2. Tension Arcs
Similar to Ambition, recovering your spacer's ability to push through hardships and setbacks is tied to their story via tension arcs. During downtime you can play out your spacer's petty conflicts and reconciliations with their crewmates to clear tension, at the risk of stoking conflict.
| Beat | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 4 Tension | Introduce the story (you receive a message, meet an old friend, are reminded of something) and show how it's important to your spacer |
| Development | 5 Tension | Enlist the crew's help to chase your spacer's goal (explain a shame from your past, hunt down a contact, pull off a risky job) |
| Crescendo | 6 Tension | Turn the situation on your spacer and the crew (the crew has to intervene, screw up a job, stoke or escalate a conflict) |
| Resolution | 6 Ambition | Find closure to the story (come clean to the crew, finally pull off your goal with their help, or put the dream aside for your friends) |
Similar to ambition arcs, your spacer can normally only have one tension arc ongoing at a time. The same rules as ambition arcs apply if you would like to start a new tension arc before completing your ongoing one.
Butt Heads
You and a crewmate just can't see eye to eye, and you need the others to mediate
Crowded
You can't catch a break on the ship, you wish the crew would just give you some space
Destruction
A crewmate is getting on your nerves, so you steal a sentimental item of theirs and destroy it
Hookup
In a moment of pique, hooking up with a crewmate seems like a good idea
Impostor
You keep making mistakes, maybe the crew would be better off without you
Isolation
The stars are so empty, you're starting to lose yourself in them
Pull Rank
You're the one that knows how to do this right, the crew should just listen to you
Triggered
Something has caused a deep-seated trauma or insecurity to flare up, the crew need to prop you up