Characters now have a stamina bar. Its total is equivalent to their HP total, and varies with traits and stats.
- Sprinting, swimming and melee attacks deplete it. So do inhaling water and smoke.
- Standing and walking replenish it at different rates. Some consumables boost or restore it.
- Jogging and wading freeze it, or deplete it if you're out of shape or a smoker.
- Blunt damage generally does more stamina damage than health damage, except for the heaviest weapons. Boxing gloves are mostly stamina damage, but sledgehammers are unlikely to knock out instead of kill. Cops may carry stun batons that deal massive stamina damage.
- Taking HP damage reduces its maximum. This cap is removed when you heal or rest.
- When extremely low, you are barred from doing exhausting actions so you don't pass out. Unless you're hardcore.
- When depleted completely, you are knocked out. This functions a lot like SOR1's knockout. You lie there for a bit while it recharges into the positive range. Maybe when it's super low you stagger a bit.
The result is that fistfights are rarely deadly unless intentionally so, and cops generally just mash your skull enough to take you in alive. This will lend itself a little more to the anti-permadeath vibe, and can contribute to the arcade beat-em-up aspect of the franchise.