Editing Technophobia/Stress (section)

==Taking Stress==
When a PC takes an action that could have harmful consequences, the GM tells their player how much STRESS they could take on a failed or RISKY roll (in Lancer, PCs take consequences on RISKY and HEROIC rolls even when they succeed): they take 1 STRESS for minor consequences, 2 STRESS for typical consequences, and 4 STRESS for major consequences.

''Typical consequences'' are the sort of injuries, exhaustion, and harm that you might expect from dangerous, charged, or stressful situations. Examples include flesh wounds, being beaten up, going a night without sleep, going hungry, or being overworked. ''Minor consequences'' are less dramatic versions of these, like tiredness, minor injuries and bruises, etc.

''Major consequences'' are more severe sorts of harm –direct hits from enemy guns without armor on, hits from heavy weapons, serious deprivation, days without rest, exposure to the elements, and brutal beatings.

PCs shouldn’t take STRESS on every failed or complicated roll, just the ones where harm has been established as a consequence (i.e., dangerous, violent, or stressful situations). STRESS should never be inflicted for rolls that don’t have any direct consequences, such as downtime actions or gathering information.

Much like HP, STRESS doesn’t always represent direct bodily harm, but usually the energy and exhaustion inflicted for avoiding it. For example, Ignacio rolls to sneak past some guards. The GM tells Ignacio that if the guards spot him, they’ll shoot on sight. Ignacio fails the roll, and they shoot at him, dealing him 2 STRESS. It doesn’t matter (in narrative terms) whether they actually hit him or not, just that he takes STRESS.

Characters can take STRESS in situations where direct physical harm might not even be possible, such as charged social situations and during intense physical exertion. 

===Examples===

* A PC is tracking an assassin through the wilderness. They roll a mixed success on a RISKY roll and are able to follow the assassin’s trail, but push themself hard to keep up, tiring them out and taking 1 STRESS. 

* Some PCs are trying to get the local trade representative to lift a harmful trade embargo that’s leaving thousands starving. They fail and take 2 STRESS from the mentally and emotionally taxing effort.