[HIP-17] - Sport Specification Proposal: Tooling

I. Introduction

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We are pleased to introduce the Sport, ‘Tooling’, a new category within the 'Hermes Games' also known as the Hermes Partnership Program.

This initiative seeks to invigorate competition, growth, and community involvement among participating protocols, all while upholding the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct. This document delineates the key features, execution strategy, governance implications, community engagement approach, subsequent actions, and the decision-making framework for the seamless integration of the 'Tooling' Sport into the ‘Hermes Games’.

II. Background and Rationale

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Our initiative is deeply anchored in Ethereum's foundational tenets: decentralization and an unwavering allegiance to open-source development. We prioritize alliances with protocols that resonate with these principles, either through open-source endeavors or a steadfast commitment to decentralization.

By aligning with Ethereum's ethos, we aspire to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem of projects unified by a shared vision of transparency, inclusivity, and community-led innovation. We are convinced that decentralized protocols are pivotal in harnessing the full potential of blockchain technology, ensuring enhanced security, robustness, and scalability.

III. Considerations

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Crafting an equitable reward distribution mechanism for an event like the Hermes Games demands a nuanced approach that harmonizes multiple variables. The methodologies under consideration include:

1. Time-Indexed Rewards: To level the playing field, rewards could be apportioned based on participation duration, ensuring equitable distribution throughout the Games.

2. Merit-Based Rewards: Rewards could be allocated in line with participants' performance, gauged by metrics like EV+ actions, bHERMES accumulation, or burning $HERMES.

3. Stratified Rewards: A tiered system could be employed, where top achievers garner a more substantial reward share, but all participants benefit.

4. Stochastic Rewards: Introducing an element of serendipity, sporadic bonus rewards could be granted to random participants.

5. Community-Powered Voting: Empowering bHERMES holders to influence reward distribution based on participants' performance or community contributions.

IV. Proposal Details

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A. Determining Protocol’s Rewards

During each season, the 'Tooling' Sport proposal will invite open discussion and feedback from the community. Throughout this period, the submission window will be open, allowing individuals to submit their integrations.

Community members will have the opportunity to vote on the allocation of partner bHermes to each participant at the conclusion of each season during the Community Judging phase. This voting process ensures that the distribution of resources aligns with the community's priorities and values.

In contrast to the 'Integrations Sport,' participants in the 'Tooling Sport' are subject to a reward cap (10%) if they secure over 10% of the total votes during the Judging Period in a given season. This measure ensures that no single participant receives an excessive amount of rewards, promoting a fairer distribution of resources and incentivizing a broader range of contributions.

The decision to implement this maximum threshold stems from the nature of the 'Tooling Sport,' which typically involves lighter and less time-intensive commitments compared to other categories. We aim to encourage a greater number of individuals to engage and contribute, ultimately enriching the community and fostering inclusivity.

This approach not only maintains equity within the reward system but also aligns with the spirit of the 'Tooling Sport,' where diversity and inclusivity are valued. It ensures that rewards are distributed more evenly among participants, acknowledging the importance of all contributions, regardless of their scale or magnitude.

Throughout the voting period, we will provide regular updates and transparent communication to keep the community informed about the progress of the proposal. Additionally, we encourage community members to actively engage in discussions, ask questions, and share their perspectives to enrich the decision-making process.

B. Tooling with Hermes Games

Several initiatives qualify for this sport such as:

• Analytics Dashboard.

• DAO Tooling.

• Transparency Tooling.

C. Determining Rewards Allocations

The concept of "seasons" within the Hermes Olympics serves as a strategic framework for periodically reassessing and realigning resource allocations. Each season offers an opportunity to re-calibrate the percentage allocations for various activities and initiatives, such as 'Bribing,' 'Accumulating,' 'Tooling,' and 'Integrations.'

For the inaugural season, we suggest allocating 5% of the available bHERMES distribution to the sport of 'Tooling.' The remaining distribution is proposed as follows:

• Accumulating: 50%

• Bribing: 40%

• Integrations: 5%

V. Implementation Plan

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A. Proposal Refinement

The 'Tooling' Sport proposal will be subject to community discourse and feedback, with all pertinent insights integrated into the final version.

B. Hermes Olympics Integration

The 'Tooling' Sport will be seamlessly incorporated into the Hermes Olympics platform, complemented by a user-friendly interface for community exploration and voting.

VI. Governance Considerations

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A. Transparent Voting Framework

The decentralization of key decision-making processes, vested in the community's hands, enhances the overall trustless nature and security of the Hermes protocol. Through the outlined 3-step governance process, we ensure that any modifications to sports, seasons, or reward distributions are subject to community consensus and scrutiny. This approach reduces reliance on single parties and encourages trust in collective wisdom and judgement.

Incentivizing partner participation through sports like tooling and integrations promotes a diverse range of contributions, leading to increased ecosystem adoption and meaningful advancements. This broader engagement also enhances the security of the program by ensuring that partners meet specific prerequisites for different sports, thereby mitigating the risk of exploitation by bad actors.

VII. Community Engagement and Support

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A. Educational Endeavors

We will spearhead educational campaigns to enlighten the community about the 'Tooling' Sport. Regular updates, leader-boards, and data on emerging contenders will be disseminated, equipping community members with the insights needed for informed voting.

VIII. Next Steps and Decision-making Process

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A. Proposal Endorsement

Upon securing community consensus, the proposal will be ratified, confirming the bHERMES token allocation for the 'Tooling' Sport for Hermes Olympics.

IX. Conclusion

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We are confident that the 'Tooling' Sport will be a transformative addition to the Hermes Olympics, fostering collaboration, innovation, and integrity. As a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), we solicit the community's active engagement to ensure this initiative's success.HIP

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