# Nomic — change the rules as you play

- From: Nomic, a game by Peter Suber
- Players: 3–6 players
- Time: 15 min
- Made by: Peter Suber, 1982
- This version: A short form: three starting rules, a target of 30 points and two turns each, in place of Suber's full Initial Set of 29 rules and 100 points

Made with boardgameBuilder 0.14.4. To design from it, open boardgameBuilder and choose Open game: its blocks go on the canvas, and the feelings are left for you to pick.

In Nomic, a turn is proposing a change to the rules. The group votes, then you roll a die for points. What you are playing at the end may not be the game you started.

## What it shows a designer

Changing the rules is the move. It makes visible what every designer does between playtests, and shows that every rule serves someone more than others.

## What you need

- paper and pens to write the rules down
- one six-sided die
- paper for scores

## How to play

1. **Start.** Write the starting rules where everyone can see them: a turn is one proposal, a vote and a die roll; the first to 30 points wins; changes need everyone to agree. Number every rule.
2. **Propose.** On your turn, propose one new rule or one change to a rule, in writing. Give it the next number.
3. **Vote.** Everyone votes. In the first round a change needs everyone; after that, a simple majority.
4. **Roll.** Roll the die and add it to your score.
5. **It takes effect.** An adopted change applies at once. When two rules disagree, the lower number wins, unless a rule says otherwise.
6. **End.** Stop when someone reaches 30 or after everyone has had two turns. The highest score wins; ties are shared.

## After playing, talk about

- Which change made the biggest difference to how the game played?
- Did anyone propose a change only to help themselves? How did the vote respond?
- What would you change first if you played again?

## Where the rules are written down

- https://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/writing/nomic.htm
- https://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/nomic.htm

## Its blocks

- Core mechanic: change the rules
- Victory condition: most points
- Chance or skill: chance with mitigation
- Timing: take turns
- Simulation: try a rule

## Saved state

boardgameBuilder reads this part back when the file is opened.

```json
{"mechanics": {"core-mechanic": ["change-the-rules"], "victory-condition": "most-points", "chance-skill": "chance-with-mitigation", "timing": ["take-turns"], "simulation": ["try-a-rule"]}, "chosenFeelings": [], "previousMechanics": {}, "previousFeelings": [], "turnNumber": 0, "locked": false, "turnHistory": [], "answers": {}, "tests": {}}
```