{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/point-and-click--family-40","type":"mechanic","id":"point-and-click--family-40","lang":"en","title":"Dependencies and task organization","summary":"The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-40.md","aliases":["Task dependencies and planning"],"tags":["Point-and-click adventures","Puzzle and progression architecture"],"sourceIds":["source-08dab20219905f60","source-2fb392d4831688b7"],"sources":[{"id":"source-08dab20219905f60","title":"Ron Gilbert: Puzzle Dependency Charts","url":"https://grumpygamer.com/puzzle_dependency_charts/","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-2fb392d4831688b7","title":"Human Resource Machine","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants\n\n<a id=\"family-40-branch-1\"></a>\n\n- Linear chains: each step depends on the preceding one. <a id=\"family-40-variant-1\"></a>\n- Independent branches: solve simultaneous tasks in any order. <a id=\"family-40-variant-2\"></a>\n- Shared conditions: complete all branches or a specified number of conditions. <a id=\"family-40-variant-3\"></a>\n- Alternatives: satisfy one of several approaches. <a id=\"family-40-variant-4\"></a>\n- Branching and convergence: discoveries open tasks whose results later combine. <a id=\"family-40-variant-5\"></a>\n- Cross-location dependencies: combine information, actions and items from different places. <a id=\"family-40-variant-6\"></a>\n- Nested tasks: prepare a separate chain for a larger problem. <a id=\"family-40-variant-7\"></a>\n- Metapuzzles: use separate puzzle results as inputs to a shared puzzle. <a id=\"family-40-variant-8\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"A working classification with 44 families and 355 variants. Families overlap: one puzzle can combine items, dialogue, deduction and a character schedule. Core actions, progression architecture and assistance are separate layers. Sources identify examples from neighboring adventure genres."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"point-and-click","id":"family-40","title":"Point-and-click adventures","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-40","categoryIds":["section-6"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Task dependencies and planning","description":"The player identifies task dependencies and chooses a valid execution order.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-03.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Human Resource Machine","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/375820/ss_616cc4fd06f072e5610439bde791f54abc802e87.1920x1080.jpg?t=1692721273","credit":"Tomorrow Corporation","rights":"Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.","caption":"Connected tasks on the Human Resource Machine map","alt":"Connected tasks on the Human Resource Machine map","markers":[{"x":47,"y":59,"label":"Links determine access to later tasks"}]},"tips":["Distinguish required dependencies from a suggested order."],"examples":[{"title":"Human Resource Machine","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/point-and-click"}}