Best Practices for Bonus Points: Shaping the Game of Your Goosechase

Points make the Experience a game, but bonus points? That’s where the real fun (and strategy) comes in! Whether you’re rewarding creativity, correcting a slip-up, or keeping teams on their toes, bonus points give you the power to shape the game.

But with great power comes great responsibility. When should you award extra points? When is it fair to take them away? And how do you keep players in the loop without sparking a full-on leaderboard revolt? Let’s break it down.

Bonus points are key for rewarding standout moments. Here’s when to use them:

• Recognize exceptional creativity – Did a team turn a simple photo Mission into a full-on performance? Bonus points!
• Encourage early or speedy submissions and sign-ups – First team to complete a Mission? Reward that hustle! We've also found that bonus points are a great way to get folks to join the Experience ahead of time.

• Encourage behavior you want to see outside of the Goosechase - Bonus points don't need to be attached to a specific submission, so feel free to use the points as a tool to incentivize ideal activity offline (like early registrations, for example), too.

• Celebrate unexpected awesomeness – Sometimes players surprise you—bonus points let you acknowledge it!

As tempting as it can be to go bananas on giving out bonus points, use them strategically! If the points seem easy to get, they won't inspire as much effort and energy.

Nobody wants to take away points, but sometimes, it's the fair thing to do. Here’s when a little Leaderboard adjustment makes sense:

• Correct off-topic or incomplete submissions – Keep the competition on track by adjusting scores when needed. Submission was close, but not quite what you need for full points? A quick point adjustment keeps things fair.
• Enforce rules & fairness – If a team took a shortcut (or a really creative interpretation), adjust accordingly.
  
  For example, drawing a photo of a tree instead of actually finding a tree in the wild.
• Fix accidental point allocations – Mistakes happen, and removing points keeps the game accurate.

An important reminder here is to be consistent! If you remove points for one team, apply the same standard to others.

Bonus points (or missing points) can change the game. And not just the end result, but participants' overall experience. So keep communication clear:

• Send a quick note, whether adding or removing points – You have the ability to add a note any time you adjust points. Bonus points feel even better when players know why they got them. Have to do the opposite and take points away? A simple message keeps things transparent and drama-free.
• Use Broadcasts to announce standout submissions – Announce creative or standout submissions when awarding bonus points to hype up the competition and direct eyeballs to the Activity Feed!

Think of bonus points as your secret weapon—use them to energize players, celebrate creativity, and keep the game fair. Remember: clear communication keeps the fun rolling, and a well-timed point adjustment can make all the difference in the competition.