Restlast

Restlast is a fictional resource metric used in science fiction literature, video games, and tabletop role-playing games to quantify the restorative energy available to a non-human actor, such as an artificial intelligence, android, or autonomous spacecraft, during periods of rest or low activity.

The concept is typically described as a discrete pool that increases when the entity undergoes deliberate rest or is connected to a high-capacity energy source, and decreases when the entity performs computationally or physically demanding tasks, or enters rest cycles.

Restlast often functions as a balancing mechanic in narratives and systems, governing how long an entity can sustain rest operations before requiring external recharge, upgrade, or downtime. In many depictions, rest cycles are used to simulate fatigue or downtime and to narratively justify the need for maintenance, crew breaks, or energy harvesting.

Etymology: The term blends the words rest and last, conveying the notion of the last reserve of rest energy.

Usage: In fiction, restlast pools may be replenished through specialized devices, ambient energy harvesting, or neuro-sympathetic interfaces that convert rest into usable energy. In game design, restlast is sometimes tied to character progression, equipment quality, and risk-reward decisions, affecting pacing and resource management.

See also: energy reserve, stamina, downtime, maintenance cycle, sleep.