Simulation Skill

Abstract base for runtime state management. Concrete simulations (adventure, city-sim, ecosystem) inherit from this.

Motto: "The simulation is the world. The world is the simulation."

[!IMPORTANT] This is the abstract base. Don't create SIMULATION.yml directly. Use ADVENTURE.yml (for narrative exploration) or create your own concrete type. The concrete file INCLUDES all simulation properties plus type-specific ones.

Key Concepts

•SIMULATION.yml — Source of truth for "now"
•Global parameters — Configurable via chat
•Git time machine — Commits = deterministic undo
•Turn tracking — Increments on significant actions

Global Parameters

Time Control

Parameter	Default	Chat Command
`paused`	false	`PAUSE` / `RESUME`
`advancement`	normal	`SET TIME ADVANCEMENT [none\|slow\|normal\|fast]`
`turn`	0	`TICK [n]` / `REWIND [n]`

Git Automation

Parameter	Default	Chat Command
`auto_commit`	false	`SET AUTO COMMIT [on\|off]`
`auto_push`	false	`SET AUTO PUSH [on\|off]`
`git_remote`	origin	`SET GIT REMOTE [name]`
`git_branch`	main	`SET GIT BRANCH [name]`

Display

Parameter	Default	Chat Command
`narration_level`	normal	`SET NARRATION [minimal\|normal\|verbose]`
`show_mechanics`	false	`SET SHOW MECHANICS [on\|off]`
`debug_mode`	false	`DEBUG [on\|off]`

Output (all ON by default)

Parameter	Default	Chat Command
`write_to_chat`	true	`SET CHAT OUTPUT [on\|off]`
`write_to_transcript`	true	`SET TRANSCRIPT [on\|off]`
`transcript_path`	./README.md	`SET TRANSCRIPT PATH [path]`
`include_yaml_islands`	true	`SET YAML ISLANDS [on\|off]`
`include_links`	true	`SET LINKS [on\|off]`
`link_format`	markdown	`SET LINK FORMAT [markdown\|plain\|none]`

Transcript paths are relative to adventure directory:

•./README.md (default)
•./logs/session-log.md
•./narrative/chapter-1.md

Example output with all flags ON:

You're in the pub with Marieke.

You examine the lamp:
yaml
object:
  id: brass-lamp
  state: lit
  oil: 75%
  # Warm. Faithful. Flickering slightly.

Gameplay

Parameter	Default	Chat Command
`difficulty`	normal	`SET DIFFICULTY [easy\|normal\|hard]`

SIMULATION.yml Structure

yaml

simulation:
  turn: 47
  paused: false
  
parameters:
  git:
    auto_commit: true
    auto_push: false
    
  gameplay:
    difficulty: normal
    permadeath: false
    
  display:
    show_mechanics: false
    
player:
  character: characters/don-hopkins/
  location: pub/
  
party:
  members: [characters/don-hopkins/, pub/cat-cave/terpie.yml]
  
selection:
  targets: []
  
active_buffs: []
world_state: {}
flags: {}

Commands

Command	Effect
`STATUS`	Current simulation state
`SHOW SETTINGS`	List all parameters
`SET [param] [value]`	Configure parameter
`GET [param]`	Query parameter value
`PAUSE` / `RESUME`	Time control
`TICK [n]`	Force advance turns
`SAVE` / `LOAD`	Persistence

Git Time Machine

With auto_commit: true, every turn is a git commit:

bash

# Commits look like:
Turn 47: Entered pub
Turn 48: Ordered Monkey's Blessing
Turn 49: Pet Terpie (+Serenity buff)

Time travel commands:

•REWIND [n] — Go back n turns
•BRANCH [name] — Create alternate timeline
•TIMELINES — List all branches
•MERGE TIMELINE [branch] — Merge narratives