Needs decay

Each agent holds a vector of bounded need stocks (typically 0-100). Every tick each stock decays at a per-need rate, optionally modified by traits, activity, and environment. Actions or objects restore specific needs by fixed or quality-scaled amounts. Low values feed downstream systems: mood, action selection priority, health, or death.

Constant low-grade triage. The player reads meters, anticipates which need will bottom out first, and arranges the environment or schedule so agents can meet needs without supervision. Neglect is visible and personal.

• number of needs and which are lethal versus mood-only
• decay rate per need and modifiers by trait, age, or activity
• restoration amount and duration per action or object quality
• threshold values that trigger warnings, priority overrides, or breakdowns
• whether needs are shown as raw meters, icons, or only through behavior

• Too many needs turn play into chore management with no strategic choice.
• Uniform decay rates make every agent identical and remove personality.
• Fast decay with slow restoration produces unavoidable death spirals early in a run.
• Hidden needs read as random misbehavior when agents act on them.

• Synchronized decay creates rush hours at kitchens, beds, and bathrooms.
• Needs compete for agent time, so throughput falls as needs rise, coupling productivity to comfort.
• Better objects restore more per use, creating an upgrade treadmill.

• Can needs be inferred from behavior by learned agents rather than declared as fixed meters?
• What is the minimal need set that still yields distinct personalities?