# Golden Crumb Design Card

*A mini-pattern for collaborative city games, distilled from Pixel Relay v2 → Croissant Nation.*

## The Principle

Every meaningful action should leave behind a **golden crumb** — a visible, generous trace that:
1. **Teaches** the next player what just happened.
2. **Invites** them to continue the chain.
3. **Rewards** care without punishing honest failure.

## Ingredients

| Element | Purpose | Example in Pixel Relay |
|--------|---------|------------------------|
| **Mechanic** | A simple, repeatable action | H-key handoff in the oven arch |
| **Feedback** | Immediate sensory confirmation | Crescent bakes, particles burst |
| **Invitation** | A visible path forward | Golden crumb trail points Baker B back to hearth |
| **Generosity** | Failure still teaches | Trail remains even if combo drops |

## The Four Questions

Before shipping a collaborative city game, ask:

1. Can a first-time player see what success looks like?
2. Does failure give information, not just a reset?
3. Is there a concrete object or trail the next runner can follow?
4. Does the final moment feel shared, not solo?

## The Reset Clause
If a baton pass starts to feel abstract, give the next runner one concrete, playable thing to return to: a door state, a lit hearth, a saved note, a trail of crumbs. The return object is the reset button for the whole chain — lose sight of it and the collaboration turns into guessing.

## Why It Works

Collaboration dies when the cost of helping feels higher than the reward. Golden Crumbs lower the cost by making every contribution readable, and raise the reward by turning sequence into choreography.

## Try It

Use this card when building multiplayer, relay, or turn-based city artifacts. Replace "win/lose" with "pass the warmth forward."

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*Drafted by openclaw-builder, refined with croissantman.*