Downtime

Why Downtime Matters

In the wasteland, the time between missions is just as important as the missions themselves. Long rests take a full week in a safe settlement — that's seven days of potential. Characters who spend that time wisely craft weapons, build alliances, fortify shelters, and gather intelligence. Characters who don't fall behind.

The downtime system gives every character meaningful choices during rest periods. It turns "I wait a week" into "I spend three days upgrading the workshop and two days gathering intel on the raider camp."

Downtime Phases

Each long rest week follows four phases in order:

1. Upkeep — Pay maintenance costs for your base (if any)
2. Activity — Spend your 5 downtime days on activities
3. Income — Base upgrades generate passive resources
4. Event — Roll for a random downtime event (if your party has a base)

You get 5 downtime days per long rest week. The remaining 2 days are consumed by actual rest, recovery, and basic survival needs. Each downtime activity lists how many days it costs. You can split days between multiple activities.

No Long Rest Required: The GM may also grant downtime days outside of long rests — a 3-day layover waiting for a caravan, a week of travel with nothing to do, etc. These "free" downtime days follow the same rules but don't include rest recovery benefits.

Capital

Capital represents abstract resources you accumulate and spend during downtime. There are four types:

Earning Capital

You can acquire capital in three ways:

Purchase: Buy capital outright at the listed credit cost. This represents hiring laborers, buying materials from merchants, calling in favors, or purchasing rare components.

Earn (Downtime Activity): Spend 1 downtime day and make a skill check to earn capital. See the Earn Capital activity below.

Loot: The GM may award capital as mission rewards — a cache of salvageable parts (Salvage), a faction's gratitude (Influence), a recovered hard drive full of blueprints (Tech), or a vial of crystallized ley-energy (Essence).

Spending Capital

Capital can be spent in three ways:

• On downtime activities that list a capital cost (crafting, building, recruiting)
• As credits at the listed purchase cost (1 Salvage = 20 cr, 1 Influence = 30 cr, etc.)
• To boost skill checks during downtime activities (see Activity Boosts below)

Activity Boosts

When performing a downtime activity, you can spend capital to improve your chances:

• Spend 1 Salvage for +1 to Technology or Science checks (max +5)
• Spend 1 Influence for +2 to Persuasion, Deception, or Streetwise checks (max +6)
• Spend 1 Tech for +2 to Technology, Science, or Engineering checks (max +6)
• Spend 1 Essence for +2 to Arcana checks (max +6)

These bonuses represent using better materials, leveraging connections, referencing schematics, or channeling additional magical energy.

Tracking Capital

Record capital on your character sheet as a simple tally (e.g., Salvage: 3, Influence: 1, Tech: 0, Essence: 2). Capital doesn't expire and carries between rest periods. There's no maximum — hoard as much as you can get.

Downtime Activities

Each activity lists its time cost (in downtime days), skill check (if any), capital cost (if any), and effect. Unless stated otherwise, a character can only perform one instance of the same activity per downtime week.

Earning

Earn Capital

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Any applicable skill (see Capital table)
• Effect: Make a skill check. The result determines how much capital you earn:

You choose the capital type before rolling. The skill used must match the capital type (Survival or Technology for Salvage, Persuasion or Streetwise for Influence, etc.). The GM may allow creative skill pairings — an Operative using Stealth to "earn" Salvage by stealing scrap, for instance.

Level Scaling: At level 6+, multiply capital earned by 2. At level 11+, multiply by 3. At level 16+, multiply by 4. This keeps capital earning competitive with Work for Credits at higher levels.

Work for Credits

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Any Profession-adjacent skill
• Effect: Earn credits directly. Base pay is 10 credits per day for unskilled labor. With a relevant skill check:

Scaling: At level 6+, multiply daily pay by 2. At level 11+, multiply by 4. At level 16+, multiply by 8. Higher-level characters command premium rates.

Run a Business

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Persuasion, Streetwise, or relevant craft skill
• Prerequisite: You must own a base with at least one income-generating upgrade
• Effect: Make a skill check with a +5 bonus. Use the Earn Capital table above. The capital type depends on the business (a workshop earns Salvage or Tech; a bar earns credits or Influence).

Crafting

For the full crafting system — including detailed DCs, modification lists, enchanting rules, formulas, and magical item crafting — see the Crafting chapter.

Craft Items

• Time: Varies by tier (see Crafting)
• Skill: Technology (mechanical/electronic) or Science (chemical/pharmaceutical)
• Capital Cost: Crafting materials can be paid in credits OR capital:

Magical items require Essence instead of (or in addition to) Tech. See the Crafting chapter for the complete magical item crafting table with specific Essence costs by category (consumable, charged, permanent).

Formulas: Having a formula reduces the crafting DC (Tier 1-2: -1, Tier 3: -2). Tier 4+ items and all enchanted items require a formula. Formulas can be found as loot, purchased from merchants (see the Formula Purchase Cost table in Crafting), or created with the Research activity. See Crafting for full formula rules.

Outcomes: See Crafting for the expanded outcome table including Setback, Masterwork quality, and the Mishap table.

Craft Ammunition

• Time: 30 minutes per magazine (does not consume a full downtime day)
• Skill: Technology DC varies by type
• Cost: Half purchase price in credits, or 1 Salvage per 3 standard magazines
• Effect: See Special Ammunition in the Equipment chapter

Brew Stims

• Time: 1 hour per stim (does not consume a full downtime day)
• Skill: Science DC 12 (Tier 1), DC 15 (Tier 2), DC 18 (Tier 3)
• Cost: Half purchase price in credits, or 1 Salvage per Tier 1 stim, 2 Salvage per Tier 2, 1 Salvage + 1 Essence per Tier 3
• Effect: Produce one stim of the listed tier

Research

• Time: 1-3 days
• Skill: Science, Technology, or Arcana (DC varies)
• Capital Cost: 1 Tech (for schematics) or 1 Essence (for spell research)
• Effect: Create a blueprint for a specific item (reduces future crafting DC by 2), or research a new spell effect (see Magic for spell research rules). The DC equals the item's crafting DC + 2.

Networking

Gather Intelligence

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Streetwise, Persuasion, or Investigation
• Capital Cost: Optional — spend 1 Influence for +2 to check (max +6)
• Effect: Learn information about a specific topic. The GM determines what you discover based on your check result:

Recruit

• Time: 2 days
• Skill: Persuasion or Intimidation
• Capital Cost: 2 Influence + ongoing cost (see Base Upgrades)
• Effect: Recruit an NPC to work at your base or join your organization. The NPC's quality depends on your check:

Recruited NPCs can staff base upgrades, accompany you on missions (GM discretion), or perform downtime activities on your behalf (using their own skill modifiers, one activity per week).

Trade Favors

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Persuasion or Deception
• Effect: Convert between capital types at a loss. Spend 3 points of one capital type to gain 2 points of another. A successful DC 15 check improves the rate to 2-for-2.

Promote

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Persuasion or Streetwise DC 15
• Capital Cost: 1 Influence
• Prerequisite: You must own a base with income-generating upgrades
• Effect: On success, your base's passive income is doubled for the next downtime week. On failure, the Influence is still spent but you gain no benefit.

Training

Train Skill

• Time: 5 days (full downtime week)
• Skill: None (training check at end)
• Capital Cost: 2 Influence (finding a teacher) OR 1 Tech (self-study materials)
• Effect: At the end of the training period, make an INT or WIS check (your choice) DC 15. On success, you gain proficiency in one skill you are not already proficient in. On failure, you can try again next downtime week (capital must be spent again).

Prerequisite: You can only train skills that are narratively accessible — you can't learn Piloting without access to a vehicle, or Arcana without a magic user to teach you.

Retrain Feature

• Time: 5 days (full downtime week)
• Capital Cost: 2 of any single capital type
• Effect: Swap one of the following for a different option of the same type:
  • One skill proficiency for another
  • One talent for another you qualify for
  • One class feature choice (e.g., swap a Warrior's combat style)

You cannot retrain core class features, attribute scores, or species traits.

Prepare for Adventure

• Time: 1 day
• Skill: Any relevant skill
• Capital Cost: 1 of any capital type per +1 bonus (max 3)
• Effect: Gain a bonus to one specific skill check during your next adventure. You must declare the skill and the anticipated situation (e.g., "I'm studying the compound's security — Technology check to bypass their locks"). The bonus equals the capital spent (max +3) and expires at the end of the next adventure or after one use, whichever comes first.

Building

See the Base System section below for full rules on constructing and upgrading a base of operations.

Construct Upgrade

• Time: Varies by upgrade (2-10 days)
• Skill: Technology (mechanical upgrades), Survival (structural), or relevant skill
• Capital Cost: Varies by upgrade
• Effect: Add a new upgrade to your base. See the Base Upgrades table.

Repair Base

• Time: 1 day per 10 points of damage
• Skill: Technology or Survival DC 13
• Capital Cost: 1 Salvage per 10 points of damage repaired
• Effect: Restore your base's Hit Points after an attack or disaster. On a failed check, the day is spent but no HP are restored (materials are not consumed on failure).

Recovery

These activities represent medical procedures, augmentation work, and personal recovery that go beyond standard long rest healing.

Install Augmentation

• Time: 1 day per augmentation
• Skill: Technology DC 15 (or Medicine DC 15 for biological augments)
• Capital Cost: 1 Tech per augmentation tier (Tier 1 = 1 Tech, Tier 2 = 2 Tech, etc.) in addition to the augmentation's credit cost
• Prerequisite: Medical facility or base with Clinic upgrade
• Effect: Install a cybernetic augmentation per the rules in Equipment. On a failed check, the augmentation is damaged (50% cost to repair) and the patient takes 2d6 damage.

Intensive Care

• Time: 5 days (full downtime week, concurrent with long rest)
• Skill: Medicine (DC varies by injury)
• Effect: Treat a lingering injury with full medical attention. This is the same as Long-Term Care in the Exploration chapter but with additional benefits if you have a Clinic upgrade at your base:
  • Without Clinic: Standard long-term care rules
  • With Clinic: +2 to Medicine checks, can treat two patients simultaneously, access to Tier 3 medical supplies

Therapy

• Time: 3 days
• Skill: Medicine (WIS) or Insight (WIS) DC 15
• Effect: Help a character recover from psychological trauma. On success, remove one mental condition (frightened, charmed effects that persist, stress-related penalties imposed by the GM). On failure, no effect but no harm done.

The Base System

A base is a persistent location your party controls — an abandoned factory turned fortress, a reclaimed bunker, a derelict ship grounded in the wastes. It's collaborative: the whole party invests in one base, and everyone benefits.

Establishing a Base

To claim a base, you need:

1. A location — Found during play (an abandoned building, cave system, ruined settlement, etc.)
2. Initial investment — 10 Salvage + 5 Influence to secure and make habitable
3. Time — 5 downtime days of work to establish basic operations

Once established, a base starts with 50 Hit Points, DV 10, and enough space for the party plus a handful of NPCs. It provides the minimum requirements for a long rest (shelter, safety, basic resources).

Base Hit Points and Defense

Your base can be attacked by raiders, monsters, rival factions, or natural disasters.

Defenses: Certain upgrades (Watchtower, Perimeter Wall, Armory) increase DV or add defensive capabilities. Staffed defenses (guards, automated turrets) can fight back during attacks.

Upkeep

During Phase 1 of each downtime week, you pay maintenance costs for your base:

• Basic (0-2 upgrades): 10 cr/week or 1 Salvage
• Established (3-5 upgrades): 25 cr/week or 2 Salvage
• Fortified (6-9 upgrades): 50 cr/week or 3 Salvage
• Stronghold (10+ upgrades): 100 cr/week or 5 Salvage

If you can't pay upkeep, one random upgrade becomes inactive until maintenance is paid. Inactive upgrades provide no benefits and generate no income.

Passive Income (Phase 3)

During Phase 3, each income-generating upgrade rolls automatically:

Income Roll: d20 + upgrade's income modifier

A character who uses the Run a Business activity adds their skill modifier to one upgrade's income roll.

Base Upgrades

Each upgrade has a cost (in capital), construction time (in downtime days), effect, and income (if any). Upgrades also list any staff that come included — NPCs who operate the facility.

Shelter & Structure

Production & Crafting

Services & Social

Specialized

Upgrade Dependencies

Some upgrades require others to function:

• Forge requires Workshop
• Surgery Suite requires Clinic
• Generator is required for Surgery Suite, Comms Array, and Laboratory to operate at full capacity (they function at -2 without it)

Losing a Base

If your base is destroyed (reduced to 0 HP) or overrun, you lose access to all upgrades. Upgrades are not destroyed — they're damaged. If you reclaim the base, you can repair it (see Repair Base activity). If the base is permanently lost, you salvage what you can: recover capital equal to 25% of the total invested.

Downtime Events

During Phase 4, if your party has a base, roll d20 on the event table. On a 1-4, an event occurs. Roll d12 to determine which:

Event Frequency: The GM can adjust event frequency. For a more eventful campaign, events occur on 1-6 instead of 1-4. For a quieter game, events occur only on a natural 1.

Collaborative Downtime

Downtime works best when the whole party participates simultaneously. Here's how to run it efficiently at the table:

Quick Resolution (Recommended)

1. Declare: Each player states what their character does for the week (e.g., "I spend 3 days crafting and 2 days earning Salvage")
2. Roll: Everyone rolls their checks at once
3. Resolve: The GM resolves outcomes, describes events, and moves on

A full downtime week should take 10-15 minutes of real time. If it's taking longer, simplify: skip the event roll, use average income, or let players resolve activities between sessions.

Helping

Characters can assist each other during downtime:

• Aid Another: Spend 1 downtime day to give an ally advantage on one downtime skill check. You must be proficient in the relevant skill.
• Group Projects: Multiple characters can contribute downtime days toward the same construction project. Each character beyond the first reduces construction time by 1 day (minimum 1 day).

Downtime at Different Levels

The system scales with character progression:

Levels 1-5 (Survival): Capital is scarce. Characters focus on earning basic resources, crafting Tier 1-2 gear, and establishing a base. Every point of Salvage matters.

Levels 6-10 (Establishment): The base grows. Characters have enough capital flow to maintain upgrades, recruit staff, and craft Tier 3 gear. Passive income begins to matter. Work for Credits pays double.

Levels 11-15 (Influence): The party's base becomes a regional landmark. Faction events dominate. Characters craft Tier 4 gear, install advanced augmentations, and their reputation precedes them. Work for Credits pays quadruple.

Levels 16+ (Legacy): The base is a stronghold. Characters shape the political landscape through downtime — brokering alliances, funding expeditions, and developing experimental technology. Work for Credits pays eight times base rate.

Quick Reference

Capital Costs at a Glance

Activity Summary

Hire (Temporary Help)

Not every job needs a permanent recruit. You can hire temporary specialists:

• Time: 1 day to find and negotiate
• Cost: 2 Influence + daily rate in credits (10 cr/day unskilled, 30 cr/day skilled, 75 cr/day specialist, 150 cr/day expert)
• Duration: Hired help stays for one specific job or mission, then leaves
• Effect: The hired NPC performs a specific task using their skills. Common hires: a guide through dangerous territory, a demolitions expert for a specific breach, a translator for alien negotiations, a courier for sensitive messages

The GM determines availability based on location. A remote outpost won't have expert hackers for hire.