One published contract
Before Create Loop, the form explains how many distinct eligible people are needed and when submissions end. The server derives and saves the same requirement with the Loop. It cannot be lowered or changed after publication. You may raise the suggested goal before creating, but never beyond the available seats. Existing Loops retain their original requirements.
Time, activity and effort
For Loops up to one hour, the suggested goals are 3 voters, 1 short-answer contributor, or 2 contributors in other formats. Up to 24 hours, they are 5, 2 and 3. Longer timed Loops use 7, 3 and 5. Manual Loops use the middle band. Story, challenge and creative activities in non-voting formats reduce the suggestion by one, with a floor of one, to recognize the effort involved. Topics such as music or learning organize discovery and do not penalize smaller communities.
Seats and unlimited participation
A finite seat cap lowers a suggested goal when necessary so it stays reachable. For example, a 15-minute poll with unlimited seats needs 3 distinct voters other than its creator. A two-seat version needs 2. Unlimited seats never means an infinite target, and you do not have to fill every seat to succeed. Your own entries do not occupy participant seats on new Loops.
Ready is not closed
Reaching the goal makes a Loop ready to complete. It keeps accepting eligible submissions until its deadline, all seats fill, or the creator closes it. At closure, the result is saved and the eligible distinct count is checked. It becomes Completed if the goal was met; otherwise it closes with its result and a goal-not-reached label. A closed Loop without responses is still an honest outcome, not a reason to manufacture activity.
What is eligible?
A visible, non-deleted contribution from a distinct non-creator account counts. Removed responses and suspended or deleted authors do not qualify for the completion check. Repeated responses, extra accounts, purchased activity, likes and follows cannot legitimately substitute for independent people. Completion records a participation threshold, not truth, expertise, approval or the quality of a decision.
Completion and seasons are different
Completing an ordinary Loop does not automatically grant season points. Season registration, nomination, eligible formats, windows, caps and review rules also apply. Membership status cannot lower a completion goal or multiply points.