Resource Management

While Duskara focuses on emergent narrative, resource scarcity is central to the setting. This system keeps resources present without turning the game into a spreadsheet. 
 Core Resources 
 Three resources matter on Duskara: 
 Water: Precious, carefully recycled, never wasted
 Power: Generated by wind and geothermal, distributed through networks
 Provisions: Food, medicine, equipment—anything consumed or expended 
 Resource Tags 
 Rather than tracking exact quantities, settlements and groups have Resource Status Tags that reflect current conditions: 
 Water Status: 
 
 "Water Abundant" (+1 Chance Die to hygiene, agriculture, morale) 
 "Water Adequate" (no modifier) 
 "Water Rationing" (+1 Risk Die to physically demanding actions) 
 "Water Crisis" (+2 Risk Dice to all activity, settlement survival threatened) 
 
 Power Status: 
 
 "Full Power Grid" (+1 Chance Die to technology use, communication, comfort) 
 "Adequate Power" (no modifier) 
 "Rolling Blackouts" (+1 Risk Die to power-dependent systems) 
 "Power Failure" (+2 Risk Dice to technology, critical systems down) 
 
 Provision Status: 
 
 "Well-Supplied" (+1 Chance Die to morale, health, expedition preparation) 
 "Adequate Supplies" (no modifier) 
 "Supplies Running Low" (+1 Risk Die to extended activity, health) 
 "Critical Shortage" (+2 Risk Dice to survival actions, morale collapses) 
 
 How Resource Tags Change 
 Resource status shifts through: 
 Negative Triggers: 
 
 Storm damage to infrastructure 
 Population increase or refugee arrival 
 Trade route disruption 
 Equipment failure 
 Prolonged expedition or siege 
 Failed rationing or conservation efforts 
 
 Positive Triggers: 
 
 Successful resource acquisition (water prospecting, supply caravan arrival) 
 Infrastructure repair or expansion 
 Breakthrough conservation technology 
 Trade agreement with other settlements 
 Abundant geothermal or wind conditions 
 Community cooperation initiatives 
 
 Personal Resources 
 Individual characters don't track resources separately unless they're isolated from settlements for extended periods. 
 When undertaking major expeditions (deep day-side salvage, long Deep Roads traverses), the GM may assign a Supplies Tag to the expedition: 
 
 "Well-Provisioned" (+1 Chance Die to survival actions) 
 "Adequate Supplies" (no modifier) 
 "Low Supplies" (+1 Risk Die, group must find resources soon) 
 "Out of Supplies" (+2 Risk Dice, survival crisis) 
 
 This Tag degrades based on time, mishaps, and consumption. It improves through finding caches, successful hunting/foraging, or reaching safe havens. 
 Using Resources in Play 
 GM Responsibilities: 
 
 Announce current settlement Resource Tags at session start 
 Shift Tags when fictional triggers occur 
 Apply modifiers to relevant rolls 
 Create adventure hooks around resource crises 
 
 Player Opportunities: 
 
 Plan expeditions to improve resource status 
 Propose engineering or social solutions 
 Accept complications that worsen resource Tags for dramatic effect 
 Celebrate when resource status improves 
 
 Example: 
 The settlement of Aetherion is under "Water Rationing" due to damaged aquifer pumps. The players undertake a mission to repair the pumps in the Deep Roads. 
 
 All physically demanding actions in the settlement have +1 Risk Die 
 Characters working in vertical farms struggle to maintain crops 
 Social tensions increase as rationing enforcement becomes stricter 
 Upon successful repair, Aetherion returns to "Water Adequate" 
 Community morale improves, and the characters are celebrated 
 
 Resource Conflict 
 Competing settlements may clash over resources: 
 
 Disputed geothermal sites 
 Shared aquifer access 
 Trade route control 
 Salvage claim conflicts 
 
 These conflicts create excellent adventure frameworks without requiring detailed economic simulation.