Progression
Strain Stages
The four-stage progression of Strain accumulation. Strain Cap = GRIT + 3.
| Stage | Strain Level | Mechanical Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Winded | 1 to ½ Cap | No mechanical effect (symptoms only). |
| Fatigued | ½ Cap to Cap−1 | −1 die to Initiative; Mettle does not refresh at start of new scenes. |
| Depleted | At Cap | −1 die to all rolls; Mettle does not refresh; cannot use Bleed Dice or Desperation. |
| Overwhelmed | Over Cap | Excess Strain converts to Vitality damage 1-for-1; Strain stays capped, HP drops. |
Strain is the body keeping score. Cantrips are cheap; Cantrip spam isn’t. A Psionic who manages their Strain track lives long enough to need to manage their Erosion track.