Generation 0
too little◄the narrow band►too much
persists · stablechanges · moving
A touch too strict
Survives only with exactly 3 neighbours
Rule B3 / S3—
living cells 0
The working system
Survives with 2 or 3 neighbours (Conway)
Rule B3 / S23—
living cells 0
A touch too generous
Cells never die — any neighbour count survives
Rule B3 / S0–8—
living cells 0
Same seed, three rules — only the survival window changes (B3/S3 · B3/S23 · B3/S0–8). "Reseed" proves it is the rule, not the seed. Changing one rule does not always cause chaos — it causes sensitivity: most neighbouring rules collapse or overgrow, only a few carry structure.