Philosophies of Death
Arc survivors are a divergent strain. Replacing survival instincts and reflexes with unique outlooks that shape the way they approach the world.
Escape the Vault
Possessed of arc cells, new neural mechansisms, arc survivors awaken with their minds unshackled. Three interconnected components represent their new faculties: Philosophy, Knowledge, and Collective Cognition
Philosophies are the way arc survivors make sense of their experiences. When they come of age, arc survivors adopt a philosophy that guides how they grow and change in response to their nightmare existence. In contrast, core game survivors develop through Age milestones.
Knowledges are skills that can be learned and taught. Often they arise from insight gleaned from philosophies. Arc survivors’ intellectual capacity allows these skills to evolve with experience and to benefit the settlement beyond one survivor’s lifetime.
Collective Cognition is the growing potential of an arc survivor settlement that pursues a diverse and nutritious diet.
For best experience, play with philosophies in campaigns that use arc survivors found in the Gambler's Chest expansion.
New Perspective
Philosophies are introduced in the Gambler's Chest expansions which includes a 30-lantern-year arc survivor campaign. 16 richly envisioned philosophies chart new paths for arc survivors to explore.
Philosophies continue to appear with arc survivor wanderers that can take up residence in any settlement.
Philosophies of Death introduces even more perspectives to explore in your arc survivor campaigns. When your campaign includes arc survivors, add these new philosophies to the possible outlooks adopted in your settlement.
- Philosophies include
- Narrative sculptures
- Philosophy Books
- Knowledge Cards
- Unique rules and tools
Philosophy at a Glance
Adopt a Philosophy
Philosophies progress as arc survivors gain Hunt XP. Each philosophy has a unique set of milestones Hunt XP that indicates when their philosophy develops.
The first Hunt XP milestone (2) is shared by all arc survivors. When they reach it, they adopt a philosophy.
- Draw a random philosophy card from your settlement's philosophy deck.
- Adopt this philosophy, advance to its first rank.
- Record the philosophy's unique milestone progression for your survivor.
- Gain the corresponding knowledge and neurosis.
Advance Your Worldview
Facing mortality is the ultimate test of an arc survivor worldview. In the aftermath of a victorious battle, returning arc survivors that reached new Hunt XP milestones will ponder their philosophy.
- Each philosophy advances at its own Hunt XP pace.
- Turn to the next rank of your philosophy.
- Resolve the rules of the page and update their arc survivor record sheet.
Philosophy Tiers
When the settlement consumes a wide variety of monsters their collective cognition grows. These expanding horizons introduce new outlooks into the settlement. Arc survivors must pursue a varied diet to reach new philosophical plateaus.
- Core philosophy determined by your campaign's core monster.
- Starting philosophies (Survivalism)
- Tier 1 Philosophies gained at 1 Collective Cognition
- Tier 2 gained at 13 Collective Cognition
- Tier 3 gained at 30 Collective Cognition
Knowledge
Knowledges are skills arc survivors acquire. These skills are tied to the diligent reflection of survivors. As their pholosophies advance, new opportunities to gain knowledge arise.
Arc survivors harness knowledge
Knowledges and Philosophies
Knowledge is one aspect that sets arc survivors apart from others. Knowledge replaces fighting arts for arc survivors, creating more complex, evolving skills.
- Each philosophy has its own central skill, a tenet knowledge. In addition, other revelations may increase the number of knowledges a survivor gains from their philosophy.
- Philosophies also include knowledges beyond the tenet.
- Some knowledges arise from the existential dread of arc survivor existence.
- Others arise from victory over vicious foes.
Knowledge at the Forum
Arc survivors maintain a Forum where the exchange of ideas flows freely. Once discovered, knowledge may be shared by others in the settlement. Even those that do not adhere to your philosophy.
- Arc survivors may spend their unique lumi attribute to gain knowledge at the Forum.
- As knowledge evolves, the knowledge at the Forum evolves alongside.
Knowledge Evolves
As survivors practice their knowledge, they may observe crucial information that helps evolve their understanding.
- Knowledges have observation conditions. When arc survivors observe these conditions their grasp of the knowledge improves.
- When arc survivors complete their knowledge observation, this knowledge may evolve into a more powerful skill.