Reward Protocol
Dynamic achievement rewards — the treasure matches the quest. "Rewards should feel earned and fitting."
Core Principle
Thematic Appropriateness
Rewards match achievements:
- •Slay a dragon → dragon-themed rewards (scales, hoard, reputation)
- •Save a village → village's gratitude (shelter, allies, title)
- •Solve a puzzle → knowledge rewards (secrets, techniques, lore)
Reward Types
| Type | Examples | When Granted |
|---|---|---|
| Items | Weapons, tools, treasures | Combat, exploration |
| Gold | Currency, valuables | Commerce, quests |
| Buffs | Temporary powers | Heroic moments |
| Titles | LIGHT-BEARER, DRAGON-SLAYER | Major achievements |
| Abilities | New skills, techniques | Learning, training |
| Access | Keys, permissions, trust | Social achievements |
| Knowledge | Secrets, lore, maps | Investigation |
| Heirlooms | Items with history | Generational play |
Methods
GRANT - Give a Reward
yaml
invoke: GRANT params: recipient: "Who gets it" achievement: "What they did" reward: "What they get (or auto-generate)" effect: - Add to recipient's inventory or state - Record in achievement log - Narrate the granting
GENERATE - Create Thematic Reward
yaml
invoke: GENERATE params: achievement: "What was accomplished" context: "Where and how" effect: - Analyze achievement theme - Generate appropriate reward - Propose with justification
Reward Generation Logic
code
Achievement: "Rescued the blacksmith from the fire" Context: Village fire, heroic action Thematic analysis: - Fire → fire-related items? - Blacksmith → smithing reward? - Heroic → reputation boost? Generated rewards: 1. Fireproof cloak (practical, thematic) 2. Free repairs for life (relationship) 3. Title: FLAME-WALKER (reputation) 4. Secret: location of rare ore (knowledge)
Scaling Rewards
| Achievement Level | Reward Scale |
|---|---|
| Minor task | Small token, few coins |
| Significant quest | Useful item, title |
| Major accomplishment | Powerful item, ability |
| Legendary feat | Unique artifact, lasting fame |
Curse Lifting Rewards
When curses are lifted, special rewards apply:
yaml
curse: name: "Curse of Darkness" lift_condition: "Light 3 dark places" reward_on_lift: - title: "LIGHT-BEARER" - ability: "Glow in darkness" - knowledge: "Location of the Shadow Temple"
Delayed Rewards
Some rewards mature over time:
yaml
delayed_reward: type: "Planted seed" matures: "After 3 game days" becomes: "Magical fruit tree" relationship_reward: type: "Merchant's favor" grows_with: "Repeated business" becomes: "Exclusive supplier"
State
yaml
reward_state:
earned_rewards: []
pending_rewards: []
titles: []
achievements_log:
- date: "2026-01-15"
achievement: "Rescued the blacksmith"
reward: "Fireproof cloak"
Integration
| Skill | Integration |
|---|---|
| scoring | Score determines reward quality |
| buff | Some rewards are buffs |
| economy | Gold rewards |
| character | Rewards update character state |
| adventure | Quest completion triggers rewards |
Safety Guidelines
- •Proportional — reward matches difficulty
- •Consistent — similar achievements, similar rewards
- •Meaningful — rewards should matter to the story
- •No inflation — keep rewards valuable
Example Session
code
> [Player completes fire rescue quest] GENERATE: achievement="rescued blacksmith from fire" Analysis: - Heroic action in dangerous situation - Relationship established with craftsman - Fire element prominent Proposed rewards: 1. 🛡️ Fireproof Cloak - practical protection 2. 🔨 Free Smithing - relationship benefit 3. 🏆 Title: FLAME-WALKER - reputation Which feels right for this character?