Reward score Q and palette unlocks
Selected design / playtest proposal — not live
The proposed score gently rewards balanced current levels:
A = average of the eight levels
S = average of their square roots
Q = 0.75 × A + 0.25 × S²
Eight skills at 20 give Q=20. One at 90 and seven at 10 have the same average 20 but Q=18.90625. Raising any skill always raises Q.
Palette bands unlock at Q 1, 25, 50 and 75. Within a cycle, earlier bands remain eligible. The newest unlocked band has weight four; each older band has weight one.
At Q25: old/new chances are 20%/80%. At Q50: about 16.67%/16.67%/66.67%. At Q75: each older band about 14.29%, newest about 57.14%.
Every ordinary opening still rolls each skill theme at 12.5%. Q changes palette access, not rarity probabilities or guaranteed resale value. Thresholds use full precision, even if the display rounds Q.
After prestige all current skills return to 1, so Q=1 and higher pools relock. Your existing physical rewards remain owned.