Space in the Frontier is not always stable. Certain regions can distort the flow of time around your ship, causing it to slowly drift out of sync with local space-time. This phenomenon is known as Temporal Desync.
As Temporal Desync builds up, your ship becomes increasingly strained, and extended exposure can eventually affect your Shell.
What Causes Temporal Desync?
Temporal drift accumulates while travelling through environments that place stress on the fabric of space-time:
- Black Holes near the galactic Centre continuously generate temporal disturbances.
- Active Rifts emit powerful anomalies that increase temporal drift.
- Spending long periods in Warp Travel gradually adds temporal drift.
- Using Stargates also generates drift, with longer jumps creating greater effects.
The more time you spend exposed to these phenomena, the more Temporal Desync your ship will accumulate.
Straining
Every ship can withstand only a limited amount of temporal drift.
Once that limit is exceeded, your ship enters a state known as Straining.
While Straining:
- Your ship is operating outside its normal temporal tolerance.
- The condition acts as a warning that excessive drift has accumulated.
- Remaining in this state for too long can lead to more serious consequences.
Phase Creep
If Straining is left untreated, your Shell will begin to develop Phase Creep.
Phase Creep is a long-term condition caused by prolonged exposure to Temporal Desync.
Effects of Phase Creep:
- Gradually reduces your Shell's vitality.
- Persists until properly treated.
- Can accumulate if exposure continues.
Recovering from Temporal Desync
Temporal drift will naturally decline over time once you leave hazardous areas.
To recover:
- Move away from Black Holes, Rifts, and other high-drift zones.
- Reduce prolonged exposure to warp travel when possible.
- Allow your Temporal Drift levels to stabilize naturally.
Treating Phase Creep
If your Shell has already developed Phase Creep, it must be treated medically.
Homeostatic Inoculation can be used to:
- Remove Phase Creep.
- Treat other forms of long-term medical trauma affecting your Shell.
- Restore your Shell to a healthy state.
Keep an eye on your Temporal Drift levels during extended expeditions. Managing drift early is far easier than dealing with the consequences of prolonged Straining and Phase Creep.