Tidal Cycles
The shattered moon's debris field creates irregular but predictable tidal patterns. Understanding these cycles is essential for survival — they determine when you can work, when you must shelter, and when extraction is possible.
The Flood Cycle
Basic Pattern
Unlike Earth's original tides, the post-cataclysm tidal cycles are:
- More extreme — Water levels can rise dramatically, flooding areas kilometers from the coast
- Less regular — The debris field's shifting mass creates variable timing
- Predictable short-term — Forecasts are accurate for the next few cycles
- Unpredictable long-term — Multi-day forecasts are increasingly unreliable
Cycle Phases
| Phase | Duration | Surface Status | Telepad Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Tide | TBD minutes | Full access to surface zones | Operational |
| Rising | TBD minutes | Low zones flooding, warnings active | Operational (congested) |
| High Tide / Flood | TBD minutes | Must shelter or die | Offline (interference) |
| Receding | TBD minutes | Water retreating, hazards exposed | Coming online |
Exact timing values require playtesting to balance session length with tension.
Tidal Interference
Technology Disruption
Selenite Corp's teleportation technology is disrupted by tidal flux. The electromagnetic interference generated during flood events makes teleportation impossible — or dangerously unreliable.
Telepad Shutdown Triggers:
- Imminent flood — Pads shut down before water arrives
- Peak tidal surge — Energy grid can't support teleportation
- Atmospheric instability — Storm conditions block signal
This creates critical windows: Moonstalkers must extract before the interference hits, or survive multiple cycles until pads come back online.
Forecasting
What Moonstalkers Know
The Command Deck displays tide forecasts showing:
- Next flood timing — When the current low tide ends
- Flood severity — How high the water will rise
- Zone flooding order — Which areas flood first
- Telepad windows — When extraction will be available
- Multi-cycle outlook — Rough predictions for upcoming cycles (decreasing accuracy)
Forecast Uncertainty
Forecasts become less reliable over time:
| Timeframe | Accuracy |
|---|---|
| Current cycle | Very high (95%+) |
| Next cycle | High (85-95%) |
| 2-3 cycles ahead | Moderate (70-85%) |
| 4+ cycles ahead | Unreliable (below 70%) |
This uncertainty adds strategic depth: planning for one more cycle is relatively safe, but staying for several cycles means operating with incomplete information.
Strategic Implications
Time Pressure
The tidal cycle creates natural session pacing:
- You can't stay on the surface indefinitely
- Each flood cycle is a decision point: extract or push for more?
- Missing an extraction window means surviving another cycle
- The longer you stay, the more you risk — and the more you can gain
Planning Decisions
- Before Dropping
- Check forecasts to plan your session. How many cycles do you intend to stay? Which zones will be accessible?
- During Low Tide
- Work efficiently. Know where the nearest shelter is. Track time remaining.
- As Flood Approaches
- The critical decision: reach a telepad and pay the fee, or shelter and continue next cycle?
- After Sheltering
- Assess your position. Did forecasts hold? Is extraction possible this cycle? How much more can you gather?
Special Tidal Events
Anomalous Conditions
The debris field occasionally produces unusual tidal patterns:
- Extended Low Tide
- Rare alignment creates longer than normal surface access. High-value zones become briefly accessible. Heavy Moonstalker activity.
- Severe Surge
- Abnormally high flood level. Some "safe" hatches may be compromised. Higher-than-usual resource exposure after recession.
- Rapid Cycling
- Quick succession of short cycles. Exhausting but potentially profitable for prepared Moonstalkers.
- Interference Storm
- Extended telepad blackout. Extraction impossible for multiple cycles. Hatches become crowded, tense social situations.