Incidents & CompetitionRandom events, decisions, and the rival coworking space
How Incidents Work
- Base chance: 9% per day (18% with Storm Front modifier)
- Cooldown: minimum 9 days between incidents
- Difficulty scaling: Relaxed ×0.7, Standard ×1.0, Cutthroat ×1.4
- Some incidents resolve automatically; others pause the game and present a choice.
Auto-Resolving Incidents
Internet Outage
Condition: 3+ members
- With Dedicated 1 Gbps line: no damage. "Your dedicated line stayed up. Members are impressed!"
- Without: -10 satisfaction debuff for 2 days.
VIP Tour
Condition: receptionist hired, 65%+ satisfaction
A startup founder tours the space. If desks are free, 2-3 new members sign up instantly. If full, you get a +5 satisfaction buff for 6 days.
Press Feature
Condition: 70%+ satisfaction, 5+ members
"A local blog featured your space" — leads doubled for 7 days.
Smart Lock Saves the Day
Condition: 4+ members AND access control active
A lost keycard is deactivated instantly via the app. No damage.
Decision Incidents
AC Breakdown
Condition: 4+ members
| Choice | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Repair | $900 | Crisis averted. |
| Cheap Patch | $250 | -9 satisfaction for 6 days. |
Pipe Burst
Condition: 2+ members
| Choice | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Call a Plumber | $400 | Fixed before lunch. |
| Mop and Hope | $0 | -7 satisfaction for 5 days. |
Lost Keycard
Condition: 4+ members AND no access control
| Choice | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey the Locks | $350 | Security restored. |
| Risk It | $0 | -6 satisfaction for 8 days. |
Noise Complaint
Condition: 6+ members AND no soundproofing upgrade
| Choice | Effect |
|---|---|
| Mediate Over Coffee | With community manager: +8 happiness to complainant. Without: -4 satisfaction for 6 days. |
| Stay Out of It | -10 happiness to complainant, -7 satisfaction for 8 days. |
Member Requests (Decision)
| Request | Choice A | Choice B |
|---|---|---|
| Office Dogs (3+ members) | Allow: +18 happiness, +3 sat buff 12 days | No Pets: -12 happiness |
| Discount (4+ members) | Give 10% off: +15 happiness, lower revenue | Hold Price: -15 happiness, churn risk |
| Podcast Studio (5+ members, meeting room) | Free Slot: +12 happiness, leads for 5 days | Pay $60: +$60, -6 happiness |
Lease Review
Triggered: automatically after a profitable year (not random). See Landlord Rent Hikes.
The Rival Space
In scenarios with competition enabled (Downtown, Campus, Shoestring, Tower), a rival coworking space can open nearby.
Rival Mechanics
- Spawn condition: 8+ members, no active rival (or at least 90 days after last rival closed)
- Rival score: quality + (your fee - their fee) × 0.08
- Player score: your satisfaction
- Lead stealing: 5%-40% of your leads, based on the score gap
Competitive Dynamics
- You're winning (edge < -8): rival loses members. Their members may defect to you (6% daily chance).
- Rival's winning (edge > 5): rival gains members. They may poach your unhappiest members (5% daily chance).
- Rival closure: when a rival bleeds members below 2 for 60+ days, they close permanently. You earn a satisfaction buff, press feature, and +1 to "competitors outlasted".
- Rival price war: monthly, if occupancy <40%, the rival slashes prices by 10% (floor: 60% of opening price).
Space Character (Retention Perks)
When a rival tries to poach a member, your space's distinctive features give reasons to stay. Each feature adds ~18% retention chance (capped at 85%):
- Themed rooms
- Aquarium
- Neon sign
- Fairy lights
- 2+ phone booths
- 3+ paintings
- Community manager
- Events program
- 24/7 access
- Interior renovation upgrade
Fridge Science Project
Condition: fridge placed, 5+ members
| Choice | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Deep clean the fridge | $50 | −3 satisfaction for 5 days |
| Name and shame | Free | −4 satisfaction for 10 days |
Coworking Life Incidents
The everyday absurdity of running a shared workspace. These fire based on member count and facility conditions.
| Incident | Condition | Choice A | Choice B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermostat War | 8+ members | $200 fans & blankets (+1 sat, 3d) | Lock at 22°C (−2 sat, 8d) |
| Hot Desk Squatter | 6+ members, hot-deskers | Offer dedicated upgrade | Clear desk policy (−1 sat, 5d) |
| LinkedIn Influencer | 10+ members | Free marketing! (−2 sat, 6d) | No filming (+1 sat, 5d) |
| Infinite Guest Pass | 8+ members | Let slide (may sign 2) | Invoice $300 |
| Crypto Miner | 12+ members | Confiscate rig (−1 sat, 5d) | Bill $400 (−1 sat, 3d) |
| Phone Booth Nap | Phone booth, 8+ members | 1hr booking limit | Nap culture (+1 sat, 5d) |
| Note War | 6+ members, kitchen | $80 summit (+2 sat, 5d) | Ban notes (−2 sat, 8d) |
| Ghost Event | 15+ members, CM | Rebrand “exclusive” (+2 sat, 5d) | Cancel, eat $150 |
| Unsolicited Pitch | 8+ members | Pitch Night (+2 sat, 5d) | Quiet Zone (+1 sat, 4d) |
| Milk Thief | 5+ members, fridge | $60 communal milk (+3 sat, 10d) | Labelled shelves (−1 sat, 7d) |
Mass Exodus
If satisfaction stays below 35% for 12+ consecutive days, there's a 5% daily chance of a mass exodus: 30-50% of monthly members leave at once, and reputation takes a -6 hit. This is a death spiral you must prevent.