Start (Initiation)

Ludic Temporal Structure start

The card describes how the Ludic Process begins - the temporal form of the beginning: start state and starting conditions (fixed in advance, chosen from options, persisted as a continuation, drawn by lot, or negotiated). The Start is the counterpart of Termination: as Termination describes the form of the end, the Start describes the form of the beginning. The concrete starting conditions as decision content remain Ludic Regulations with an initial scope.

Design question – How does the game begin - with fixed conditions, a choice among options, a continuation, a draw of lots, or a negotiation - and which starting options does this open up for the agents?

Reference example – Football: fixed starting conditions, but the kick-off is drawn by lot (Randomized). Catan: setup in pick order (Variable). Rogue-like: every run starts the same (Fixed), the meta layer persists (Persisted).

Compatible with

• In Medias Res (NA-04) – In Medias Res: a beginning in the middle of things - the narrative form of the start.
• Jo-Ha-Kyū (DU-08) – Jo-Ha-Kyū: a ceremonial beginning (Jo) as a form of starting.