Fatigue
Fatigue is how tired or exhausted a hunter feels. Hunters get more fatigued if they don't get enough rest, work hard for a long time, or get hurt or stressed. Too much fatigue can make it difficult for hunters to do their best and stay safe.
Effects of Fatigue
Each point of Fatigue a Hunter has reduces all their skill modifiers by 1. This means that a fatigued Hunter will find tasks more challenging, have a harder time resisting damage, and generally perform less effectively.
As a result, Fatigue also affects a Hunter's physical attributes:
- HP: As a Hunter's Durability modifier decreases due to Fatigue, so does their maximum Hit Points (HP).
- Hit Threshold: A Hunter's Hit Threshold (HT) is reduced by their level of Fatigue.
- Pace: Fatigue points are subtracted from a Hunter's Pace, reducing their initiative in combat.
Accumulating and Recovering from Fatigue
Hunters can gain Fatigue points in various ways, such as:
- Not resting for an extended period (typically 24 hours)
- Engaging in strenuous activity for hours without taking a break
- Remaining in exhausting conditions like extreme heat or cold
- Being affected by certain Horrors' abilities or supernatural effects
To recover from Fatigue, Hunters must rest. Each full rest (6-8 hours of sleep) reduces a Hunter's Fatigue points by 1.
The following table provides examples of scenarios and their associated Fatigue points:
| Scenario | Fatigue Points |
|---|---|
| Not resting for 24 hours | 1 |
| Engaging in strenuous activity (e.g., running, climbing) for 1 hour without rest | 1 |
| Being exposed to extreme temperatures (e.g., heat wave, blizzard) for 1 hour | 1 |
| Suffering a significant injury (e.g., broken bone, deep laceration) | 2 |
| Experiencing severe mental trauma (e.g., witnessing a horrific event) | 2 |
| Being affected by a Horror's draining ability (e.g., energy siphon) | 3 |
| Spending 1 hour in a supernaturally oppressive environment (e.g., cursed tomb) | 2 |
| Performing a complex ritual without proper preparation or materials | 3 |
| Ingesting a mildly toxic substance (e.g., spoiled food, impure water) | 1 |
| Being subjected to a powerful psychic attack | 4 |
Dangers of Fatigue
Fatigue can be deadly if not managed carefully:
- If a Hunter's core skill modifier reaches 0 due to Fatigue, they die from exhaustion.
- If a Hunter's maximum HP drops to 0 as a result of Fatigue reducing their Durability, they also die.
David: "I've been awake for almost 24 hours now, hunting that poltergeist. I'm exhausted."
Overseer: "Alright, that's one Fatigue point. All your skill modifiers decrease by 1. Your Durability modifier is now 2 instead of 3, so your max HP drops from 29 to 26. Your HT also decreases from 12 to 11, and your Pace is reduced by 1."
Amy: "You should rest, David. If you keep pushing, you could hurt yourself."
David: "I'll rest after we banish this ghost. I can handle it."
Overseer: "Okay, but remember, if your core modifier - Strength in your case - reaches 0 from Fatigue, your character will die from exhaustion."