Entropic Village: A Simulation of Emergent Mythology
Inspiration: From Physics to Narrative
The concept for Entropic Village draws inspiration from fundamental physics: the second law of thermodynamics and the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.
Thermodynamics tells us that systems tend towards higher entropy, or greater disorder. Yet, within this tendency, localized order can still emerge due to constraints. Similarly, quantum mechanics describes particles existing in a "superposition" of uncertain states until an observation, or collapse, forces a single definite outcome.
Wave Function Collapse (WFC), the algorithm driving this simulation, takes its name from this quantum principle. Originally used in procedural generation for tasks like creating tile maps or architectural layouts, WFC works by resolving ambiguity into a coherent structure based on local rules.
In Entropic Village, we adapt this algorithm to the realm of narrative. Instead of generating textures, it collapses a vast potential of social connections into a dynamic, emergent mythology. The simulation produces a world populated by villagers, each defined by procedurally generated relationships, intricate influence networks, and a traceable history.
How It Works: Generating the Social Web
Entropic Village uses an adapted application of the Wave Function Collapse (WFC) algorithm to generate an emergent social network.
Each villager receives a name drawn from a defined lexicon.
Initially, all potential relationships (like sibling, rival, mentor, friend) exist in a state of superposition – every connection is theoretically possible.
The WFC engine iteratively resolves one relationship possibility at a time. Each decision reduces the overall uncertainty (entropy) of the social system.
As relationships are defined, constraints propagate through the network, influencing subsequent possibilities. This process ensures a coherent and interconnected social structure emerges.
The resulting network is visualized as a graph using Graphviz, revealing the complex web of connections unique to each simulation run.
This method allows influence to be traced through the network – revealing how decisions and relationships can create ripple effects across the village.
The Algorithm: Wave Function Collapse for Social Structures
At its heart, Entropic Village employs Wave Function Collapse, a constraint-propagation algorithm that transforms uncertainty into defined structure. While traditionally used for visual generation tasks like textures or level design, here it's applied to resolve social ambiguity.
Every villager starts in a state analogous to quantum superposition, where any relationship with any other villager is potentially valid. WFC systematically collapses these possibilities based on predefined rules and the relationships already established. This process cultivates a unique social fabric in every simulation, rich with inherent stories, potential conflicts, and alliances.
Wave Function Collapse: Constraint patterns guide the emergence of social structure.
Key Concepts: Emergence and Narrative
This simulation offers more than standard procedural content generation. It explores:
Narrative Entropy: Starting from maximum social possibility and resolving it into specific stories.
Emergent Causality: Complex chains of influence arise organically from simple rules.
Emotional Archaeology: The potential to trace current events back through a history of relationships.
Imagine tracing an event like “Why did Mira burn the shrine?” You could potentially follow the chain of influence back through multiple villagers via their established relationships—even connecting individuals who never directly interacted.
Future Directions
Planned enhancements and potential areas for future development include:
Tracking emotional states and their influence over time.
Introducing disruptive elements like character death, belief systems, or prophecies.
Mapping villagers to spatial zones within the village environment.
Developing a debugger for visualizing the simulation step-by-step.
Exporting simulation progress as animated visualizations (e.g., using SDL or WebGL).
The Potential
Entropic Village explores the fascinating intersection of:
Physics concepts with folklore creation
Systemic simulations with emergent social dynamics
Computational entropy with narrative emergence
This project is more than just a technical demonstration. It represents a novel approach to storytelling, simulation design, and interactive myth-making, offering a glimpse into new ways of generating dynamic and meaningful virtual worlds.
Proof of Concept
This simulation successfully generates a fully-connected social graph driven by the principles of entropy reduction via WFC.
Example Relationship Graph
Below is a visualization of a procedurally generated village network (50+ villagers). Edges indicate relationships determined by the Wave Function Collapse process.
Sample Collapsed Relationships
A snippet showing some of the specific relationships established during a simulation run:
