Camaraderie
Camaraderie are bonuses that PC's gain from establishing relationships with NPCs. Unlike most SolarLink mechanics, Camaraerie is generally exclusive to the PCs. The DM may choose to give certain special NPCs access to Camaraderie bonuses, but it is generally recommended NPCs do not benefit from them. Each available Camaraderie bonus is called a Connection.
Camaraderie bonuses represent a character putting in extra effort for those they care about (Connection) and is split into two tiers. Basic Connections represents solidified friendships. A character has access to three (3) plus their Sociability Attribute Modifier Basic Connections. If a character has a Sociability of negative three (-3) or lower, they do not gain Basic Connections. The second tier are Advanced Connections. Advanced connections represent characters that are incredibly close. This can be two best friends, a husband and wife, etc. A character gets one (1) Advanced Connection plus or minus and additional Advanced Connection for every plus or minus three (3) they have in Sociability respectively. If a character has a Sociability of negative three (-3) they do not gain Advanced Connections.
Filling Connections
Before a character can use either Connection tier, they must "fill" the Connections. To do so requires the PC develops a good relationship with the character they want to fill the Connection with. For Basic Connections, actions that develop strong friendships are sufficient. Some activities that are sufficient for Basic Connections include (but are not limited to):
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Fighting side-by-side with an ally.
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Working with an ally to construct equipment or components.
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Frequent friendly interaction with an ally (sharing meals or other frequent recurring social situations).
Advanced Connections require actions that would tie the PC and the other character at a level of beast friends or better. This can be due to a Basic Connection persisting long enough or the occurrence of an incredibly eventful event. Some activities that are sufficient for Advanced Connections (but are not limited to):
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Saving a characters life outside of when its expected (ex. the PC is a medic in a combat with many combatants).
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Providing critical support for a character in a troubled life situation.
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Development into a stable romantic relationship.
Whenever the GM believes a character has developed a sufficient Connection, the GM informs the player that they may fill their Connection with the NPC. The player may then choose to use that NPC as their filled Connection. If a player elects to not use that NPC as a filled Connection, their in-character relationship with the NPC should not be negatively effected, it simply means the player will not receive statistical benefits from that NPC specifically.
Using Connections
Once a PC has filled Connections, they may use them to gain statistical bonuses both in and out of combat. Each filled Connection may be used once per Solar Cycle.
Outside of combat, PCs may use Basic Connections for any individual Trade Roll that can be reasonably explained to be for the benefit of an NPC they have a Basic Connection with. For example, making a bluff to protect an NPC for whom a PC has a Connection with is considered a valid use of a Basic Connection. Making a Trade Roll to repair a SolarLink Component, which benefits everyone on the SolarLink, is usually not a valid use of a Basic Connection. Advanced Connections receive this same benefit.
In order to maintain simplicity, Connections do not need to be tracked for every individual filled Connection on use. Instead they only need to be tracked by tier. Therefore, if a player has three (3) filled Basic Connections, they may use all three Basic Connection bonuses for the same NPC within the same Solar Cycle. The only requirement is that each use of a Connection be used on different Trade Rolls.
In combat, players may use Connections. At the start of their turn, Players choose to use one (1) filled Connection to receive a numerical benefit. If the PC uses a Basic Connection, they select a Trade Roll. At any point up until the start of their next turn, they gain a plus one (+1) bonus to one (1) use of that Trade Roll. If the PC uses an Advanced Connection, they may instead gain a plus one (+1) bonus to one Attribute until the start of their next turn. This bonus to an Attribute occurs before any other effects in the characters turn (such as gaining AP, making a Constitution Attribute Roll against damage, or taking recurring damage).
Using a Connection from either tier in combat requires that the PC knows they are involved in the same combat situation as an NPC or the combat situation directly threatens the NPC. A PC and an NPC are within the same combat situation anytime both characters are involved in the same Turn Order list (regardless if one is in Space Combat and the other in Ground Combat). A combat situation directly threatens an NPC when the success of the PCs determines emotional or physical harm to the NPC. For example, if the PCs are attempting to rescue a captured NPC, they may use Connections for that NPCs Connection tier.