Rules Revision Process

From the Rulebook

1. A Rules Revision Organizer (RRO) will be appointed in even years by the Amtgard International Circle of Monarchs (AICOM) by a simple majority vote at their Annual Meeting. An RRO may be removed from their position by the AICOM at any time by a simple majority vote; at which point the AICOM may install a pro-tem RRO for the remainder of the current term, also by simple majority vote. The responsibilities of the RRO are as follows:
1. To coordinate the Rules Revision Process described below in Section 3, and ensure that appropriate timeframes are met. The RRO will designate an online Rules Revision Discussion Forum for this purpose, and ensure that all Kingdom Rules Representatives (Rules Reps) have access.
2. To solicit Rules Reps for Proposed Rules Changes and facilitate discussion of these items. Proposed Rules Changes are items that require a substantive adjustment to the ROP. The RRO may discard any Proposed Rules Changes that are obviously inappropriate.
3. To advise the AICOM regarding the advisability and implications of approving Rules Change Proposals.
4. To work with the Rule Book Editor in order to ensure appropriate editing and publishing of the Amtgard Rules of Play to incorporate rules changes approved by the AICOM.
5. To issue clarifications of existing rules, or rules changes approved by the AICOM, based on feedback and discussion with the Rules Reps. Any Rules Clarifications issued by the RRO are binding, unless and until vetoed by the AICOM.
1. Clarifications are items that clarify the language regarding existing rules, Proposed Rules Changes or Rules Change Proposals but do not require a substantive adjustment to the Amtgard Rules of Play (ROP). Clarifications should resolve clear-cut instances of ambiguity in the ROP that are not related to game balance or game mechanics.
2. Clarifications that require no adjustments to the ROP shall be issued directly, and are in force unless overturned by the AICOM.
3. Clarifications that require an adjustment to the wording of the ROP, but that do not substantively change the ROP, shall have a 30-day period for public discussion, in a venue chosen by the RRO. Once the discussion period has ended, the RRO shall notify the Executive Committee of the clarification, and shall direct the Rule Book Editor to make the corresponding updates to the ROP.
2. Each Kingdom must elect or appoint, by a process at their discretion, a Kingdom Rules Representative (Rules Rep). The Rules Rep must be a current member of the Kingdom in which they are to serve. A Kingdom may remove a Rules Rep from their position at any time by a process at their discretion.
1. Each Kingdom’s designated Rules Rep is the only individual from each Kingdom authorized to participate in the Rules Revision Process: including participation in the Rules Revision Discussion Forum, presenting Proposed Rules Changes and making rules clarification requests.
2. Rules Rep positions are encouraged to be open-ended appointments, unless otherwise specified by each kingdom, in order to promote long term consistency and stability in the Rules Revision Process.
3. The main duties of the Rules Reps are as follows:
1. To solicit the populace of their Kingdom for Proposed Rules Changes and Rules Clarifications Requests. Rules Reps have the discretionary right to discard proposals submitted by their Kingdom populace that are obviously inappropriate.
2. To bring these items to the Rules Revision Discussion Forum, discuss them with other Kingdom Rules Reps, and vote on them as directed by the RRO.
3. New Rules Change Proposals are to be submitted in even years by the RRO to the AICOM at their Annual Meeting. Rules Change Proposals accepted by the AICOM in even years will undergo a 1-year play test period. In odd years, the AICOM will vote at their Annual Meeting to finalize and make permanent, or reject, Rules Change Proposals from the prior year’s playtest period.
1. During even years, at least one month prior to the Annual Meeting of the AICOM, the RRO will compile the finalized list of Rules Change Proposals and submit them to the Executive Committee. Each Kingdom’s Rules Rep will make the finalized list available to their Kingdom populace for discussion and feedback.
1. Only a Kingdom's designated AICOM representative may cast a vote on Rules Change Proposals.
2. Rules Change Proposals must be on the finalized list presented to the Executive Committee to be considered for a vote at the Annual Meeting. Absolutely no Rules Change Proposals or Rules Clarification Requests proposed during the course of the Annual meeting will be considered by the AICOM.
3. Rules Change Proposals require approval of the AICOM by a 75% majority of Kingdoms present at the Annual Meeting to gain approval for playtest.
2. During even years, the Rules Change Proposals, once passed, are then compiled by the RRO to be presented to Amtgard at large for playtesting until the next yearly Circle of Monarchs meeting. The scope of the playtest is at the discretion of the RRO.
1. During the playtest period, the Rules Reps can, by two thirds majority vote of all Rules Reps, make changes to Rules Changes currently under playtest. This should be done to improve the functionality of rules under playtest, based on player feedback. This can happen only once midway through the playtest period.
3. During odd years and no later than one month before the Annual Meeting of the AICOM, the Reps can, by two thirds majority vote of all Rules Reps, propose final changes to the playtest. These final versions of Rules Changes Proposals will be presented to the Executive Committee, and voted on by the AICOM at the Annual Meeting.
1. Rules Change Proposals require approval of the AICOM by a 75% majority of Kingdoms present at the Annual Meeting to gain final approval and be permanently added to the ROP.
2. The RRO will present all approved Rules Changes to the Rule Book Editor for incorporation into the ROP.
3. Approved Rules Changes become effective one month from the date of the Annual Meeting, and must be made available to the populace of Amtgard and posted on www.amtgard.com by this date.