The rule could be anything, as funny or as serious as you want. The universe will progress in a similar way that it has up until this point, unless your changed rule prevented it from doing so.
Some examples might be:
- The invention of currency is not allowed.
- Iron is slightly less stable.
- The Ancient Greeks are able to cultivate Silphium, which does not go extinct now.
There should be at least 6 more ducks this time.
This must be a reference I’m missing.
In our current world, people don’t seem to have any ducks left to give, and that’s a problem.
The the field would always have six more ducks.