{ "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" } }