Risk Escalation

Mechanism · VI – Risk & Uncertainty immediate · irreversible · open · solo / competitive

Risk Escalation forces a repeated decision between banking and continuing: each additional step raises the possible reward but also the risk of losing everything unsecured (bust).

Design question – How does your game force the repeated “continue-or-stop” decision under rising stakes – and when does the unsecured gain expire?

Reference example – Can’t Stop: rolling again moves the markers on – or everything unsecured is lost. The Quacks of Quedlinburg: one more chip from the bag, or will the pot explode? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: take the money or risk the next question? Cant Stop (Press-Your-Luck) · Diamant (Shared-Risk-Exploration)

Structural pattern

Input -> transformation -> output: an accumulated, still-unsecured gain becomes a secured gain (on stopping) or a total loss of the unsecured (on bust) via an optional extra step with chance/bust risk (or banking).

Regulated in permitting mode (push on or bank), constraining mode (minimum or maximum number of steps) and conditioning mode (pushing on triggers a new random event; certain results end the sequence with the loss of the unbanked gain; banking credits the gain permanently and ends the sequence). In a game, which results lead to the loss becomes a specification.

Design parameters

• Bust probability – constant ↔ rising with each step
• Reward curve – linear ↔ exponential
• Save granularity – all-or-nothing ↔ partially securable
• Pool – solo ↔ shared risk pool (Diamant type)
• Trigger – voluntary (pushing) ↔ forced (must continue)

Related Mechanisms

• Randomization (MEC-20) – Core: each continue-step draws a random event.
• Investment (MEC-21) – Related: a stake on an uncertain return.
• Accumulation (MEC-02) – Frequently combined: the unsecured gain grows.
• Feedback (MEC-30) – Rising bust probability as feedback.

Ludic Organisational Structures

Survival System (core) · Ecosystem (dynamic)