Affinities
Affinities are the heart of Space Idol. They’re five independent scores (0–100) that define who you are as a space professional and what kind of agency you’ll build.
The Five Affinities
| Affinity | What It Measures | Example Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Building, fixing, systems design | Hardware engineering, software architecture, repair work |
| Analytics | Data interpretation, research methodology | Hypothesis testing, orbital calculations, pattern recognition |
| Command | Leadership, delegation, strategy | Team management, crisis coordination, resource allocation |
| Resolve | Risk tolerance, endurance, quick decisions | EVA operations, emergency protocols, high-pressure calls |
| Innovation | Creative problem-solving, invention | Prototype design, unconventional solutions, novel approaches |
How Affinities Grow
Every quest distributes affinity XP across all five affinities, weighted by the quest’s nature. A hardware repair quest might give heavy Technical XP, moderate Resolve XP (you’re working under pressure), and light amounts of the others.
Growth Tiers
| Score Range | Tier | Growth Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 0–30 | Novice | Fast — general quests push all affinities here quickly |
| 31–60 | Competent | Medium — career-aligned quests drive growth |
| 61–80 | Expert | Slow — requires main quests and high star ratings |
| 81–100 | Master | Very slow — milestone achievements and tycoon missions |
Growth follows diminishing returns. Going from 0 to 30 is quick; going from 80 to 90 takes serious dedication. This means your naturally preferred activities will plateau, encouraging you to branch out — especially in the tycoon phase.
Affinities vs. Level
Your level (1–20 and beyond) and your affinity scores are completely separate tracks.
- Level unlocks content tiers. Reach level 5 to access harder quests, level 10 for side quest lines, level 20 to start your agency.
- Affinities determine what you’re good at within those tiers. A level 10 player might have Technical 55 / Command 20 or the reverse, depending on what quests they chose.
You can be the same level as another player and have a completely different affinity profile.
What Affinities Affect
During the Prologue (Employee Phase)
- Quest gating. Some quests require minimum affinity scores (e.g., “Requires Technical 30”). Higher affinities open more content.
- Star ratings. Your affinity match to a quest’s requirements influences performance quality.
- NPC relationships. Characters gravitate toward players who share their affinity strengths.
- Archetype determination. At level 20, your two strongest affinities determine your archetype.
During the Tycoon Phase
- Contract eligibility. Clients want agencies that specialize. High affinities unlock premium contracts.
- Crew recruitment. NPCs with matching affinities are easier to attract and train.
- Training efficiency. Boosting crew skills in affinities you’re strong in costs less.
- Service expansion. New services may require minimum affinity thresholds to unlock.
Strategic Considerations
- Specialize early, diversify later. In the prologue, focus on one or two affinities to pass gates and earn better rewards. In the tycoon phase, invest in weaker affinities to unlock new revenue-generating services.
- There are no wrong choices. Every affinity combination leads to a valid archetype and viable agency. The game is designed so that all paths are rewarding.
- Affinities gate by minimum thresholds, not exclusive paths. A Technical-focused player isn’t locked out of Command content — they just need more time to reach the threshold.