To set up an episode follow these steps.

1. Read the Episode Introduction
   Read the introduction from the storybook out loud.
2. Episode Setup
   Follow these steps:
   1. Assemble the staging deck and the encounter deck by combining all cards with the respective set icons listed in the storybook. The encounter deck is shuffled when assembled. There is no need to shuffle the staging deck.
   2. Determine responsibility. Give the blue endurance tracker to the character determined by the storybook. Being the responsible character does not have an inherent effect, but they are encouraged to read the story texts and manage the encounter deck during the episode.
   3. Take all Chapter cards from the staging deck and turn them front side up. Stack them in sequential order so that Chapter 1 is on top, continuing with chapter 2 and so on. These cards form the chapter deck.
   4. Depending on your selected difficulty, find the story mode or challenge mode Surveillance card in the staging deck. Place the Surveillance card next to the encounter deck with its front side up. Leave the other version in the staging deck.
   5. Set the surveillance dial to 0 and place it above the Network.
   6. Perform the episode setup instructions in the storybook.
3. Grid Setup
   Flip all modifiers from the modifier pool face down and shuffle them. Place 16 modifiers face down at random on the table. These form the Grid. Place the remaining modifiers face down on the Archive card.
4. Supply Setup
   Set all remaining Hope, Resources, Attribute Markers, Keys, Secrets, Damage tokens, Hacking Cubes, attribute dice, and modifiers aside out of play. They form the supply.
5. Character Setup
   Each player performs these steps:
   1. Place your Character card in front of you.
   2. Set your endurance tracker to your starting Endurance. The starting Endurance is based on the number of characters:
      • Solo play: 10 Endurance
      • Two players: 8 Endurance each
      • Three players: 7 Endurance each
      • Four players: 6 Endurance each

The responsible character uses the blue endurance tracker. All other characters use the regular endurance trackers.

3. Place your Character Tool next to your Character card with the side marked in the campaign log face up.
4. Place your tool kit under your Character Tool. Your tool kit contains your other Tools and your Allies.
5. Take 3 action trackers. Flip them to their unspent side (blue).
6. Gain 3 Hope (from the supply).
7. Gain one Resource for each checkmark under Starting Resources in the campaign log.
8. From your available Action cards, select a number of Action cards equal to your Endurance. These cards form your starting hand. Place the remaining available Action cards in your discard pile.
9. You can immediately use any of your Resources to purchase Tools and/or Allies from your tool kit.

Clarifications:

• These setup steps are performed before each episode, not just before the first episode.
• The encounter deck is used in the encounter phase to draw encounter cards from.
• The staging deck contains all cards that potentially could come into play during the episode.
• Tools and Allies purchased in the previous episode start the episode in your tool kit and must be purchased again.
• Followers obtained in the previous episode do not carry over to the next episode.
• Support markers like Hope, Resources, Attribute Markers, or Keys collected in the previous episode do not carry over to the next episode.