Strategic Form Settings Reference

Strategic Form Layout defines a Cartesian payoff matrix from decision dimensions, Actions, outcome cells, and a shared payoff-recipient vector.

Module And Decision Policy

The Module selector changes the current Strategic Form module.

• Concurrent means actors choose without observing the other decisions in this matrix step.
• Sequential evaluates actors in configured dimension order.
• Current player values only limits participant presentation to the values belonging to the current Player.

The last option changes visibility, not the underlying payoff vector.

Player Dimensions

Add player dimension chooses a Player from Assignment and adds a new decision axis. Each dimension contains:

• a Player actor,
• an editable dimension label,
• an ordered list of Actions,
• an optional value formula for each Action.

In Layout, the first dimensions form column axes and additional dimensions form row axes. The matrix grows as the Cartesian product of all Action lists.

At least one dimension must remain. Removing a dimension or Action requires confirmation because it removes outcome coordinates that no longer exist.

Actions

Action labels are edited directly in matrix headers. Adding an Action creates the corresponding new outcome cells and leaves new payoff formulas explicitly undefined.

Action identity remains stable when a label changes. Use rename for wording changes; use remove and add only when the game structure changes.

Outcome Cells

Every unique combination of one Action from each dimension has one outcome cell. The small cell number is an editor aid. An optional cell label can provide a readable name.

Click a payoff slot to edit its formula. The formula is attached to that exact Action coordinate and recipient.

Payoff Recipients

All cells share one ordered payoff-recipient vector. A recipient is normally an Assignment Player, although canonical definitions can also represent Nature where appropriate.

Adding a recipient adds a payoff slot to every outcome cell. Removing one removes the same slot consistently from every cell. At least one recipient remains.

Recipient color and label help distinguish formulas visually; they do not affect calculation.

Structural Preservation

When an Action or dimension is added, removed, or renamed, the structural transformer preserves existing cell IDs and formulas where the coordinate mapping is unambiguous. It refuses ambiguous transformations rather than guessing which payoff belongs in a new cell.

After every structural edit, scan the entire matrix for undefined payoffs and run Validation.

Review Order

1. Define Players under Assignment.
2. Choose Concurrent or Sequential policy.
3. Add one dimension per decision axis.
4. Name every Action.
5. Confirm the payoff-recipient vector.
6. Fill every reachable cell's payoff formulas.
7. Review Current player values only and Game presentation.
8. Run Validation.