---
key: mechanic/shared-family-59
type: mechanic
id: shared-family-59
lang: en
title: 'Constraints, pace and information'
summary: >-
  Limits on actions, time and information change available choices and the cost
  of a decision.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/shared-family-59/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/shared-family-59.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/shared-family-59.md'
aliases:
  - 'Constraints, pacing and information'
tags:
  - Children’s games
  - 'Goals, constraints and progression'
  - Educational games
sourceIds:
  - source-7f09c8a736762f4f
sources:
  - id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f
    title: Slay the Spire
    url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: children
    id: family-59
    title: Children’s games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/children/#family-59'
    categoryIds:
      - progress
  - catalogId: education
    id: family-59
    title: Educational games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/education/#family-59'
    categoryIds:
      - progress
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Constraints, pacing and information'
    description: >-
      Limits on actions, time and information change available choices and the
      cost of a decision.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Slay the Spire
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/images/ss8.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: Health and energy have different horizons
      alt: >-
        Slay the Spire: player health appears beneath the hero and turn energy
        sits beside the hand.
      markers:
        - x: 26
          'y': 71
          label: Health must be preserved between encounters
        - x: 11
          'y': 83
          label: Energy limits actions in the current turn
    tips:
      - Show the active constraint when the player chooses an action.
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Play-focused selection adapted from the original children-education taxonomy,
  with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Developer sources support
  specific examples, not the entire classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/children
---
# Constraints, pace and information

id: shared-family-59
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/shared-family-59
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/shared-family-59/

Limits on actions, time and information change available choices and the cost of a decision.

## At a glance

![Slay the Spire: player health appears beneath the hero and turn energy sits beside the hand.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp)

[Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) · © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.

1. Health must be preserved between encounters
2. Energy limits actions in the current turn

- Show the active constraint when the player chooses an action.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/)

## How it works

Limit turns

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-59-branch-1"></a>

- Limit turns <a id="family-59-variant-1"></a>
- Limit resources <a id="family-59-variant-2"></a>
- Limit tools <a id="family-59-variant-3"></a>
- Limit time <a id="family-59-variant-4"></a>
- Use turn-based play <a id="family-59-variant-5"></a>
- Use real-time events <a id="family-59-variant-6"></a>
- Allow pauses <a id="family-59-variant-7"></a>
- Hide information <a id="family-59-variant-8"></a>
- Reveal information through actions <a id="family-59-variant-9"></a>
- Change conditions during tasks <a id="family-59-variant-10"></a>
- Add random events <a id="family-59-variant-11"></a>
- Add linked goals <a id="family-59-variant-12"></a>
- Prohibit actions <a id="family-59-variant-13"></a>
- Delay consequences <a id="family-59-variant-14"></a>

## Design example

Build with six parts while allowing several solutions.

## Context and limits

An action map for children’s digital, board, active and mixed games. An instructional goal is optional: children can invent stories, explore toys, compete or enjoy play itself. Select age suitability, reading demands, controls and pace separately; different implementations can suit different ages. Learning tasks and instructional support have their own reference.

## Context: Educational games

A mechanic map for games with explicit learning goals, from first encounters with a topic to professional practice. It covers children, teenagers and adults; choose subject, difficulty, context and controls for the learner. Player actions, subject content, instructional support and assessment are distinct layers. Scores and game completion alone do not establish mastery or skill transfer.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Play-focused selection adapted from the original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Developer sources support specific examples, not the entire classification.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) (id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors