Narrative Arcs
Every 5 Cycles except the first, the campaign enters a Narrative Arc - a multi-battle storyline that all gangs are drawn into. These arcs give the campaign momentum and world-building without requiring a fixed endpoint.
Contamination: At each arc boundary, the underhive’s contamination levels rise - zones become more dangerous, battlefield conditions worsen, and the map itself changes. See The Tidal Cycle for the full escalation system.
Legacy: At each arc boundary, the Arbitrator reviews each gang’s record and awards any earned Legacy Bonuses. See Gang Legacies for the full system.
The campaign is divided into two phases, each with its own arc sequence:
- Flood Tide (Arcs I–V, Cycles 1–25) — Contamination rises. The underhive gets worse.
- Ebb Tide (Arcs VI–IX, Cycles 26–45) — Contamination falls. Old debts come due.