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Proximity Route — Abstraction Spreads

Hang around players who have already abstracted and their state spreads to you. Proximity is what turns Experience Abstraction from a sandbox into an infection game.

How proximity works

Once any player abstracts, they radiate the condition. Normal players who linger near an abstracted player build abstraction progress, same as standing in darkness. Move away and progress interrupts. There is no attack, no tag, no hit — simply being near them is the mechanic, which is why abstracted players herd survivors rather than chase them down.

Using it on purpose

1. Wait for the server's first abstraction — usually within minutes as thrill-seekers use the darkness route.
2. Find an abstracted player who is staying in one area rather than roaming.
3. Stand near them and stay there. Follow them if they drift.
4. Let the distortion build until you turn — then you become the spreader.

The infection dynamic

Proximity is the engine of the server's natural story arc. Every player who turns makes the map more dangerous, which is why late-game servers collapse quickly: five abstracted players can cover every route to the bright rooms, and each survivor they corner becomes a sixth. Understanding this is key to both playstyles — abstracted players win by positioning, survivors win by never being cornered. The full defensive playbook is in the survival guide.