---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-17
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-17
lang: en
title: Exchanging services and task chains
summary: Completing a task earns a service or item needed for the next dependency.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-17/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-17.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-17.md
aliases:
  - Favors and task chains
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - 'Information, reasoning and social interaction'
sourceIds:
  - source-b36b38ceb4ac23e1
sources:
  - id: source-b36b38ceb4ac23e1
    title: Borderlands 2
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-17
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-17'
    categoryIds:
      - section-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Favors and task chains
    description: Completing a task earns a service or item needed for the next dependency.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/borderlands2-mission-log-manual.webp
      width: 499
      height: 281
      game: Borderlands 2
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/'
      originalUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/#page=11'
      credit: >-
        Gearbox Software / 2K; screenshot extracted from official PC manual, PDF
        page 11
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Screenshot supplied in the
        official guide; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Objectives and rewards connect tasks into a chain
      alt: Objectives and rewards connect tasks into a chain
      markers:
        - x: 31
          'y': 34
          label: Mission completion condition
        - x: 31
          'y': 80
          label: Reward for completion
    tips:
      - Show which task provides the resource required for the next step.
    examples:
      - title: Borderlands 2
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/'
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
---
# Exchanging services and task chains

id: point-and-click--family-17
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-17
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-17/

Completing a task earns a service or item needed for the next dependency.

## At a glance

![Objectives and rewards connect tasks into a chain](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/borderlands2-mission-log-manual.webp)

[Borderlands 2](https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Screenshot supplied in the official guide; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Mission completion condition
2. Reward for completion

- Show which task provides the resource required for the next step.

- [Borderlands 2](https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/)

## How it works

Completing a task earns a service or item needed for the next dependency.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-17-branch-1"></a>

- Requested items: find something satisfying a character's request. <a id="family-17-variant-1"></a>
- Solving problems: repair, release, heal, organize or help another person. <a id="family-17-variant-2"></a>
- Proving entitlement: pass a test or present documents, knowledge, recommendations or qualifications. <a id="family-17-variant-3"></a>
- Sequential exchange: trade items and services through several owners. <a id="family-17-variant-4"></a>
- Branched obligations: meet independent conditions for a shared reward. <a id="family-17-variant-5"></a>
- Mutual dependency: find a third resource, intermediary or workaround. <a id="family-17-variant-6"></a>
- Substitution: identify the actual need and offer a functional alternative. <a id="family-17-variant-7"></a>
- Deal conditions: choose price, order, guarantee, deadline or beneficiary. <a id="family-17-variant-8"></a>

## Context and limits

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.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [Borderlands 2](https://store.steampowered.com/manual/49520/) (id: source-b36b38ceb4ac23e1)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors