{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/visual-novel--family-02","type":"mechanic","id":"visual-novel--family-02","lang":"en","title":"Conditions and consequences of choice","summary":"The availability of a decision and its consequences depend on the accumulated wealth, past actions and visible information.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-02/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-02.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/visual-novel--family-02.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Visual novels","Mechanics"],"sourceIds":["source-f23ca43cf9c58791","source-61d64fa31c025264"],"sources":[{"id":"source-f23ca43cf9c58791","title":"Pillars of Eternity","url":"https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-61d64fa31c025264","title":"Pillars of Eternity","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The availability of a decision and its consequences depend on the accumulated wealth, past actions and visible information."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-02-variants\"></a>\n\n- Local variation without changing branches. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The solution changes the line, description or reaction, maintaining the general path of the story... <a id=\"variant-vn-013\"></a>\n- Selection by story flags. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The option is available after a specific event or action. <a id=\"variant-vn-014\"></a>\n- Checking the characteristics. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Success depends on the skill level or a combination of parameters. <a id=\"variant-vn-015\"></a>\n- Checking relationships. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Availability of action or reaction depends on the history of the relationship. <a id=\"variant-vn-016\"></a>\n- Knowledge test. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The required answer appears after receiving certain information. <a id=\"variant-vn-017\"></a>\n- Paid choice within the game economy. Type: Mechanics. Rule: An action requires spending a game resource; this is not necessarily related to actual payments. <a id=\"variant-vn-018\"></a>\n- Probable outcome. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The result is determined by chance, sometimes adjusted for parameters. <a id=\"variant-vn-019\"></a>\n- Risk with the opportunity to stop. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The player continues a dangerous action for the sake of greater gain or retreats in time... <a id=\"variant-vn-020\"></a>\n- Accumulation of behavior patterns. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A series of decisions shapes the character's inclinations and influences future events. <a id=\"variant-vn-021\"></a>\n- Delayed consequence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A decision changes an event that will occur much later. <a id=\"variant-vn-022\"></a>\n- Continuing through failure. Type: Mechanics. Rule: An error opens up a different course of history instead of a mandatory reboot. <a id=\"variant-vn-023\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"visual-novel","id":"family-02","title":"Visual novels","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/visual-novel/#family-02","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Conditions and consequences of choice","description":"The availability of a decision and its consequences depend on the accumulated wealth, past actions and visible information.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/pillars-dialogue-gates.webp","width":1136,"height":426,"game":"Pillars of Eternity","sourceUrl":"https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27","originalUrl":"https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27","credit":"Obsidian Entertainment; image via Magalhães (2015), fig. 4","rights":"© respective game rights holders. Screenshot reproduced in J. Magalhães, Adaptive Game Design (2015), figure 4, citing NeoGAF. All rights reserved.","caption":"Available replies and unmet requirements","alt":"Pillars of Eternity: a conversation with Heodan. Red Perception 14 and Resolve 15 rows are unavailable, while the light Intellect 13 reply is available.","markers":[{"x":33,"y":35,"label":"Perception 14: requirement not met"},{"x":23,"y":40,"label":"Intellect 13: reply available"}],"crop":{"x":0,"y":0,"width":520,"height":340}},"tips":["Show which past action enabled or blocked a response."],"examples":[{"title":"Pillars of Eternity","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/visual-novel"}}