{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/detective--family-30","type":"mechanic","id":"detective--family-30","lang":"en","title":"Limited resources and access risk","summary":"Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/detective--family-30/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-30.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/detective--family-30.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Detective games","Investigation structure"],"sourceIds":["source-ce786c639336367e","source-3674ef77efed76d0","source-090ee83445744667"],"sources":[{"id":"source-ce786c639336367e","title":"Shadows of Doubt","url":"https://fireshinegames.co.uk/games/shadows-of-doubt/","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-3674ef77efed76d0","title":"Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies","url":"https://www.nintendo.com/hk/3ds/aceattorney_dualdestinies/pdf/Ace_Attorney_5_OPSeet_en_R15.pdf","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-090ee83445744667","title":"The Operator","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This additional layer is not necessary in every detective game."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants\n\n<a id=\"family-30-branch-1\"></a>\n\n- Testing budget: spend a limited resource on the most informative query or analysis. <a id=\"family-30-variant-1\"></a>\n- Risky access: obtain information covertly while accounting for guards and possible loss of access. <a id=\"family-30-variant-2\"></a>\n- Cost of error: define the consequences of an unsupported attempt and whether play can continue afterward. <a id=\"family-30-variant-3\"></a>"},{"id":"example","title":"Design example","body":"The budget permits one of two analyses. The player chooses the one that distinguishes the remaining hypotheses."},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"A working map of detective design: 32 families and 96 variants. The core loop is to find information, form a hypothesis, test it and explain a conclusion. Answer formats, hints and investigation structure are treated separately. Families overlap, design examples are hypothetical, and released-game examples cite primary sources without revealing case solutions."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"detective","id":"family-30","title":"Detective games","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/detective/#family-30","categoryIds":["structure"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Limited resources and access risk","description":"Action costs make players choose which uncertainty to reduce first. This additional layer is not necessary in every detective game.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/narrative-the-operator-00.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"The Operator","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1771980/ss_152c464d71afa7bf2a0546cab74008d0e91b20c8.1920x1080.jpg?t=1778485297","credit":"Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova","rights":"© Bureau 81 / Bureau 81 / indienova. All rights reserved.","caption":"Profile access is restricted by clearance","alt":"Profile access is restricted by clearance","markers":[{"x":56,"y":81,"label":"The access denial creates an obstacle to obtaining information"}]},"tips":["Explain access costs before a resource is spent or a risk accepted."],"examples":[{"title":"The Operator","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771980/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial taxonomy authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-19. Primary developer and publisher sources support specific released-game examples, not the whole classification; design examples are hypothetical.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/detective"}}