# Mothership Stress and Panic: When to Roll, and What Happens Next

Published: 2026-10-25
Updated: 2026-10-25

Clear 1e guide: add Stress, check triggers, roll d20 vs current Stress, use that roll on the Panic Table and record effects.

## Article

Gaining Stress doesn’t automatically mean rolling for Panic. In [Mothership](/item/mothership) 1e, I add required Stress first, then check for a Panic trigger: a critical failure or an extreme event. When triggered, I roll 1d20 - a result equal to or below current Stress means Panic.

Here’s the process I follow:

- Check the edition. This guide uses 1e, not the older 0e procedure.

- Track both Stress scores. Minimum Stress starts at 2; current Stress caps at 20. Excess Stress reduces the relevant Stat or Save.

- Separate failure from Panic. A failed Stat Check or Save adds 1 Stress. An ordinary failure alone doesn’t call for Panic.

- Use the same die result. If I Panic, that roll selects the Panic Table entry - not my Stress score.

- Record what follows. I apply immediate effects, then note lasting Conditions, durations, triggers, and changes to current or minimum Stress.

The odds make the stakes clear: at 10 Stress, a triggered Panic Check has a 50% chance of Panic. My rule of thumb: update Stress, check the trigger, roll, then resolve and record the result.

 
 

Mothership 1e Stress and Panic Flowchart

How To Play: [Mothership](https://www.tuesdayknightgames.com/pages/mothership-rpg?srsltid=AfmBOornFqAsQnhEtODPde15AuokcqOoHIyZ_5bqaRn0akWcftdZPVwm) 1e

## When to Gain Stress or Check for Panic

Once you’re tracking current Stress, the next step is knowing when to check for Panic.

### Stress From Failed Rolls and Specific Rules

A failed Stat Check or Save adds 1 Stress. Add more only when a rule calls for it. An ordinary failure does not trigger Panic.

The order matters: update Stress before checking for Panic.

On a failed Fear Save, add 1 Stress first. If no other Panic trigger applies, continue play. If Panic is triggered, use the updated Stress.

### Panic From Critical Failures and Extreme Events

A Critical Failure - doubles above the relevant Stat or Save - requires a Panic Check. The Warden may also call for one after witnessing a crewmate’s death, seeing more than one crew member panic, encountering a strange and horrifying entity for the first time, suffering massive structural damage, or facing certain death.

That means witnessing a death can prompt a Panic Check even without a failed Save. If a failed Save and a Panic trigger happen together, add Stress first. Then make the Panic Check using the updated Stress.

For ship checks, the responsible crew members roll. If the failure causes massive structural damage or certain death, the Warden can call for Panic.

## How to Make a 1e Panic Check

When a Panic Check is triggered, compare the roll to current Stress. If the character Panics, use that same roll to find the matching table entry.

### Compare the Panic Die With Current Stress

Add any required Stress, then roll the Panic Die (1d20). If the result is above current Stress, the character keeps control. There’s no need to consult the Panic Table. If the result is equal to or below current Stress, the character Panics - use that roll on the Panic Table.

Higher Stress makes Panic more likely.

### Find the Table Entry With the Same Roll

Stress sets the threshold; the die result sets the table entry. When the character Panics, look up the entry that matches the roll. Don’t reroll or use Stress as the entry number. Add more Stress only if another rule or the table entry tells you to.

## Apply and Record Panic Results

Apply Stress first, then check for Panic. If the character Panics, use the Panic Table entry to determine what happens next.

### Resolve Immediate and Lasting Effects

Read the Panic Table entry exactly as written and resolve its effects in order. Apply immediate effects first, then record lasting Conditions and follow-up triggers.

In 1e, Overwhelmed imposes disadvantage on all rolls for 1d10 minutes and raises Minimum Stress by 1.

Coward: make a Fear Save to engage in violence; on failure, flee. Frightened: when the character encounters the fear source again, they make a Fear Save at disadvantage or gain 1d5 Stress on failure.

### Record Durations, Triggers, and Modifiers

Record each part separately on the character sheet or in Warden notes.

Field
What to record

Effect or Condition
Exact result and any Condition gained

Duration
Listed duration and when it starts

Trigger
Specific event or frightening subject that activates it

Mechanical effect
Exact bonus, penalty, required Save, or Stress change

How it ends
Listed expiration, treatment, or removal requirement

### Panic Resolution Checklist

Follow this sequence to resolve Panic at the table.

- Identify the event and confirm the edition.

- Apply required Stress. In 1e, convert Stress above 20 into a reduction to the most relevant Stat or Save.

- Determine whether the event calls for a Panic Check.

- If it does, roll the Panic Die against current Stress. In 1e, a d20 result equal to or lower than current Stress means Panic.

- If the character Panics, read the matching Panic Table entry and apply its immediate effects.

- Record lasting Conditions, duration, trigger, modifier, and end condition separately. Update current Stress and Minimum Stress, then return to the scene and continue play.

## Conclusion: Keep Stress and Panic Separate

Stress and Panic are separate. Critical Failures or certain extreme events can trigger a Panic Check. In 1e, roll the Panic Die against current Stress. A result equal to or lower than current Stress triggers Panic; use that same number on the table.

Track Stress separately, resolve Panic only when triggered, and apply the table result before play continues.

## FAQs

### How can I lower current and Minimum Stress?

In Mothership, there’s no universal mechanic for lowering current Stress or Minimum Stress at will, nor are there standard rules for easily resetting or reducing either value. Characters must instead manage their exposure to hazards and terrifying situations. Stress is meant to leave a lasting mark - not reset after every encounter.

### Can one event trigger multiple Panic Checks?

Yes. Multiple Panic Check triggers can occur back-to-back in a single scene. Each trigger requires its own Panic Check.

For example, witnessing a traumatic event and then immediately failing a save may create two separate triggers, each requiring a check.

As Stress builds and Panic Table results vary, these checks can cause effects that compound or panic responses that happen one after another.

### What if I get the same Panic Condition twice?

If you roll the same Panic Condition twice in Mothership, its effects usually stack or repeat, depending on the condition. As the Warden, apply the effect as written so its mechanical consequences stay consistent. If stacking doesn’t make sense, treat the second instance as a worsening of the character’s current state.

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