Seasonal Cycle
The Cycle: Frontier plays out during months longs seasons, during which Prospectors drop to the surface of Fortuna III to complete tasks for various Factions, fight each other for resources, and achieve fame on the hostile planet.
Once a season is over, every prospector's Stash, K-Marks balance, Insurance Tokens, Quarter Upgrades, and Faction progress are reset to start fresh in the next season. Aurum and all owned Vanity are kept, and any purchased Bundles are regranted and available in the Delivery Station.
The time remaining in a season, counting down to the wipe, can be seen while in the Station and in the Fortuna Pass menu.
Fortuna III
First settled in 2309, Fortuna III was on course to be one of the most prosperous worlds under humanity's domain, before what's known as 'The Cycle' upended everything half a century later, destroying the Progenitor-built Waygate orbiting the moon and cutting the Fortuna system from the rest of humanity.
As a Habitable 'Class 5' planet, Fortuna III had been terraformed tens of thousands of years by a lost civilization referred to as the Progenitors, with an ecosystem practically identical to that of other H-C5 planets, and a similar abundance of the energy-rich Veltecite that fuels the Waygates connecting them. Why the Progenitors seeded these planets and then vanished isn't yet known, as only the only tangible evidence of their existence are the Waygates and inert monuments that dot each planet's surface.
The planet's surface now lies practically abandoned, with only Prospectors and other fools braving The Cycle, and the planet's hostile fauna, to secure resources for the station in orbit.
The Cycle
The Teratomorphic Energy Field, more commonly known as "The Cycle", is a hazardous radiation effect that encompasses the entire planet of Fortuna III, though there exist 'windows' that allow for humans, and their technology, to operate without suffering the worst effects.
Initially only causing delicate equipment to malfunction, each wave, found to be following a predictable cadence, increased in intensity until basic machinery failed entirely and colonists left unconscious for the duration. Less than a month after the colonies were evacuated the energy field settled over the entire world, with its ebb and flow causing terrible storms over the areas not fully covered by The Cycle.
Hostile Creatures
Before the Cycle, Fortuna III's ecosystem featured few predators, and none considered dangerous to a well-prepared colonist. The Teratomorphic Energy Field changed all that, with monstruous creatures emerging from the unknown to savage the panicked colonists as they fled the planet's surface.
Once prospectors began braving the first windows in the Cycle a decade later, they found Fortuna III overrun with large and highly hostile beasts of unnatural design. Some believe these creatures were always there, hiding under the surface; others see them as the result of constant mutations spurred by the TEF. In either case it's clear that the Cycle is to blame for their appearance, and the Storms that affect the planet make these creatures even more dangerous.
Bright Sands
Once known for its beautiful beaches, thirty years of the Cycle have made Bright Sands more resemble a marsh-filled jungle than what the old postcards depict. The area was to be the location for the Archimedes science campus, an Osiris installation focused on researching Progenitor artifacts in the region; the project was never completed, and the area now lies littered with old infrastructure and temporary support facilities.
As the first window in the Cycle to be discovered almost two decades ago, it's well mapped out and considered one of the best starting points for new prospectors to explore.
Crescent Falls
Located next to Bright Sands, the large fallen Progenitor ruin at its center gave the area its name. Originally meant to support the construction and eventual operation of the nearby Archimedes science campus, the warm natural pools and rich fertile soil attracted enough interest and business to form the beginnings of a small community of its own.
Even experienced prospectors should be cautious here, as some of the fiercest creatures have make their nests in the abandoned shipping ports and overgrown facilities.
Tharis Island
Little is known about this island, only recently available to explore after a new window in the Cycle opened up.
Prospect Station
Orbiting Fortuna III, Habitat's station was never meant to house even a tenth of its current population, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Built to be a holding area for the rich and powerful, and the system-wide HQ for several megacorps, the station became home to most of the colonists fleeing the surface, with entire freighters and other ships grafted on to it to make space for the new population.
Renamed to "Prospect Station" once prospectors started dropping to the planet to bring back valuable resources, the station now serves as the hub for a system now cut off from the rest of humanity by a measure of years.
Quick Shop
Run by a former ICA boss, the Quick Shop provides prospectors with basic gear to keep them going. Cheap CoTEC guns, ammo, basic bags... nothing fancy, but it all works.
Gear Printer
"Want better gear? Then check out the printing station! If you've got the right materials and enough K-Marks, the Gear Printer can handle the hard parts.
The Gear Printer is also where you'll want to go to repair any damaged gear; better to reuse what you've got than buy new each time, right?
Launch Terminal
The Launch Terminal overlooking Fortuna III will get you in your pod and off to whichever death trap you chose to drop to. Just don't forget to tidy your bag and check your gear before you head out!
You'll also be able to go through the Tutorial Simulation again if you need a refresher, or just want to enjoy Fortuna III from the safety of orbit.
Prospector Quarters
Your own quarters. It might not seem like much, but it's a palace compared to where most of the station populace resides. Just one of the perks of being a prospector.
Quarter Upgrades
If you've got the right materials in your Stash, you'll be able to upgrade your Quarters to help you out in your journey to become the station's best, or richest, prospector. Increase you Stash size, passively earn Aurum and K-Marks, even improve your safe pockets' carrying space; it's worth it.
Generators
The Generators will earn you a steady stream of K-Marks and Aurum, as well as a crate of useful stuff delivered straight to your quarters every day. Just remember to check them regularly and invest in upgrades to improve them!
Delivery Station
The Delivery Station doesn't just house your Generators, of course. Had an 'accident' on the surface? Well if you took out <Insurance, here's where you'll find your payout. Have a special delivery from a Bundle purchased a previous season? It'll be waiting for you here. Look around, and don't forget to empty your Generators before they get too full!
Factions
While at its peak Fortuna III was home to dozens of massive corporations, only two remain with an active interest in the surface itself, Korolev and Osiris. The ICA, for its part, is the civilian organization that's tasked itself with keeping Prospect Station safely in orbit and all its people alive.
If you want to get anywhere as a prospector, you'll have to work for them; it's not just money they'll reward you with, but access to better and better gear, and that really makes the difference on the surface.
Independent Civilian Advisory
Initially meant to be only a temporary planetary civilian body to direct the colonization efforts, the ICA on Prospect Station came to be the de facto government for the Fortuna system after the Cycle forced the planet's evacuation. Currently its goal is just to keep the station alive and its community healthy, acting as an interface between Habitat, the official station owners, and the various factions of the station, including the Prospectors that help retrieve vital resources.
The Advisory committee is made up of former colonists, station oligarchs, business representatives, and union leaders, each with their own conflicting interests, often leading to the organization having no clear goals other than the general wellbeing of the station's populace and maintaining a somewhat peaceful status quo.",
Korolev Heavy Industries
One of the oldest interstellar corporations, and once at the forefront of space exploration, Korolev jumped at the opportunity to set up shop a new Veltecite-rich colony lost in the fringes of the galaxy.
Now that the Cycle has dashed any hopes profiting off the planet, the remaining Korolev detachment supports Prospect Station with its industrial prowess, and hopes to lay claim to every bit of ore on the planet once the surface becomes safe to exploit. Assuming that ever happens, at least.
Osiris
Formed from the remnants of several research shops and filled with academics, Osiris was left rudderless after the Cycle cut off effective communications with their parent company. While their goal of researching Progenitor artefacts and reverse engineering their technology remains the same, without access to the surface itself their work was limited to just idle theorizing.
Thankfully the corporation's newest head recognized the value prospectors could offer and is more than happy to send them off to danger for a pittance, so long as they remain effective.
Missions and Jobs
Each faction, will offer you a series of Missions that further their goals on Fortuna III; completing these won't just reward you with K-Marks and a reputation boost, but often useful kit, and more.
Jobs are often more simpler tasks, the bread and butter for prospectors, getting each faction what it needs to keep itself in operation. Access to these is gated by your reputation with the faction, with the higher tier Jobs also increasing in difficulty... and rewards.
Prospecting Basics
"Prospector" is the title given to those that brave going down to the planet's surface. Initially a legal requirement for anyone putting their life at risk to mine for valuable minerals, it's now a common moniker for the "heroes" that keep the station alive.
While the first prospectors had a life expectancy of fewer than a dozen jumps, technological advancements, courtesy of Osiris, have allowed for most prospectors to survive lethal encounters thanks to the installation of emergency safety foam as a standard in all prospectors' suits
Preparedness is the key to success. The life of a prospector isn't easy, but it certainly can be rewarding. Not everyone and everything you encounter will be hospitable, so you'll need the right mixture of gear depending on what you are looking to achieve on a run.
Bags
While your Safety Pockets may be able to carry a bit of loot around, a prospector is nothing without their trusty Bag.
The better the bag, the more weight it can carry. Be careful to not just fill it up without thinking, though, it'll get heavy, and you never know when you might need to rummage around there in an emergency.
And whatever you do on the surface, don't forget to Evac! Always check your Map for an accessible evac point. Remember, if you don't make it out, neither will anything you salvaged on the planet!
Prospector Tools
Every prospector needs some basic tools to get the job done.
Your Scanner will highlight valuable minerals in the area. You'll want to upgrade it with mods to find more valuable stuff.
The Pickaxe is what you'll use to pry those minerals out. Tired of swinging it around? Then get yourself a Mining Tool for faster extraction.
Visibility might be an issue on the surface. You've got a standard Flashlight for when it's dark, and a pair of basic Binoculars to survey an area from afar.
Consumables
Stims and Medkits will keep you alive on the planet; use Stims for a quick health boost, and reserve the Medkits for when you've got enough time to use them.
Grenades don't just come in the big boom variety; an Audio Decoy or Smoke Grenade might hide your escape or aid in an ambush, while a Gas Grenade will turn any area into a serious safety hazard.
Shields
If you want to keep your insides inside, then you'll want to equip a Shield vest and a Helmet. The higher the Armor value, the more damage it will absorb from each hit, while a higher Durability keeps it, and you, intact for longer.
Don't forget to Repair your damaged equipment at the Gear Printer!
Weapons
Guns! You'll want to carry at least one while on the surface, because you can bet everyone else will be too. Plus there's the matter of all the alien monsters that want to make you their newest chew toy.
It's not all about rate for fire and accuracy; pay special attention to the Penetration value; the higher, the more damage you'll do to Shielded prospectors and creatures with thick hides.
Want a personal touch? Most weapons can have Mods attached to improve their performance or change their behaviour in just the right way.
Oh, and don't forget to take some Ammo with you!
Insurance
The surface is a dangerous place to be, and many prospectors don't make it back on their own two feet. Your suit's stasis foam will protect you and your safe pockets, but your gear, bag, and anything in it won't be coming back to the station with you.
That's where insuring your items can help. Standard Insurance won't get you your items back, but buying it will insure you get some K-Marks to offset the pain.
Gear Salvage will cost you Aurum, or an Insurance Token, but a bot wil be sent down to hunt for your missing gear. So long as nobody's looted it and evacced off the planet, you'll get it back in some time. And if someone did, you'll still get a K-Mark compensation payout.
Remember to check your Delivery Station in your Quarters for payout; there's a limit to how many can be held for you.
Aurum
Aurum is The Cycle: Frontier's premium currency, and is mostly used for purchasing cosmetics, access to Premium Fortuna Pass rewards, and Gear Salvage Insurance.
While Aurum can be purchased in the Shop for real currency, you can also gain a steady stream of Aurum by upgrading your Quarter's Aurum Generator, and by unlocking free rewards in the Fortuna Pass.
Aurum will be retained on your account during Season Wipes.
Fortuna Pass
Each season a new Fortuna Pass will become available, offering the chance to unlock free rewards for completing a number of gameplay actions, from killing hostile creatures, evaccing off the surface, or completing Jobs for the Factions.
You'll also be able to purchase access to Premium rewards, offering unique seasonal cosmetic items, by purchasing the Premium Pass with Aurum.
And if you're in a rush, you can put in some Aurum to skip a level and immediately unlock a reward!
Cosmetics
Cosmetic items help you stand apart from the competition and define how you want to look on Fortuna III, but don't have any gameplay effects.
There are various types, and any Cosmetics you unlock or purchase are tied to your account and won't be lost on the surface or during Season Wipes.
Prospectors
A Prospector is a character archetype that allows customizing various unique looks at once, on per Prospector. Each one has a unique head, and many also have unique body types and suits. Choose the one you think looks best and customize them further as you wish!
Prospector Clothes and Melee
Most Prospectors can swap around different sets of Boots, Gloves, and a Chest piece assuming you own the kit. Some also come with unique Full Suits, a type of suit that doesn't allow further customization, but is unique to that Prospector.
Melee weapons can also be swapped around for each Prospector to give them a unique feel. Just note that these don't behave differently than the standard knife!
Weapon Cosmetics
Weapons can be customized with Skins, Coatings, and Charms.
Skins are unique and tailored to specific weapons, while Coatings, as well as Charms, can be applied to any weapon you own.
Once you own any of these vanity types, you can apply them to any compatible weapon in your inventory. If you lose a customized weapon on the surface, you'll still have access to the cosmetics for any other weapon.
Looting a weapon with cosmetics you don't own will not unlock them for you, so take care not to replace or lose something unique if you like how it looks!
Other Cosmetics
You can further personalize your Prospector with Sprays and Banners to decorate Fortuna III, and Emotes to show off to others what you're really thinking.