
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

Source NPC Core pg. 227
Connections advance and recede in conjunction with the actions and investments of the PCs. The Connections table shows how connections advance and recede. Tokens of affection advance connection tiers, while insults recede them.

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.

Tokens

Source NPC Core pg. 227
Tokens of affection are acts that engender goodwill or otherwise make the connection feel positively.
  • Minor tokens are small acts that don't take much time or investment from a PC. Examples include offering a simple or casual gift (like a bouquet of flowers from a nearby shop), apologizing for previous wrongdoing, talking to an NPC about how their day is going, spending a day of downtime strengthening the connection, or swearing a lowstakes oath.
  • Moderate tokens require considerable investment or resources. They typically require effort or commitment from the PC, such as fulfilling a complicated promise, spending a week of downtime strengthening the connection, giving a particularly thoughtful or effortful gift (like a bouquet of the NPC's favorite rare flowers, gathered from a nearby forest), or doing a favor that includes overcoming a moderate encounter.
  • Major tokens are taxing requests. These typically require a long-term commitment from the PC, such as cementing a relationship as legally binding (such as adding the NPC into the PC's will or giving a business partner a permanent ownership stake), spending a month of downtime strengthening the relationship, presenting a gift with significant personal meaning and long-term effort or investment (like building a garden or greenhouse so the NPC's favorite rare flowers can be enjoyed all year long), or fulfilling a request for the NPC that includes multiple moderate encounters.

Insults

Source NPC Core pg. 227
Insults are acts that harm an NPC, offend them, or negatively impact their standing.
  • Minor insults are small acts that may be unintentional, such as forgetting to tip a server, not responding to a letter within a reasonable timeframe, or snubbing an NPC at a party.
  • Moderate insults are purposeful acts that may cause slight harm to the NPC. Examples include talking poorly about the NPC within earshot, unintentional property damage, insulting the NPC to their face, or making the NPC look incompetent.
  • Major insults are acts that cause purposeful and lasting harm to the NPC. These include injuring the NPC on purpose, spreading negative rumors about the NPC, undercutting them in a business deal, or betraying the NPC.