How to read a diagram

Machinations is a language. When creating a diagram you are “writing” like you would a GDD. Using the Nodes and Connections as verbs and nouns in sentences.

• Sources generate resources.
• Sinks consume resources.
• Pools receive, collect and send resources.
• Gates sort resources by chance or by rule.
• Traders exchange resources between two parties.
• Converters turn resources into new ones.
• Registers calculate values that set the rate of flows.
• Delays hold each resource for a while before passing it on.
• Queues hold resources and release them one at a time, in order.
• End conditions stop the Play when they are met.
• Resource connections move resources from one node to another.
• State connections change the state of a node.

This is how to read this:

You decide to leave home. You left. You’re on the road. It takes you 5 seconds to get there. After 5 seconds, you reach your destination. Hit the Play button and see how it works.

You and your friend decide to leave home. You left (2 Resources/tokens leave the Source). You’re on the road. It takes you 5 seconds to get there. After 5 seconds, you both reach your destination.

The player shoots 1 bullet per second from an ammo clip. When the ammo clip is 0, the player reloads with a clip of 25 bullets.