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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
NPC Core / Relationships and Advancement / Connection Subsystem / Connection Advancement

Maintaining Relationship and Decay

Source NPC Core pg. 227
Connections don't naturally stay at the same intensity over time if the PC stops interacting with the NPC. If a long period passes where the PC doesn't spend time or communicate with the NPC, the connection recedes one tier. Relationship decay doesn't reduce a relationship's status to avoided or despised; this degree of dislike requires an active insult or other narrative complications to occur.

Relationship decay typically takes several months of in-game time to occur and doesn't usually happen while the PCs are actively adventuring, except in extreme cases. Relationship decay should be the result of the PCs actively making story choices to spend their time and attention elsewhere rather than a situation they need to manage that keeps them from going on adventures.