this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2025
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15 seconds without oxygen seems low [Mothership] (ttrpg.network)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by roflo1@ttrpg.network to c/scifi@ttrpg.network
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I reread Mothership’s Player Survival guide and it struck me as odd that it says that “in space you can last 15 seconds without oxygen before falling unconscious”.

And it seems very low. Maybe the key is that it’s only if you are in space? In the cold, vacuum space? Of course I couldn’t help myself and tried holding my breath for 30 seconds and it was very easy with an atmosphere. And I’m no astronaut, athlete, nor scuba diver.

I’m thinking about houseruling that if you’re able to at least take a ~~deep breath~~ few short breaths to oxygenate and then let go beforehand, you should add a number of seconds equal to your Body save. And any previous training would add an advantage.

Does that seem reasonable?

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[–] roflo1@ttrpg.network 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks for the reminder. I still remember people talking about the “realistic” scene in Titan AE, where the protagonist expels the air from his lungs before venturing into space.

Anyway, maybe I can fix it and say that you can take a few short breaths to oxygenate and then let go.

[–] TribblesBestFriend@startrek.website 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think that’s the point, you cannot oxygenate your blood.

As a DM I’d make stress test each round on a, maybe, 6 segments clock and a move test at disadvantage. If you fail your stress test it cost you 2 segments and you make your move at disadvantage.

[–] roflo1@ttrpg.network 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

You can’t? Huh. I’ve got some reading to do.

Edit: there’s another comment with a relevant link. The problem seems to be the pressure difference, regardless of your previous actions.

[–] TribblesBestFriend@startrek.website 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah space is really an inhospitable environment