Meat Resources is the abstraction for the critical need to eat in the post apocalyptic world. *Players* obviously need to eat and drink, so game mechanics will not interfere with your (self-provided) food choices OOG. But the acquisition of IG food (referred to as "Meat Resources", though it is not always "meat") will be regulated and tracked.
Meat Resources can be acquired several ways:
By consuming Meat Resources, a character becomes more energetic, more alert, and generally a tougher opponent in combat. This is reflected by the character gaining 1 point of natural armor to each vulnerable location(Left Arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, Right Leg, Torso). Natural armor is always considered to be underneath actual armor. Those with the "Like Iron" advantage gain 2 points of natural armor when they would normally receive 1.
e.g. Mark has one point of natural armor, and simple armor. In combat with Infected he takes two hits, both of which are absorbed by his armor. Before he can effect repairs, he is struck in his right leg by an infected and then again in his right arm and chest. Each of those blows would be absorbed by natural armor, since it provides a point to each location. If he is struck again in any of those locations whose natural armor is depleted, he takes the wound normally unless he has a combat ability that would allow him to defend against it.
For In-Game purposes, a hit which is absorbed by Natural Armor still hurts, but does only superficial damage (bruising, shallow cuts, etc), rather than a disabling wound.
Additionally, a character will regain 4 Stamina Points (up to their maximum) for each MR consumed.
When Meat Resources are acquired, the character will be
given one card for each "use" of Meat Resources they gathered. They may use this by simply
tearing up the card, or giving to another person to tear up. Additionally, at the
discretion of the player, they may then eat meat or any other food they have brought
for themselves publically as an in game act tied to the use of the meat resource. In either
case, you must spend at least three minutes eating for each Meat Resource consumed before you
may gain any benefits from it.
Under
some circumstances, Source may provide OOG real food within supply depots. It is not required
for players to eat this in order to use the appropriate Meat Resources that accompany
the food, nor is it required for those players who do not eat meat to consume actual
meat products to gain the benefit of Meat Resources. Having Meat Resources at your
disposal provides an opportunity to make eating an In Character activity, as well as
provides the opportunity for trade.
*NOTE* For Game ONE only, you are considered to have consumed a Meat Resource before game and start the game with one point of natural armor (two if you bought the Like Iron advantage).
You may consume Meat Resources or other In Game food at any time, but you only gain the Natural Armor benefit of the Meat Resources if at least 6 hours have passed since the last time you gained the benefit. This means that in the instance of game one, you will be able to gain Natural Armor at 6PM, Midnight, and 6AM (assuming you have and use one MR at those times), in addition to starting the game with Natural Armor. Natural Armor from MR does not "stack" with itself - if your previous NA has not been removed through use, using more MR will not grant you "extra" NA.
Additionally, using Meat Resources recovers four Stamina Points (up to the character's current maximum) at the time of consumption, regardless of whether or not it provides Natural Armor.
In order to simulate the need to gather food and supplies during travel between games, players will need to gather Meat Resources to survive. Additionally, characters who do not gather Meat Resources, and do not receive any Meat Resources from others in the BGA period, may suffer diminished skills, mental capacity or physical condition as a result of prolonged malnutrition.
In order to make it through a BGA period without suffering from Malnutrition, character must consume 1 Nutrition Resource for Each BGA Point that is available to them during the period. For instance, if 2 BGA Points are available during a BGA period, then characters eligible for BGAs during that period *must* consume 2 Nutrition Resources or they will be suffering from Malnutrition at the next game they attend. Additionally, Nutrition Resources Gathered During the BGA Period do not convert in either direction with MR that would be available in game. This is an abstraction of the long term consequences of getting food vs. doing other things in the Apocalypse. This requirement exists even if you do not use your BGA Points. In order to meet this requirement, one of the following things must happen:
If your character does not have/obtain and expend the required amount of NR over a BGA period, they will become malnourished. If your character is suffering from malnutrition, you suffer the following consequences at the next game in which the character participates: