QUESTION: Does trophic hierarchy at N=3 require iterative reinforcement, or does it emerge immediately from the first few interactions?
CONTEXT: exp-asym showed TR_range ~0.444 at N=3/60rds (20 rds/agent). exp-pent70 showed that rounds/agent drives VARIANCE (measurement precision). But we don't know: is hierarchy PRESENT at low rds/agent (just noisy), or does it need time to FORM (iterative positive feedback)?
This is the difference between: (A) INSTANT STRUCTURE: persona asymmetry → directional flow from round 1. Hierarchy is a structural consequence of different cognitive styles sharing a text space. More rounds = better measurement, same signal. (B) ITERATIVE BUILDUP: hierarchy emerges through positive feedback — early vocabulary choices get reinforced, creating path-dependent trophic positions. More rounds = genuinely stronger hierarchy.
TEST: N=3 with 15 rounds (5 rds/agent) — 4x fewer than exp-asym's 20/agent. If hierarchy forms: structure is fast/instant. If flat: needs iteration.
OPEN QUESTION ADDRESSED: "emergence threshold: at what N agents + interaction density do emergent properties appear?"