---
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
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
---
# Conditions and consequences of choice
id: visual-novel--family-02
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/visual-novel--family-02
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/visual-novel--family-02/
The availability of a decision and its consequences depend on the accumulated wealth, past actions and visible information.
## At a glance
[Pillars of Eternity](https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27) · © respective game rights holders. Screenshot reproduced in J. Magalhães, Adaptive Game Design (2015), figure 4, citing NeoGAF. All rights reserved.
1. Perception 14: requirement not met
2. Intellect 13: reply available
- Show which past action enabled or blocked a response.
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/)
## How it works
The availability of a decision and its consequences depend on the accumulated wealth, past actions and visible information.
## Variants
### Variants and applications
- Local variation without changing branches. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The solution changes the line, description or reaction, maintaining the general path of the story...
- Selection by story flags. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The option is available after a specific event or action.
- Checking the characteristics. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Success depends on the skill level or a combination of parameters.
- Checking relationships. Type: Mechanics. Rule: Availability of action or reaction depends on the history of the relationship.
- Knowledge test. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The required answer appears after receiving certain information.
- Paid choice within the game economy. Type: Mechanics. Rule: An action requires spending a game resource; this is not necessarily related to actual payments.
- Probable outcome. Type: Mechanics. Rule: The result is determined by chance, sometimes adjusted for parameters.
- 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...
- Accumulation of behavior patterns. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A series of decisions shapes the character's inclinations and influences future events.
- Delayed consequence. Type: Mechanics. Rule: A decision changes an event that will occur much later.
- Continuing through failure. Type: Mechanics. Rule: An error opens up a different course of history instead of a mandatory reboot.
## Context and limits
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.
## 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.
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://recipp.ipp.pt/bitstreams/be8bf81f-cd71-4f66-8cba-ae2cb1039981/download#page=27) (id: source-f23ca43cf9c58791)
- [Pillars of Eternity](https://store.steampowered.com/app/291650/Pillars_of_Eternity/) (id: source-61d64fa31c025264)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors