I reached a somewhat conclusive list of rules that controls a system with unpredictability and emergent patterns. The traveling boats seem to show decision making as they travel from island to island, collectively forming routes and channels. As individuals the weave and swerve but together they flow.
-------------------------------------------[Rules
for Islands]---------------------------------------------
Rule
01:
An Island can store "resources".
Rule
02:
Over time an island gains "Resources".
Rule
03:
The more "Resources" an island has the less "Resources"
it gains.
Rule
04:
Over time "Resources" are lost.
Rule
05:
The more "Resources" an island has the more "Resources"
it losses.
Rule
06:
An Island can store "Potential".
Rule
07:
Over time an islands "Potential" is increased.
Rule
08:
The more "Resources" an island has the more "Potential"
it gains.
Rule
09:
Over time "Potential" is lost.
Rule
10:
The more "Potential" an island has the more "Potential"
it losses.
Rule
11:
An island can create a boat and send it to any other island.
Rule
12:
The greater the distance between islands the more resources needed to
send a boat.
Rule
13:
The more journeys made between an island the stronger the connection
becomes.
Rule
14:
The stronger the connection the less "resources" need to
travel.
Rule
15:
The stronger the connection the more "resources" needed as
cargo.
--------------------------------------------[Rules
for Boats]----------------------------------------------
Rule
16:
A Boat can hold Resources from an Island.
Rule
17:
A Boat has a destination island.
Rule
18:
A Boat will steer towards its destination.
Rule
19:
A Boat will avoid Islands that are not its destination.
Rule
20:
A Boat will steer away from other boats.
Rule
21:
A boat will follow where previous boats have been.
Rule
22:
A Boat will be influenced by tide and wind.
Rule
23:
When arriving at a destination a boat will slow down and stop.
Rule
24:
When a Boat has arrived it will transfer its resources.
Rule
25:
When a Boat has no resources left it is converted into potential.
-----------------------------------------[Rules
for Environment]----------------------------------------
Rule
26: There are four
seasons that cycle.
Rule
27: The season affects
the Resources gained on Islands.
Rule
28: The season affects
the Potential gained on Islands.
Rule
29: The season affects
the maximum Strength of the wind.
Rule
30: The strength of the
wind varies over time.
Rule
32: The tide flows in
and out, changing in direction over time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
