Pilot Scars & Traits

Permanent Character Development Through Brutal Experiences

Design Philosophy

Inspired by brutal tabletop RPGs's Fighting Arts and Disorders, this system creates permanent, mechanical character development through brutal experiences. Scars are:

• Earned through suffering - trauma, injury, corruption, or triumph
• Permanently character-defining - once gained, never lost
• Mechanically impactful - alter how you play
• Narratively rich - each scar tells a story

How Scars Work

Acquiring Scars

Maximum Scars: 5 per pilot (after that, you're too broken to continue)

Scar Triggers (Immediate Acquisition)

These events grant immediate Scars, bypassing the "every 3 missions" rule:

Trigger	Scar Category
Survive at 1-2 HP for 3+ rounds	Roll on Physical Scars
Reach 8+ Taint and survive the mission	Roll on Corruption Scars
Witness an ally's death	Roll on Trauma Scars
Kill 5+ enemies in a single mission	Roll on Combat Scars
Destroy a settlement building (even accidentally)	Roll on Trauma Scars
Fail to save a civilian during escort mission	Roll on Trauma Scars
Make a bargain with a Fae (Mockingbird)	GM assigns appropriate Scar
Reach The Engine's Core	Roll on Corruption Scars

Scar Categories

Physical Scars (1d20)

Your body is broken, but you endure.

Roll	Scar Name	Effect
1	Shattered Leg	Permanent -1 Movement. You limp, even in your Casket.
2	Blinded Eye	-1 to all ranged attacks beyond Range 2. Depth perception is ruined.
3	Crushed Hand	Cannot equip weapons in Left Arm slot. Your hand is mangled.
4	Punctured Lung	At the start of each mission, start with 1 Heat (labored breathing).
5	Nerve Damage	Whenever you draw a Damage card, take 1 additional Heat. Pain flares constantly.
6	Skull Fracture	-1 Hand Size (draw 1 fewer card). Migraines cloud your judgment.
7	Broken Ribs	Whenever you take 4+ damage in one attack, gain +1 Heat. Every breath hurts.
8	Severed Fingers	-1 Initiative. Your reflexes are shot.
9	Scarred Throat	Cannot speak. Communication during missions is nonverbal only (roleplay penalty).
10	Iron Jaw	Positive: +1 Defense, but -1 Movement. You're tougher but slower.
11	Reinforced Bones	Positive: When you would take 1-2 damage, reduce it to 1. Your bones mended stronger.
12	Adaptive Reflexes	Positive: +1 Initiative, but start each mission with 1 Heat. Your body is always on edge.
13	Endurance Conditioning	Positive: +1 SP per turn, but all Strain rolls are at +1 penalty. You push harder, pay later.
14	Prosthetic Limb (Dwarven-made)	Mixed: Left Arm slot permanently replaced with Dwarven prosthetic. Cannot change equipment in that slot, but attacks from it deal +1 damage.
15	Old Wound	Once per mission, reroll any 1 die roll. "I've felt worse."
16	Battle Scars	Positive: +1 to intimidation checks. Enemies prioritize you (double-edged).
17	Survivor's Grit	Positive: When reduced to 5 HP or less, gain +2 to all attack rolls. Desperation fuels you.
18	Dead Nerves	Mixed: Immune to pain-based effects, but cannot sense when you're critically injured (GM doesn't tell you HP total).
19	Unbreakable	Positive: Once per campaign, survive a killing blow at 1 HP instead. "Not yet."
20	Reroll or Choose	You got lucky. Pick any Physical Scar (except Unbreakable).

Corruption Scars (1d20)

The Void has touched you. You are changed.

Roll	Scar Name	Effect
1	Crystalline Growth	Soulstone crystals grow from your skin. Start each mission at +1 Taint, but gain +1 SP.
2	Void Whispers	You hear voices from the Void. -1 to all saving throws vs Taint effects, but gain insight (ask GM 1 yes/no question per mission).
3	Flickering Existence	Once per mission, you phase out of reality for 1 round (cannot act, cannot be targeted). Uncontrollable.
4	Tainted Blood	Your blood is black. Healing effects on you are reduced by 50%. Apothecary treatments cost double.
5	Reality Rejection	Normal terrain counts as Difficult Terrain for you. Reality doesn't "fit" right anymore.
6	Unnatural Hunger	You crave Soulstone energy. Must consume 1 Soulstone Fragment per settlement phase or gain +1 Taint.
7	Warped Reflection	Mirrors and water show something else instead of you. -1 Morale to settlement when you're present.
8	Temporal Echo	Once per mission, after failing a roll, you may "undo" it and reroll...but your past self suffers 2 damage.
9	Marked by the Void	Abominations are drawn to you. On monster AI turns, you're prioritized 50% more often.
10	Soulbound	Positive: +1 SP permanently, but if your Casket is destroyed, you die instantly (merged with the machine).
11	Void-Touched Vision	Positive: You can see Void rifts and corruption invisible to others. Gain advantage on detecting ambushes.
12	Dimensional Slip	Positive: Once per mission, teleport 3 hexes (Mockingbird-style), but take 1 Taint afterward.
13	Taint Resistance	Positive: -1 Taint gained from all sources, but your max Taint before corruption is reduced by 1 (max 9 instead of 10).
14	Eldritch Insight	Positive: Once per mission, force an enemy to reroll their AI card draw. You predict their moves.
15	Living Soulstone	Mixed: Your heart is partially crystallized. You no longer need a Soulstone to pilot (saves credits), but you gain +1 Taint per settlement phase automatically.
16	Aberrant Physiology	Mixed: Gain 1 Aberrant-class ability (choose from Aberrant racial traits), but NPCs react with fear/hostility.
17	Voidwalker	Positive: Ignore all Void exposure penalties in Sibarian Wastes. You've adapted.
18	Uncorrupted Soul	Positive: Max Taint +2 (can go to 12 before transforming). Your will is iron.
19	Beyond the Veil	Positive: When you die, you may return as an Undead NPC under GM control (one-time resurrection).
20	Reroll or Choose	The Void is fickle. Pick any Corruption Scar (except Beyond the Veil).

Trauma Scars (1d20)

War breaks the mind as surely as the body.

Roll	Scar Name	Effect
1	Survivor's Guilt	-1 Morale to settlement permanently. You can't forgive yourself.
2	Cowardice	When an ally is reduced below 5 HP, you must pass a willpower check or spend your next turn moving away.
3	Berserk Rage	When you take damage, roll 1d6. On 1-2, you must attack the nearest target (even allies) next turn.
4	Paranoia	Cannot accept buffs or healing from allies (you don't trust them).
5	Death Wish	You seek glorious death. -2 Defense, but +2 to all attacks.
6	Frozen in Fear	First round of every mission, you cannot act (PTSD flashback).
7	Hallucinations	Once per mission, GM may tell you false information (you see things that aren't there).
8	Trembling Hands	All attacks have 10% chance to miss (roll 1d10, on 1 = automatic miss, even melee).
9	Sleepless	Cannot recover from injuries during settlement phase (nightmares prevent healing).
10	Emotionally Numb	Mixed: Immune to fear and morale penalties, but cannot form bonds with allies (no cooperative abilities).
11	Hardened Veteran	Positive: +1 to all saving throws vs fear/morale effects. "I've seen worse."
12	Protector Instinct	Positive: +1 Defense when adjacent to an ally. You won't lose another one.
13	Cold Calculation	Positive: Can reroll any 1 attack per mission, but must justify it logically (no emotional decisions).
14	Unshakeable	Positive: Immune to Trauma effects from AI cards (e.g., "Piercing Shriek" discard effects).
15	Martyr Complex	Mixed: When an ally would die, you may take the killing blow instead. Once per mission. You want to save them.
16	Vengeful	Positive: +2 damage against enemies who have killed your allies. Hatred fuels you.
17	Inspiring Presence	Positive: Allies within Range 2 gain +1 Morale. Your courage is contagious.
18	Tactical Genius	Positive: Once per mission, grant an ally an extra action (1 SP). You see the battlefield clearly.
19	Indomitable Will	Positive: Immune to all Trauma Scars gained in the future. You've hit rock bottom and clawed your way up.
20	Reroll or Choose	You process trauma differently. Pick any Trauma Scar (except Indomitable Will).

Combat Scars (1d20)

War has honed you into a weapon.

Roll	Scar Name	Effect
1	Bloodlust	After killing an enemy, gain 1 Heat. The thrill of combat intoxicates you.
2	Reckless Abandon	+1 to attacks from the rear, but -1 Defense. You take risks.
3	Overcommitted	Whenever you attack, you must move at least 1 hex forward first (charging mentality).
4	Predictable	Enemies gain +1 to attack you (your fighting style is recognizable).
5	Overkill	When you deal killing blow damage, excess damage carries over as Heat to your Casket (you hit too hard).
6	Glory Hound	Must always target the strongest visible enemy. Cannot attack minions if elites/bosses present.
7	Defensive Fighter	-1 to attacks, +1 Defense. You've learned caution.
8	One-Track Mind	Choose 1 weapon type (melee, ranged, magic). +1 to attacks with that type, -1 with all others.
9	Brutal Efficiency	When you kill an enemy, next attack this turn costs -1 SP.
10	Combat Savant	Positive: +1 to hit with all attacks. You've mastered violence.
11	Quick Draw	Positive: +1 Initiative. Your reflexes are honed to a razor edge.
12	Relentless	Positive: After killing an enemy, immediately move 1 hex in any direction (free).
13	Weak Point Hunter	Positive: Critical hits deal +2 damage (instead of +1). You know where to strike.
14	Duelist	Positive: +2 to attacks when fighting a single enemy (no allies or enemies within Range 2 of either combatant).
15	Shield Breaker	Positive: Your attacks ignore +1 Defense from shields.
16	Executioner	Positive: +2 damage to enemies below 50% HP. You finish what you start.
17	Zone Control	Positive: Enemies adjacent to you cannot disengage without taking 1 damage (you punish retreats).
18	Perfect Form	Positive: Once per mission, declare "Perfect Strike" before attacking. That attack automatically hits and cannot be defended against.
19	Living Legend	Positive: All allies within Range 2 gain +1 to attacks. Your reputation precedes you.
20	Reroll or Choose	You are a prodigy. Pick any Combat Scar (except Living Legend).

Special: Faction Scars

If aligned strongly with a faction (+2 or +3 relationship), you may roll on their unique Scar table instead of standard tables:

Church of Absolution Scars (1d6)

Roll	Scar	Effect
1	Fanatic's Zeal	+1 to attacks vs Undead, Fae, and high-Taint targets.
2	Penitent's Burden	Start each mission with 1 damage (self-flagellation), but gain +1 Morale.
3	Holy Martyr	When you would die, roll 1d6. On 6, survive at 1 HP ("divine intervention"). Once per campaign.
4	Inquisitor's Eye	Automatically detect Taint levels in all visible enemies.
5	Vow of Silence	Cannot speak, but gain +1 SP. Your faith needs no words.
6	Absolution Granted	Remove 1 existing Scar permanently (Church ritual).

Verdant Covenant Scars (1d6)

Roll	Scar	Effect
1	Root-Bound	-1 Movement, but +1 Defense. You're grounded like a tree.
2	Nature's Wrath	+1 damage in Forest/Natural terrain, -1 damage in Urban/Industrial terrain.
3	Photosynthetic	While in sunlight hexes, remove 1 Heat per turn (passive).
4	Beast Speaker	Can communicate with animals. Gain 1 minor beast ally (cosmetic/minor utility).
5	Living Armor	Your Casket grows bark-like plating. +1 Defense, but requires sunlight exposure once per settlement phase.
6	Worldheart's Blessing	Reduce Taint by 2 permanently (one-time).

Forge-Guilds Scars (1d6)

Roll	Scar	Effect
1	Prosthetic Integration	Gain 1 free equipment slot (cybernetic augmentation).
2	Runecraft Inscription	One weapon gains +1 damage permanently (Dwarven runes etched).
3	Overclock Protocol	Gain +2 SP, but all Strain rolls are at +2 penalty.
4	Gyroscopic Stabilizer	Immune to "knocked prone" effects (Dwarven tech).
5	Emergency Vent System	Once per mission, remove all Heat instantly (but take 2 damage).
6	Runesmith's Gift	One piece of equipment becomes indestructible (cannot be destroyed in combat).

Using Scars in Play

Roleplay Opportunities

• Physical Scars: Describe how your character moves differently, favors one side, or struggles with tasks
• Corruption Scars: Roleplay the psychological weight of Void exposure, strange behaviors, or inhuman mannerisms
• Trauma Scars: Play out PTSD, survivor's guilt, or reckless bravery

Mechanical Integration

• Track Scars on your pilot sheet (list all 5 Scars with effects)
• When a Scar triggers, announce it: "My Shattered Leg kicks in...I can only move 2 hexes this turn."
• GMs should remind players of negative Scars when relevant ("Your Paranoia prevents you from accepting that healing.")

Retirement

When a pilot reaches 5 Scars, they may choose to retire rather than risk death:

• Retired pilots become settlement NPCs (provide passive bonuses)
• Example: Retired "Living Legend" pilot provides +1 Morale permanently
• Frees up the pilot slot for a new character

Design Notes

Balance Philosophy

• ~40% Negative Scars (pure penalties)
• ~30% Positive Scars (pure bonuses)
• ~30% Mixed Scars (cost + benefit)
• High rolls (18-20) tend to be more positive (rewarding luck)
• Traumatic events tend toward negative Scars (reinforcing harsh world)

Design Principles

Using brutal campaign mechanics's Disorders and Fighting Arts, Scars:

• Are permanent and character-defining
• Create emergent narratives ("The Shattered Leg pilot who became a Living Legend")
• Encourage retirement/permadeath cycles
• Make every character unique