[spoon-discuss] Ruleset Cleaning

[Daniel Lepage <dpl33@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been toying with a rather large overhaul of some of the ruleset 
basics. What I have so far is still not very complete; I wonder what 
people think of it so far.

The goal is to tighten a number of definitions that are loosely worded 
and/or based on aspects of the ruleset that have since been repealed; 
also to provide a set of general object definitions to make the 
extension of systems such as the Proposal system easier and cleaner.

The proposal so far reads as follows:

{{
__Redefinition__

Replace the text of rule 13 [[r13/2, __Definitions__]] with:
{{
__Abstract Objects__ {*(Definitions, Abstract, Objects),2*}

A Game Object is anything which exists within the context of the game, 
that is, its existence must be mandated by the ruleset; the term Object 
shall be an unambiguous synonym for Game Object in all game documents 
except where specified otherwise. [[Note that this does not require the 
object's definition to be in the ruleset; an object could be defined by 
reference to an outside Document]]

An External Force is anything which exists independantly of the game.

An Outsider is an External Force which is also an Object. [[ i.e., 
something that exists outside of the game but is also acknowledge by 
the rules as influencing the gamestate, and thus exists within the game 
as well, such as a player]]

A Game Document is a body of text specified as a Game Document by the 
Rules. Game Documents are Game Objects. [[ which is true by definition, 
but we might as well be safe and state it.]]

}}

{{
__Names__ {*(Definitions, Abstract, Objects),2*}

All distinguishable Game Objects should have unique identifiers. 
Objects indistinguishable from each other need not have separate 
identifiers [[So a players points don't need to be named separately, 
but different players do]].

An abbreviation or nickname for an object may be used in place of its 
identifier provided that the context makes it unambiguous which object 
is being referred to.
}}

Create a new rule:
{{
__Players__ {*(Definitions, Player), 2*}

A Player is an Outsider who consents to be governed by the rules, 
fulfills all requirements for playerhood specified by the rules, and 
has become a player in a manner specified by the rules.

An External Force may become a Player by posting a message to a Public 
Forum containing a request to become a player and a uniquely 
identifying name that e wishes to be known by. It may do this if and 
only if it fulfills the following requirements:
* It is capable of passing the Turing Test
* It is not already a Game Object
* It has a working e-mail address

Players are Limited PEs.
}}

Replace r25 [[The Administrator]] with:
{{
__The Admin__ {*(Definitions, Admin)*}

The Administrator, or Admin, is an Outsider who consents to be governed 
by the rules, fulfills all requirements for Adminhood specified by the 
rules, and has become the Admin in a manner specified by the rules.

An External Force may become the Admin if and only if the rules state 
that it is the Admin.

The person known as David E. Smith is the Administrator.

The Administrator is a Limited PE.
}}


{{
__Proponents__

A Proposing Entity, or PE, is an entity which is capable of issuing a 
Proposal. Any PE may make a Proposal at any time, subject to any and 
all restrictions laid out in the ruleset.

An Unlimited PE is a PE that can issue proposals without paying 
proposal costs; PEs that are not Unlimited are said to be Limited. All 
PEs are Limited unless the rules specify otherwise.

}}

{{
__Bandwidth__

There exist Game Objects known as Bandwidth Chits. Any object can 
possess Bandwidth Chits. X Bandwidth Chits, where X is a number, may be 
written as XBW.

At the beginning of each nweek, the number of Chits held by each player 
becomes 10, and the number of Chits held by the Admin becomes 4, unless 
another rule specifies otherwise.

}}

{{
__Proposals__

A Proposal, or Prop, is a Game Document consisting primarily of a list 
of changes to the gamestate.

There exist different types of props. Each type has the following 
attributes associated with it:

A proposal cost: Limited PEs must pay this cost in order to issue a 
prop of this type.
A passage bonus: When a prop of this type passes, its proponent, if one 
exists, receives this bonus.
A failure penalty: When a prop of this type fails, its proponent, if 
one exists, receives this penalty.
Content Restrictions: A set of restrictions, which may be empty, 
governing what sorts of changes or texts may be included in the text of 
a prop of this type, which entities may submit props of this type, and 
when they may do so.

General Props are Proposals with a prop cost of 2BW, a passage bonus of 
3d6 points and one charm, and a failure penalty of 1d6 points and one 
charm. Any PE may issue General Props. General Props have no Content 
Restrictions.

An Unauthored Proposal is a Proposal whose prop cost, passage bonus, 
and failure penalty are all 0. Unauthored Props may not be issued 
simply as Unauthored Props; only as types of props that derive from 
Unauthored Props.
}}

{{
__Respect__

Respect Props are Unauthored Props, with the following restriction: 
they must contain exactly one change to the gamestate, which must be to 
increase or decrease the Respect of a game object that has the Respect 
property by an integer between 1 and 3, inclusive.

}}


{{
__Quotes__

Quotation Props are Proposals with prop cost 0, passage bonus 3 points, 
failure bonus 1 point. A Quotation Prop has the following Content 
Restriction:
It must consist of exactly one change to the gamestate, which must be 
to Modify the Quote Book to add:
	* A quote made by a game entity, past or present, other than the 
prop's Proponent.
	* The name of the entity that made the quote
	* The date that the quotation was made, and/or the URL of an archived 
copy of the message containing the quote.

When a Quote Prop passes, the entity Quoted gains 2d5 Score Points.
}}

}}


Anyone have any comments so far? (please, no comments about how I 
haven't included things like societies and Judgment Props. I know 
they're not here, and I plan on fixing that as soon as I have some Free 
Time(tm) )

--
Wonko

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