The hands stay gold for 24 hours after the person visits you. That is it. Unless your fellowship levels up the perk that extends that time, nothing else changes it.
I had previously read the wiki for Neighborly Help and there is no mention of the helping hands, green or gold, that show up in the FS window and on the Notifications tab.
@helya I have been curious about what makes the green hands appear and then the gold hands.
When I give NH, I immediately receive gold. I should mention that I play exclusively on the mobile app. When I tap on green hands, I get gold and sometimes a chest. When I tap on gold hands, I get gold and supplies and sometimes a chest.
What makes the green hands appear? What makes the green hands turn into gold hands? When I see green beans on the Notifications tab, if I wait awhile, will they turn to gold? As mentioned above, I gather that I have 24 hr after the hands turn gold to get the reward for returned help. If I understand the NH perk, the 24 hr is extended by 4 hr if my FS buys the NH perk.
Is there a virtuous circle that occurs with the gold hands, that as long as the other player and I continue to visit each other within 24 hr, that we will both continue to get gold hands?
I'm a newly promoted mage, and there have been a lot of questions and misunderstandings in my FS about the new perks. I want to have good information to give to my FS. Thanks for your patience.