--- key: mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05 type: mechanic id: engagement-retention--family-05 lang: en title: Reward schedules and structure summary: >- Rewards depend on time, action counts or reset periods. These rules shape expectations and the rhythm of returning. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05/ jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05.md aliases: - Reward timing and schedules tags: - 'Engagement, retention and addictive patterns' - Mechanics catalog sourceIds: - source-ec81ae3b15929ea5 sources: - id: source-ec81ae3b15929ea5 title: Final Fantasy XIV url: >- https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: engagement-retention id: family-05 title: 'Engagement, retention and addictive patterns' url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/engagement-retention/#family-05' categoryIds: - section-1 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Reward timing and schedules description: >- Rewards depend on time, action counts or reset periods. These rules shape expectations and the rhythm of returning. image: src: images/mechanics/rpg-ffxiv-currency-13.webp width: 896 height: 544 game: Final Fantasy XIV sourceUrl: >- https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html originalUrl: >- https://lds-img.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/na/6a/da90fc8309d4f3b790a3b4ddfef806ef91b0bb.jpg credit: Square Enix; official guide screenshot rights: >- Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Official game guide or publisher-distributed screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: The weekly allowance is full while total storage has room alt: The weekly allowance is full while total storage has room markers: - x: 67 'y': 88 label: This week’s 450-token allowance has been fully earned tips: - Show reward conditions and reset timing in advance. examples: - title: Final Fantasy XIV url: >- https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html 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/engagement-retention --- # Reward schedules and structure id: engagement-retention--family-05 type: mechanic key: mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/engagement-retention--family-05/ Rewards depend on time, action counts or reset periods. These rules shape expectations and the rhythm of returning. ## At a glance ![The weekly allowance is full while total storage has room](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/rpg-ffxiv-currency-13.webp) [Final Fantasy XIV](https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Official game guide or publisher-distributed screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. 1. This week’s 450-token allowance has been fully earned - Show reward conditions and reset timing in advance. - [Final Fantasy XIV](https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html) ## How it works Timing and reward rules change the player's expectations and the rhythm of the return. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - A reward for every action: a useful result accompanies almost every repetition - Reward for a fixed number of actions: for example, a chest after several victories - Reward at a fixed interval: receipt is tied to the elapsed time - Reward after an unpredictable number of attempts: it is unknown which repetition will be successful - Reward after an unpredictable wait: the player periodically checks to see if the opportunity has appeared - Increasing rewards: continuing a streak increases the value of the next result - Simultaneous promotion of multiple rewards: one match fills multiple bars - A reward that triggers a new activity: the received key, ticket or resource immediately opens the next cycle ## Context and limits A map of 160 techniques for analyzing interest, returns, costs and pressure on the player. Involvement in itself does not mean dependence; the presence of separate mechanics does not determine the diagnosis or prove causation. This is the author's classification for critical analysis of design, and not a scientifically established list of the causes of gaming disorder. Assess context, audience, voluntariness of participation, and opportunity to stop. ## Connected materials ## Sources and 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. - [Final Fantasy XIV](https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/uiguide/currency/currency-ats/ats_number.html) (id: source-ec81ae3b15929ea5) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors