ArithmeticRewardsforInvestments.json

{
  "pattern_name": "Arithmetic Rewards for Investments",
  "description": "The possible rewards have a linear relationship to the investments, that is, if the investment is double, the comparable reward is doubled.",
  "content": [
    "[[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]] are those rewards in game that are directly proportional with the resources used to gain them. As long as requirements of minimum and maximum investments are met, [[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]] allow players to split resources into several smaller investments rather than one large investment with no other penalty than maybe not receiving all rewards at the same time."
  ],
  "using_the_pattern": [
    "[[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]] use linear functions between the [[Resources]] and [[Rewards]] of [[Investments]] and are thereby incompatible with [[Geometric Rewards for Investments]] and [[Diminishing Returns]]. They make the planning of the [[Investments]] straightforward as there is no real incentive for hoarding the [[Resources]] before investing. As the [[Investments]] can be done in smaller chunks and do not represent so great [[Risk/Reward]] choices they give players a [[Freedom of Choice]] how to make [[Investments]]. The ease of understanding the [[Rewards]] received from [[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]] makes them have [[Predictable Consequences]], both for the players who are making the [[Investments]] and those observing the [[Investments]] being made."
  ],
  "consequences": [
    "When implementing [[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]] the costs involved have to be balanced compared to other possible [[Investments]] in the game. It is also possible to artificially limit the maximum possible amount used in single [[Investments]] or require minimum amounts to be invested to modulate the [[Risk/Reward]] choices that have to be made. Another way of modulating the [[Risk/Reward]] choices is to not make several identical [[Investments]] using arithmetic reward schemes possible at the same time by imposing [[Time Limits]] between such [[Investments]]."
  ],
  "relations": {
    "Instantiates": [
      "Predictable Consequences",
      "Freedom of Choice"
    ],
    "Modulates": [
      "Investments",
      "Rewards",
      "Risk/Reward"
    ],
    "Instantiated by": [],
    "Modulated by": [
      "Time Limits",
      "Diminishing Returns"
    ],
    "Potentially conflicting with": [
      "Geometric Rewards for Investments",
      "Diminishing Returns"
    ]
  },
  "examples": [
    "The unit construction in strategy games is often based on [[Arithmetic Rewards for Investments]]. If it costs 100 production points to construct a tank, it costs 200 points to construct two tanks, 300 points to construct three tanks, and so on."
  ],
  "label": "6. Game Design Patterns for Resource and Resource Management",
  "pattern_links": [
    {
      "name": "Investments",
      "file": "Investments"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rewards",
      "file": "Rewards"
    },
    {
      "name": "Diminishing Returns",
      "file": "DiminishingReturns"
    },
    {
      "name": "Risk/Reward",
      "file": "RiskReward"
    },
    {
      "name": "Freedom of Choice",
      "file": "FreedomofChoice"
    },
    {
      "name": "Predictable Consequences",
      "file": "PredictableConsequences"
    },
    {
      "name": "Geometric Rewards for Investments",
      "file": "GeometricRewardsforInvestments"
    },
    {
      "name": "Time Limits",
      "file": "TimeLimits"
    }
  ],
  "pattern_id": "ArithmeticRewardsforInvestments",
  "playable_concept": "Not available yet",
  "metadata": {
    "version": "1.2.2.2",
    "date_processed": "2025-04-26",
    "source_file": "ArithmeticRewardsforInvestments.htm",
    "converter_version": "1.2.2.2"
  }
}