diff --git a/packages/ludic.base/README.md b/packages/ludic.base/README.md
index b9582b51..89f13fa0 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.base/README.md
+++ b/packages/ludic.base/README.md
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import "ludic.base"
 | `sv_put_int`, `sv_put_float`, `sv_put_bool`, `sv_put_str`, `sv_put_ints` | the matching writes |
 | `System { key, phase, version, init, reset, tick, save, load }`, `system_new(key, phase)` | a system; a null function is a verb it does not have |
 | `core_add(s)`, `core_clear()`, `core_count()` | the game's system list (a key may appear once) |
+| `def Systems key { ... }`, `SYS_<KEY>`, `SYS_COUNT` | a system declared from any module; the list starts from these |
 | `core_init_all()`, `core_reset_all()`, `core_tick_all(t)`, `core_save_all() -> Val`, `core_load_all(v)` | the runner: in the order added, tick phase by phase |
 
 ## A toy mechanic
@@ -123,24 +124,26 @@ Both are compiled and run by `tests/route_test.ludic` (the mechanics are `tests/
 
 ## Tests
 
-Each piece has a program under `tests/`, built and run directly:
+Each piece has a program under `tests/`, and `ludic test` runs them all, every test block in a
+process of its own:
 
 ```bash
-ludic build packages/ludic.base/tests/queue_test.ludic --headless -o /tmp/queue_test && /tmp/queue_test
+ludic test packages/ludic.base
 ```
 
-`queue_test`, `rng_test`, `save_test`, `system_test` and `route_test`. Two things the language
-does not do yet shape them: a generic call inside a `test` body is not resolved (so the queue
-cases are functions a test calls), and test blocks share one program's globals (so each case
-that uses the runner starts with `core_clear()`); `ludic test <dir>` with a fresh state per
-test will lift the second.
+`queue_test`, `rng_test`, `save_test`, `system_test`, `registry_test` and `route_test`. They were
+written before a generic call inside a `test` body resolved and before each test had a fresh
+state, so the queue cases are functions a test calls and the runner's cases start with
+`core_clear()`; neither is needed any more.
 
 ## Later
 
 - `port FishingWorld { ... }` / `bind` will replace the record of function values, checked at
   compile time instead of a null at run time.
-- `open registry Systems of System` could replace `core_add`: each mechanic `def`s its system and
-  the game's own `def`s give the order. Function values in a `def` work today (`def Systems a {
-  tick: fn a_tick }`); what is missing is a registry a package declares and a game fills, in an
-  order the game controls. Until then the list is built by calls, in one place.
+- `Systems` is an `open registry`, so a system can be declared instead of added: `def Systems
+  fishing { phase: PH_SIMULATE, tick: fn fishing_tick }` from any module. The runner starts from
+  the declared systems - the order the compiler gives an open registry: ludic.base's own (none),
+  then each other module's by module name, each module's in the order it is read - and `core_add`
+  appends after them. A game that wants to decide the order itself writes the `def`s in its own
+  files, or keeps calling `core_add` in one place.
 - `module toy_fishing uses ludic_base` will make rule 1 a compile error rather than a review.
diff --git a/packages/ludic.base/system.ludic b/packages/ludic.base/system.ludic
index 3d095c45..4786321b 100644
--- a/packages/ludic.base/system.ludic
+++ b/packages/ludic.base/system.ludic
@@ -12,10 +12,17 @@ export property System {
   load: fn(Val, int) -> void = null
 }
 
+# the declared list: a mechanic or the game writes `def Systems fishing { phase: PH_ACT, tick: fn
+# fishing_tick }` from its own module; the runner starts from these, then core_add appends
+export open registry Systems of System as SYS
+
 var cs_list: []System = null
 
 function cs_all() -> []System {
-  if cs_list == null { cs_list = new []System }
+  if cs_list == null {
+    cs_list = new []System
+    for i in 0 .. SYS_COUNT { push(cs_list, Systems[i]) }
+  }
   return cs_list
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/ludic.base/tests/registry_test.ludic b/packages/ludic.base/tests/registry_test.ludic
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45775675
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ludic.base/tests/registry_test.ludic
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# registry_test.ludic - systems declared with `def Systems ...` from outside the package: the
+# runner starts from them in the registry's order, and core_add still appends after them
+import "ludic.base"
+program RegistryTest {
+  numbers float
+  var trail: string = ""
+  function late_tick(t: Tick) -> void { trail = trail + "l" }
+  function early_tick(t: Tick) -> void { trail = trail + "e" }
+  function added_tick(t: Tick) -> void { trail = trail + "a" }
+  def Systems late { phase: PH_RESOLVE, tick: fn late_tick }
+  def Systems early { phase: PH_INPUT, tick: fn early_tick }
+  test "the declared systems run, phase by phase" {
+    expect_eq(core_count(), 2)
+    expect(Systems[SYS_LATE].key == "late")
+    let s = system_new("added", PH_INPUT)
+    s.tick = fn added_tick
+    core_add(s)
+    core_tick_all(tick_new(0.016, 1, 0.0))
+    expect(trail == "eal")
+  }
+}