What triggers the 'Dangerous Mission Penalty' (hereafter: DMP)?
- Any time a Unit scores less than a full success on a Morale Check (once per combat.)
- Entering into a fight with a Legendary Foe.
- Witnessing a friendly Unit flee combat.
- Sustaining 3 or more loss of PAX (or losing 2 HP, if a Single Entity.)
- If a Unit flees, but then later only rolls a partial success on its Loyalty check.
- If you are defeated in Combat, and your Army is forced to flee: the entirety of your forces receive one (1) instance of DMP.
Duration: DMP lasts for twice as many rounds as the total DMP value, and the duration restarts if the Unit receives another instance of DMP. You can reduce the amount of DMP by completing quests for NPCs, the benefactors of whom share a race with the Unit in Question. (Your Troops tend to appreciate it when they feel that their efforts mean something to the world around them and affects positive change.)
The Boost Morale Action can be used to reduce instances of DMP.
Orcs: Orcs NEVER suffer this penalty. Even one, single Orc unit sent to fight a Dragon will not suffer the morale penalties from this mechanic; they are simply too stubborn to be afraid. They can still flee a fight as a result of normal combat (but, never with this penalty to the roll: the +5% morale bonus always applies as well.)
Finally: If a Unit Enters into Combat with five (5) or more instances of DMP, it must immediately make a Morale Check. Anything less than a success and it flees before the fight begins.