Agora is a nomic, a game in which the rules can be changed by legal game moves. Nomic was invented by philosophy professor Peter Suber as a way to model real-life legal systems, and is an engaging pastime for legally-minded creative people. Within Agora, Peter Suber holds the patent title (rule 649) of Hero.
Agora started on 30 June 1993, and celebrates its birthday on 30 June each year (rule 1727). Agora is the longest-running nomic known. Agora's 14-year history includes over 4800 legislative proposals (rule 106), the enactment (rule 105) of about a thousand rules (rule 2141), almost as many repeals, and over 1700 judicial cases (rule 991).
Agora sometimes acts more like a country than a game. It has its own heraldric insignia (rule 2151). Back in 1996 Agora passed a proposal recognising Canada as a fellow nomic, and directing its Ambassador to send greetings to a suitable representative of Canada. Alas, rule 1070 which defined the office of Ambassador was repealed mere days later, before the directive could be carried out.
Agora is renowned as a particularly serious nomic. Many Agorans regard it as much as exercise in philosophy, political science and group dynamics as a game. But they are not above silliness and having fun. The rules are mostly procedural, concerned with running the nomic, but substantive subgame are periodically invented and played for a while (and then repealed). Agora has experimented with randomised rule changes, including the Frankenstein Rule which was progressively cobbled together from parts robbed from other rules.
Agora has gone to war (in response to an insult that Agorans are "a generally boring lot"), and was a founding member of InterNomic. It currently has an office of ambassador (rule 2148) for the third time, and acts as protector (rule 2147) of other nomics, formerly including B Nomic.
You should first browse the current ruleset.
Agora is played entirely by email. It presently occupies five mailing lists. This is not as daunting as it sounds. Most traffic goes to the three main lists, segregated according to status. In case the main lists break down, as they have occasionally in the past, there are two backup lists. To subscribe to the mailing lists, follow these links:
The "official" and "business" lists, and the two backups, are designated Public Fora (rule 478), and so are permitted places for most game actions. Subscription to all the Public Fora is mandatory for players. The "discussion" list is a designated Discussion Forum: in-game actions cannot take place there, but planned legislation is drafted, and the state of the game is analysed. Subscription to the Discussion Forum is optional but highly recommended.
New players are accepted at any time. To register as a player, just post a message to the "business" mailing list saying that you wish to register (rule 869).
Agora also has a sizeable population of "watchers", who observe without joining the game. Watchers are welcome to join in discussion of the game. By custom, watchers can also register and be listed in the registrar's report.