Why Stars can move when the app is closed
Immersive play and background progression · match the line item, not the screen
Why can Stars change when Tokomi is closed?
Stars can change while Tokomi is closed because some stories keep a small part of the world moving in the background. Many of those stories include Tokomi Phone, so a character can message you, keep a diary, or post on a forum. To feel like someone who still has a life when you are not looking, that world may generate a little more on the server even though the app is not open. This is not a random charge. It happens when immersive play is on for that chat and the story is allowed to move forward. When you come back, the change should match a row in Star history. If the summary looks like “Tokomi Phone · world simulation” — the exact words can change between versions — that row is background progression, not the line you just sent in the main chat.
How do I tell a background charge from a line I sent?
Open Star history and read the summary on that row. A background charge is tied to the story world moving, not to a message you typed while looking at the screen. Wording such as “Tokomi Phone · world simulation” is the usual clue, though the label can change in a later version. If the summary does not match anything you sent, it is still not a mystery debit: it should name the feature that ran.
Can I spend less on background world movement?
Yes, when that character and chat expose the control. Turn Tokomi Phone off, or turn down the world-simulation options the app currently shows. Leaving a high-activity immersive scene running for days is what keeps the background work going. Check Star history so the spend is visible instead of a surprise. What you can switch depends on the character and the chat, and the live app is the list of switches.
- See if you can turn Tokomi Phone off or turn down world-simulation options (whatever the app currently shows).
- Don't leave high-activity immersive scenes running for days if you don't want the cost.
- Get used to Star history so the spend isn't a surprise.
Does a push notification cost Stars by itself?
No. A push notification is a nudge from the character, not another charge on its own. Whether Stars moved is whatever Star history shows for that time. See also How Stars are spent.