Tethers

Tethers are a portable item used to extend a player’s oxygen and, when available, power range while exploring a planet. They are placed one at a time from the backpack and can be dragged into position after deployment, including onto walls and ceilings. When two tether posts are close enough, they connect automatically; they only need to be within range and do not require line of sight.

A tether line appears blue when it is connected to an oxygen source. If power is also reaching the player through the same connection, the line becomes dashed blue and yellow. When a tether chain is not connected to any base or vehicle with an Oxygenator attached, the line turns black and provides no oxygen or power. The player can use tether chains as a personal extension of a powered base, allowing safe travel farther from the starting area without carrying a full vehicle setup.

Vehicles can also connect to tethers if an Oxygenator is installed on the vehicle. In that case, the tether network acts as an oxygen supply only unless the vehicle itself has a power source. If the player runs out of power while tethered to a vehicle, the vehicle’s internal power will begin feeding the player instead of recharging their equipment. Only the player can recharge through a tether; bases and vehicles do not receive power from tether lines. A small battery can be charged on the player and then placed into a vehicle or base that needs power.

Tethers can be retrieved after placement. They may be returned to a tether stack in the backpack, or placed into an empty backpack slot to create a new stack. Holding a tether and using the appropriate pickup input also sends it back to the backpack if there is space. This makes them easy to reposition during route building or cave exploration.

• Tethers are best used to mark a safe path from an oxygen source into hazardous terrain.
• Since they can attach to walls and ceilings, they are useful in caves and vertical spaces where ground placement is awkward.
• Their connectivity depends on distance, not visibility, so terrain or obstacles between posts do not prevent linking as long as the posts are close enough.
• A tether chain is only as useful as its source; without a connected oxygen supply, it becomes black and inert.
• The Breathing Space mission requires the player to print a Tether Bundle and connect a tether to an oxygen supply.

In the game’s item structure, Tethers are a basic utility object rather than a consumable resource. They are commonly one of the first tools used for early exploration and remain relevant whenever a player needs a lightweight, disposable oxygen network away from a permanent base.