Downtime occurs when the crew is safely docked at a space station, moon base, orbital habitat, fringe city, or black-market port. All activities use existing NOVACore mechanics (Action Rolls, Target Numbers, skills, gold/silver/platinum economy, etc.) and tie directly into core rules for Economics, Reputation, gear, cybernetics, bio augmentations, and ship repairs.
XP spending happens only at determination of the GM.
Downtime Table
| Activity | Cost (Standard Value) | Roll / TN | Benefit / Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ship Repair & Maintenance | 1 % of ship value per 10 % HP restored (gold oz) | Mechanics TN 12–18 | Restore up to 20 % HP + full refuel. Failure = –10 % extra cost. |
| Cargo Trading / Fencing Loot | Variable (cargo value, gold oz) | Broker TN 12–18 | +10–30 % profit on sold goods. Partial = 50 % profit + complication (e.g., rival buyer). |
| Training | 50 oz gold per character | Relevant skill TN 15 | +1 bonus XP to spend on one skill or attribute. |
| Carousing & Rumors | 5,000 oz silver (100 oz gold equiv.) per crew | Persuasion or Gambling TN 12 | Gain 1d3 solid rumors or +1 Reputation with local faction. Failure = bar fight (1d6 damage + possible wanted status). |
| Illicit Medication Acquisition | 2× normal price (gold oz for cyber/bio; silver for small doses) | Streetwise TN 15 | Buy any medication or cyber (e.g., Combat Roids at 75 oz silver base). Failure = fake product or authorities tipped off. |
| Paid Companionship | 1–20 oz gold standard; 50 oz gold high-end/escorts | Persuasion or Streetwise TN 12 | Remove 1 wound penalty for the week OR gain +1 Reputation with local underworld. Failure or natural 3 = blackmail hook or disease (–2 all ARs until cured, Medicine TN 18). |
| A Drink in a Bar | 0.10 oz silver per drink (cheap rotgut); 0.50 oz silver (decent rum/wine) | None | Social flavor; +1 to next Persuasion/Streetwise AR if carousing. Overindulgence (3+ drinks): Health TN 12 or –1 all ARs next day. |
| Cheap Hotel Room | 2 oz platinum (100 oz silver) per night | None | Basic hab; rest + natural healing (1 HP/day). |
| Fancy Hotel Room | 5 oz gold per night | None | Luxury; rest + ignore 1 wound penalty for the week OR +1 Reputation with high-society contacts. |
| Gambling & High-Stakes Games | 5,000–50,000 oz silver stake | Gambling TN 15 | Win 2–5× stake on success. Partial = break even. Failure = lose stake + possible debt (1d4 oz gold per week until paid). |
| Hiring Crew / Mercenaries | 10,000 oz silver per grunt (1 week) | Leadership or Streetwise TN 15 | Temporary +1–3 crew for next mission (adds to PCR). Failure = unreliable hires (betrayal chance). |
| Street Doc / Illegal Mods | 2× normal cyber price (gold oz) | Streetwise TN 18 | Install one cyber or bio aug without Auto-Doc (Medicine TN reduced by 3). Failure = complication (rejection or –1 AtMod for 1d6 weeks). |
| Information Brokering / Bounties | 5,000 oz silver contact fee | Intimidate or Broker TN 15 | Learn one specific target location, bounty, or rival ship route. Success = +1 to next mission ARs involving that target. |
| Bar Brawl / Entertainment | 1,000 oz silver | Unarmed or Intimidate TN 12 | Blow off steam: heal 1d6 stress (ignore 1 wound penalty next mission) OR gain local reputation. Failure = arrested or injured (1d6 damage). |
| Debt Collection or Loans | Loan amount + 20 % interest (gold oz) | Intimidate TN 15 | Borrow up to 5,000 oz gold. Success = no questions asked. Failure = loan shark sends enforcers (NPC squad next session). |
Special Notes
- Silver for Daily Life: Small, non-technical expenses (drinks, rooms, companionship, gambling stakes, hiring grunts) use oz silver to feel more “everyday spacer” — a good haul can fund a wild week without bankrupting new characters. Gold/platinum reserved for big-ticket or technical stuff (ship work, cyber, loans).
- Port of Call Synergy: All prices stack with the Port of Call d6 modifier and haggling (Broker/Persuasion TN 12 for ±10 %).
- LNC Characters: May only do mental/social activities (no paid companionship or bar brawls while plugged in). Brain-jar maintenance costs 100 oz gold per week.
- Crews or individual Void Pirates that become wealthy enough may build their own syndicates, fleets of ships, and/or control territory. This could include activities such as offering “loans” to NPCs.
Eye Of Balor Magazine 