This guide explains the full playable loop, hidden systems, and the most common reasons a run succeeds or collapses.

How a run is structured

• Title: choose language and continue to expedition setup (character + scenario).
• Character: each profile changes resistances, signal clarity, and action identity.
• Scenario: seeds define opening weather, visibility, terrain, and route tempo.
• Onboarding: read the scenario briefing, then launch the expedition.
• Game loop: take hourly decisions until you retreat, time out, fail physically, or exit with success.

Rules and systems

• Environmental Pressure rises with altitude, terrain load, weather severity, poor visibility, late hours, and lingering exposure.
• Body Tolerance depends on functional capacity, acclimatization, hydration, nutrition, fatigue, and exposure resistance.
• The watch shows interpreted information, not raw truth. Confidence and noise can mislead you.
• Permit time matters every day. Returning late can convert a strong climb into a failed expedition.
• Summit success only counts if you still return safely through the final exit logic.

Action reference

• Advance: fastest climb, highest fatigue and exposure cost, strongest punishment when pressure is already ahead of tolerance.
• Advance Slowly: lower cost and partial progress chance; useful when you must protect margins without fully stalling.
• Wait: safest informational reset on lower sectors; high on the route it usually only limits damage.
• Descend: the main safety valve. It protects body, daylight, and permit margin, and becomes decisive after warning signs.
• Sleep: only at camps. It resets time to the next day and can recover body state when used before collapse spirals.
• Shoot Photo: Daniela-only action that improves short-term route reading under strict cooldown and run limits.

Difficulty levels

• Very Easy: softer pressure, more efficient resources, longer permit slack, and a stronger initial recovery cushion.
• Easy: gentler attrition with enough pressure to teach the route without removing the need to retreat.
• Standard: baseline prototype balance.
• Hard: tighter margins, heavier pressure, and less forgiveness for late pushes.
• Very Hard: sustained pressure spikes, shorter permit, weaker starting margin, and stronger punishment for indecision.

Frequently asked questions