Chain

Introduction
From version 1.11 on the collection of taxes has a new feature (announced as the Collection Game). When two and more taxes  are collected in a short period of time (in a row) a bar appears a the top of the screen. The bar is named 'Chain' with the number of items from which taxes has been collected in a row added to it at the left side under the bar.

Ending Chain
Ending a chain happens when:


 * a player finishes the collections of coins;


 * the maximum time allowed time between two coins collected expires, a warning a given by a change in the bar changing its colour with diagonals bright/vague of the colour of the bar;

100 coins have been collected (note: a new chain will start, the bonus is paid; see the picture, where a new chain2 is displayed together with a Total Bonus).
 * Chain_Total_Bonus_and_new_chain.jpg

The chain also ends when:


 * a player taps more than once on an store or decoration that does not have taxes to collect followed by a tap on the dialogue pop-up;
 * taps on the Post Office, which opens the Post Office screen (the Post Office will not start a chain either);
 * taps on any item that collects [[File:Buildings icon xp.png]] only (for example the Windmill).

Bonus Calculation
The bonus is calculated depending on the cumulative amount of all collected in the Chain. The higher the number (not amount!) of collected the higher the percentage of Bonus is.

The first collected is not added to the cumulative amount (so pick a low value for this). The second start the Chain, having the number 1.

The table below shows you what the percentage is applied to the cumulative amount of all collected, together with some additional information. The percentage changes after every step in the Chain.

When a cumulative total of 7500 is collected in a Chain of 25 Playgrounds (see All Decorations or Economy, 25 * 300 ), the Total Bonus is 7500  * 9% = 675.

When another 50 Palm Trees (see All Decorations) would have been included in the Chain the Total Bonus would have been: (25*300 + 50 * 2 ) * 21% = 7600  * 21% = 1596.

One additional Palm Tree would have led to a Total Bonus of:

(25*300 + 51 * 2 ) * 24% = 7602  * 24% = 1824.

This can also be calculated using a spreadsheet for the calculation of the Total Bonus

Table Chain Bonus Percentage (Data at 7 May 2012)
Once the Chain is completed, the bar disappears and the message 'Total Bonus:' together with the amount of is displayed. This 'Total Bonus' amount is then added to the total of your balance.

A new Chain can be started. The Total Bonus of the first (earlier) Chain will be paid into your balance.

The column 'Timer' indicates the relative time you have to tap from one to the following. In the beginning you will have relatively more time than at the end (from Chain number 41 onwards).

Trivia

 * It appears that the very first tax collected does not influence the end bonus achieved. So it seems to be wise to collect the lowest value for the first tax collected (this is now confirmed)


 * It also appears that the second and following should be the highest amounts available in the chain of taxes to collect. The additional bonus appears to be higher when the first steps include higher amounts (this is actually not correct)


 * The higher numbers in the chain require quicker tapping, so it could be useful to wait until all taxes are visible and have all elements (decorations, stores) with the same time to collect tax close together. Starting with collection taxes from dinos could be a good way as well, as the collection requires an additional step.


 * It is always worth to complete a bar. Try to have some small (one or five) minute items as well and add these at the end.


 * This blog gives a rundown on how to maximise the bonus from the chain.