The bit regarding the winner getting to make a new rule has long been tested since the industrial revolution and likely far before then: In that context, of course, the new "rule" is essentially a law through lobby efforts, etc.
It becomes a competitive advantage to win early for express purpose of introducing protectionist mechanisms that would favor your particular technique or more likely, blocking the approach used by one's greatest challenger.
This may degenerate to "dirty tricks" early for the sake of an early win.
Therefore, to counteract that tendency:
Consider an "evolving" world. Take a card from artificial life techniques or randomly permute some attribute of the environment; e.g., terrain might become a more rocky, introduction of a natural predator, or perhaps switch from land to sea.
Mythology is rich with scenarios to draw upon.
I'd recommend NOT revealing the change until the round begins! Between rounds, let participants experiment only with the previous iteration of the world.
It becomes a competitive advantage to win early for express purpose of introducing protectionist mechanisms that would favor your particular technique or more likely, blocking the approach used by one's greatest challenger.
This may degenerate to "dirty tricks" early for the sake of an early win.
Therefore, to counteract that tendency:
Consider an "evolving" world. Take a card from artificial life techniques or randomly permute some attribute of the environment; e.g., terrain might become a more rocky, introduction of a natural predator, or perhaps switch from land to sea.
Mythology is rich with scenarios to draw upon.
I'd recommend NOT revealing the change until the round begins! Between rounds, let participants experiment only with the previous iteration of the world.