System Strain Threshold
function under rigorous use and the point at which it
overheats, depletes its power source, or otherwise ceases
functioning. A sailing ship’s system strain threshold
might represent the quality of moving parts like the tiller
and ropes, while that of a futuristic battle-suit might
represent the state of its cutting-edge reactor.
Most often, a vehicle suffers system strain due to the actions of its crew, as they push it to (or beyond) its breaking point. Driving a tank over rough ground or sailing a ship through a storm might well cause it system strain, as might pushing the engine of a car beyond its intended limits. You can also spend h on the pilot’s checks to inflict system strain on a vehicle, representing the character’s haste or carelessness causing stress to the craft.
Like the strain threshold of a player character, system strain represents the stress that the vehicle can tolerate before it overheats, breaks down, overloads, or generally ceases functioning temporarily. In game terms, when a vehicle exceeds its system strain threshold, the vehicle’s speed drops to 0 at the beginning of the following round. Until its system strain is reduced to its system strain threshold or below, its components cease functioning, as described in the Vehicle Components sidebar, on page 221.
System strain is measured in planetary scale (see page 224), meaning that one point of system strain equals 10 strain. It is important to note that, unlike personal strain, system strain cannot be recovered by spending a. It can only be restored through actions taken by the crew or slowly over time
Removing System Strain
While the situation aboard a vehicle that has exceeded its system strain threshold is indeed dire, not all is lost. Any crew member can aid the vehicle in removing system strain by performing repairs and damage control such as rebooting systems, bypassing fried circuits, and putting out electrical fires. This is accomplished through the damage control action (see page 228).
Vehicles also recover from system strain slowly over time. For every full day a vehicle spends without taking more system strain, it reduces its total system strain by one.
Most often, a vehicle suffers system strain due to the actions of its crew, as they push it to (or beyond) its breaking point. Driving a tank over rough ground or sailing a ship through a storm might well cause it system strain, as might pushing the engine of a car beyond its intended limits. You can also spend h on the pilot’s checks to inflict system strain on a vehicle, representing the character’s haste or carelessness causing stress to the craft.
Like the strain threshold of a player character, system strain represents the stress that the vehicle can tolerate before it overheats, breaks down, overloads, or generally ceases functioning temporarily. In game terms, when a vehicle exceeds its system strain threshold, the vehicle’s speed drops to 0 at the beginning of the following round. Until its system strain is reduced to its system strain threshold or below, its components cease functioning, as described in the Vehicle Components sidebar, on page 221.
System strain is measured in planetary scale (see page 224), meaning that one point of system strain equals 10 strain. It is important to note that, unlike personal strain, system strain cannot be recovered by spending a. It can only be restored through actions taken by the crew or slowly over time
Removing System Strain
While the situation aboard a vehicle that has exceeded its system strain threshold is indeed dire, not all is lost. Any crew member can aid the vehicle in removing system strain by performing repairs and damage control such as rebooting systems, bypassing fried circuits, and putting out electrical fires. This is accomplished through the damage control action (see page 228).
Vehicles also recover from system strain slowly over time. For every full day a vehicle spends without taking more system strain, it reduces its total system strain by one.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments