clay-borg/editions/ASPECTS.md

Aspects of the game — design space for GROUND

Authority: this file + catalog.yaml aspects: list.
Catalog contract: CATALOG.md
Research (simulator side): clay-borg research/CB-RES-0010-game-aspects-and-design-space.md

An aspect is an orthogonal design dimension of the game: a family of questions you can answer independently when defining or varying rules. A module is one concrete answer on one aspect. A profile is a named point in multi-aspect space (a combination of modules).

Terminology: aspect is the human and catalog term (schema 2). Older text said axis; treat them as synonyms until references are gone.

This is game design structure, not a game-theory taxonomy. Game theory supplies formal objects (players, actions, payoffs, information) used when analyzing a configuration; it does not list edition-level modules.

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Vocabulary

Term	Meaning
Aspect	A dimension of design space (e.g. how the game ends, how stress is routed).
Module	One implementable choice for an aspect (problem_stress.scoped).
Default module	The r0 / printed answer when no experimental module is selected.
Profile	Named list of modules (e.g. h2, scoped_plus_attack_soothe).
Baseline	Content package (ground-darvo-r0) + all default modules.
Configuration	Baseline + resolved module list — what a sim or table actually plays.

Rule: at most one module per aspect. Cross-aspect behaviour is an explicit profile, never a silent dependency inside a single module.

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Full aspect map for GROUND

Aspects marked modular have entries under editions/modules/.
Aspects marked fixed (r0) are part of the baseline until someone proposes a competing module.
Aspects marked product may never need a kernel module.

A. Structure — when and how the session runs

Aspect id	Question	GROUND today	Modular?
player_structure	Who plays? seats? teams?	2–6 seats; modes redefine who wins	fixed (r0)
objective_scoring	What is success / who wins?	Modes: co-op / semi / coalition + thresholds	fixed (r0 modes cards)
turn_time_structure	How does play advance?	Simultaneous select–reveal–resolve; Lead	fixed (r0)
end_condition	When does the game stop?	Fixed 5 rounds + score	modular
setup	What is on the table at start?	Scenario + mode; mats; start Stress 2	fixed (r0); future difficulty card
information	What is hidden vs public?	Hidden Problems; face-down actions; DENY	fixed (r0)

B. Content economy — what enters play

Aspect id	Question	GROUND today	Modular?
problem_deal	How do Problems enter play?	Surface + hidden 1..k at setup	modular
solution_economy	Hands, draws, suits	Solution deck; INVESTIGATE draws	fixed (r0)
action_set	What may a seat choose?	Investigate, Solve, Support, Attack, GROUND	fixed (r0)
legality_filters	What is offerable when?	SOLVE legality; Stress 4–5 gate	fixed (r0 rulings)

C. Pressure and regulation

Aspect id	Question	GROUND today	Modular?
individual_state	Stress, Freedom, arming	Stress 0–5; Freedom token	fixed (r0)
problem_stress	Unclaimed Problems → who gets Stress?	None (until module)	modular
interaction_stress	Attack/Support stress numbers	As printed on Actions	fixed (r0)
attack_relief	Does ATTACK soothe the attacker?	No	modular
reflex_sequences	Multi-round binding chains	DARVO DENY→ATTACK→REVERSE	fixed (r0); future pacing module
regulation_practices	How you exit pressure	GROUND GR/OU/ND; Bond Support	fixed (r0); future GROUND-sequence module

D. Relationships

Aspect id	Question	GROUND today	Modular?
relation_structure	Bonds, Rivalries, slots	2 slots; Bond/Rivalry	fixed (r0)
relation_scoring	Do networks win?	Coalition mode	under objective_scoring / modes
relation_stress	Shared liability via Bonds	Bond-scope under problem_stress.scoped	via problem_stress modules

E. Product and frame (often outside kernel)

Aspect id	Question	GROUND today	Modular?
scenario_fiction	Thematic conflict	Scenarios.csv	content, not rules module
safety_teaching_frame	How DARVO is framed	Rules_Text safety; INTENT	product
difficulty_accessibility	Learning vs mastery	WP-0005 finished: Standard thresholds only; dial via problem_stress / problem_deal modules, not Learning/Mastery threshold cards	future if needed
medium	Print vs digital	Edition CSV vs clay-borg	product

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Registered aspects (have module directories)

These appear in catalog.yaml aspects: and accept non-default modules:

Aspect	Default module	Other modules
problem_stress	problem_stress.none	flat_any_open, scoped
attack_relief	attack_relief.none	self_soothe_ge4
end_condition	end_condition.fixed_rounds_5	hybrid_clear_collapse (proposed)
problem_deal	problem_deal.fixed_setup	pressure_deck (proposed)

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Configuration as a vector

playable configuration =
    baseline content (ground-darvo-rN)
  × problem_stress
  × attack_relief
  × end_condition
  × problem_deal
  × …future modular aspects…

Missing aspects use defaults. clay-borg should persist the full resolved module list (and baseline id) on every game so measurements name the point in design space, not only a legacy experiment slug.

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Adding an aspect

1. Add a row to the tables above (this file).
2. If two competing designs exist (or one alternative to r0): register in catalog.yaml aspects:, create editions/modules/<aspect>/….
3. Do not overload an existing aspect with unrelated rules (e.g. do not put end-of-game into problem_stress).
4. Prefer measuring a new module alone, then in profiles with others.

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Relation to external frameworks

See clay-borg CB-RES-0010 for sources. Short map:

Framework	How it maps here
Formal elements (Fullerton et al.)	Coarse checklist → our Structure / Economy groups
MDA (Hunicke et al.)	Module = Mechanics; panels = Dynamics; intent = Aesthetics
Characteristics of Games (Elias/Garfield/Gutschera)	Independent dimensions → our aspects
Design space	Configuration = point in multi-aspect space
Extensive-form game theory	Analysis substrate (CB-RES-0009), not the aspect list