amendments to the rules in order to win the game.

*Quote from the creator*

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Nomic is a game in which changing the rules is a move. In that respect it differs from almost every other game. The primary activity of Nomic is proposing changes in the rules, debating the wisdom of changing them in that way, voting on the changes, deciding what can and cannot be done afterwards, and doing it. Even this core of the game, of course, can be changed.


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Because the rules are always changing, there is no absolute set of rules to Nomic. There is only the starting or initial set of rules. There are 29 numbered rules in the Initial Set. Most are "procedural" and govern the process of changing the rules or the facts of life in a game where the rules are always changing. The chief exception is Initial Rule 202, which should be read first. Rule 202 is practically the only "substantive" rule in the Initial Set. It tells how to earn points to win. The mechanism is as simple as possible: one throws a die or makes a calculation. The substantive portion of the game is deliberately simple so that the players can decide, through rule-changes, what kind of game they want to play. If they make no decision here, they will be fully occupied in what I call a "procedural" game, which many players choose deliberately. In a substantive game, players aim to score points and win. In a procedural game, players try to tie the rules into the most interesting knots imaginable and to win not by points (Rule 208) but by paradox (Rule 213).


For more information: http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/nomic.htm

I'm currently running a nomic at http://nomicia.forum-motion.net/forum.htm and looking for some new players, head on over if you're interested at all.
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Ruby
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« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2010, 04:16:57 PM »

I played this before, also another fun game if you are feeling sadistic is Mao.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_%28game%29

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Ruby
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« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2010, 06:11:29 PM »

You've also now inspired me to quickly code up a program that can be used to keep track of the rules and events in the game of Nomic.
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lc
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« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2010, 06:19:09 PM »

Care to join Nomicia then?
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Wiro
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« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2010, 12:41:26 AM »

Maybe I'm stupid, but I really don't get how this works. I get that you keep changing and making rules and stuff, but then?
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Ruby
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« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2010, 01:22:30 AM »

You score as it goes on, though any legitimate game quickly changes how you accumulate points. It gets rather crazy and goes rather long as most people will quickly vote to change the winning condition just before someone is about to win.

As for joining in, I am already committed to way too many online things to have to worry about another tab each morning, but I do plan to 1up your boards with an online applet version of the game.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2010, 01:26:31 AM by Ruby » Logged

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lc
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« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2010, 04:10:26 PM »

@ Wiro:  That's the hardest question you could probably ask.  Assuming the rules defining the winner and manner of scoring are not changed then the winner is merely the first player to reach 200 points (points being earned for successful proposals, tactical voting etc)

The great thing about nomic is the versatility.  It's not unknown for nomics to mutate over time into (for example) games of mafia, RPGs and even chess.  "But then" depends entirely on what rules have been passed.

@ Ruby:  Fully understandable, I feel the same myself some days.  Looking forward to seeing your applet Smiley
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« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2010, 07:56:18 PM »

Wiro, I haven't played Nomic, but I understand it can be used as the metagame for any other kind of game or set of games. It might be used to govern the formation of a tournament or league, for example.
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« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2010, 07:18:00 AM »

I just played a game of nomic with some friends a few days ago. It got pretty sexy with our rules changes and everyone ended up winning.
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« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2010, 07:39:58 AM »

I just played a game of nomic with some friends a few days ago. It got pretty sexy with our rules changes and everyone ended up winning.

Nomic can be used to get laid!? This changes everything....
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« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2010, 07:47:33 AM »

I just played a game of nomic with some friends a few days ago. It got pretty sexy with our rules changes and everyone ended up winning.

Nomic can be used to get laid!? This changes everything....

The first rule you need to enact is the if you score more than X amount of points at once you must take off a piece of clothing for the remainder of the session. This quickly turns into a slew of rules added that force to you make more than X points for doing the most trivial of things.
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