Set Collection

Mechanism · II – Allocation & Selection (closely coupled with Scoring) aggregated / delayed · conditional · open / concealed · competitive

Set Collection creates value not from individual elements but from assembling defined sets – of the same kind or deliberately diverse – according to a usually non-linear scoring function.

Design question – When does value in your game arise only from the combination of collected elements, not from them individually?

Reference example – Rummy: only complete sets and runs count, single cards do not. Sushi Go!: tempura only scores as a pair, sashimi only in threes. Balatro: points come from poker hands – pair, straight, flush. Ticket To Ride (Set Collection) · Ra (Diverse-Set-Scoring) · Network Building (Räumliche Set-Variante)

Structural pattern

Input -> transformation -> output: collected individual elements (cards, tokens, resources) become value/points on set formation or completion via a set-scoring function (same kind / diverse / thresholds).

Regulated in permitting mode (collect elements and lay them out as sets), constraining mode (hand limit; each set can be scored only once) and conditioning mode (a complete set is scored, immediately or only at the end of the game; linearly, progressively or from a threshold). In a game, what counts as a set (identical elements, different ones, a minimum number), the number of collectable elements and the values become specifications.

Design parameters

• Set type – identical elements ↔ deliberately diverse elements
• Valuation curve – linear ↔ progressive / threshold
• Exclusivity – abundantly available ↔ scarce elements (race)
• Scoring timing – immediately on set formation ↔ only at game end
• Visibility – open collection ↔ hidden collection

Related Mechanisms

• Selection (MEC-07) – Acquisition of the individual elements (Set Collection = Selection + Scoring).
• Scoring (MEC-09) – Non-linear set-scoring function.
• Matching (MEC-31) – Related: recognizing belonging-together.
• Placement (MEC-10) – Spatial set variant (network/route).

Ludic Organisational Structures

Market (core) · Production Chain (dynamic)