Pilot Skills System
Optional Campaign Rule • Pilot Progression and Specialization
"Every scar tells a story. Every skill, a lesson written in iron and fire."
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Overview
Pilot Skills represent the accumulated combat experience, natural talent, and hard-won expertise of a Casket pilot. As pilots survive missions and grow in skill, they unlock powerful abilities that can shift the tide of battle.
Optional Rule
This system adds progression depth but increases complexity and bookkeeping. Skip this system for simpler campaigns or one-shot missions. Best used for campaigns of 10+ missions where pilot development matters.
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Gaining Experience
Pilots earn Experience Points (XP) from completing missions:
| Mission Outcome | Base XP |
|---|---|
| Victory | 100 XP |
| Partial Victory (objectives incomplete) | 50 XP |
| Survival (fled or tactical withdrawal) | 25 XP |
| Defeat | 0 XP |
Bonus XP Modifiers
- +25 XP: Killed 3+ enemy Caskets
- +25 XP: No allied Caskets destroyed
- +25 XP: Completed bonus objective
- +50 XP: Boss enemy defeated
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Unlocking Skills
100 XP
Choose 1 Tier 1 skill
300 XP
Choose 1 Tier 2 skill
600 XP
Choose 1 Tier 3 skill
Maximum: Each pilot can have up to 3 skills (one from each tier).
No Respec: Once chosen, skills are permanent. Choose carefully.
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Universal Skills
Steady Hands
Passive
Your first attack each turn generates -1 Heat.
Good for: Heat-heavy weapons, sustained fire builds
Scrap Scrounger
Passive
When you use the Salvage action, gain 1 extra card (3 SCRAP → 3 cards instead of 2).
Good for: Prolonged battles, component damage recovery
Combat Awareness
Passive
+1 to all Defense Dice results (but you don't gain additional dice).
Example: Rolling [2][3][4] becomes [3][4][5]
Example: Rolling [2][3][4] becomes [3][4][5]
Good for: Defensive builds, survivability
Efficient Movement
Passive
Moving 1-2 hexes costs only 1 SP instead of 2 SP.
Good for: Mobile strikers, repositioning
Heat Sink Upgrade
Passive
Your Heat Strain threshold increases by 1 (Strain roll at 6+ Heat instead of 5+).
Good for: Energy weapon users, aggressive playstyles
Field Triage
Passive
During the Refresh Phase, if you did not take damage last turn, remove 1 SCRAP card from your deck.
Good for: Long missions, gradual recovery
Headhunter
Passive
Attacks targeting the Head component deal +2 damage.
Good for: Precision builds, quick kills
Leg Breaker
Passive
Attacks targeting the Legs component apply -1 Move to the target until end of next turn (stacks).
Good for: Mobility denial, kiting
Death Defiance
Active - Once per Mission
When reduced to 0 HP, survive with 1 card remaining instead.
Good for: High-risk aggression, desperation plays
Component Reinforcement
Passive
Choose one component at mission start: It gains +4 HP permanently (for this mission only).
Good for: Protecting critical components, adaptive defense
SP Efficiency
Passive
You start each turn with +1 SP (4 SP base instead of 3 SP).
Good for: Action economy, combo turns
Battlemaster
Passive
During the Draw Phase, draw +1 additional card (up to hand limit).
Good for: Maintaining options, deck cycling
Opportunist
Passive
Gain +1 SP immediately whenever you destroy an enemy component.
Good for: Aggressive offense, snowball potential
Terrain Expert
Passive
Ignore movement penalties from difficult terrain (rubble, water, etc.).
Good for: Maps with heavy terrain, mobility builds
Ace Pilot
Active - Once per Turn
After moving, you may make one free 1 SP attack (does not cost SP).
Good for: Hit-and-run tactics, mobile strikers
Component Savant
Passive
Choose one component at mission start: It cannot be targeted by Called Shots and has +4 HP.
Good for: Protecting vital systems, countering snipers
Soulstone Overcharge
Active - Once per Battle
Gain +3 SP this turn, but take 3 Heat immediately.
Good for: Finishing blows, burst damage turns
Final Stand
Passive
When you have only 1 component remaining with HP, gain +3 damage and +2 Move.
Good for: Death spiral acceptance, last stands
Cornered Beast
Passive
When your deck has ≤10 cards, all your attacks deal +2 damage.
Good for: Desperation builds, late-game power
Guardian Angel
Active - Once per Mission
When an allied Casket within 3 hexes would be reduced to 0 HP, they survive with 1 card instead.
Good for: Cooperative play, protecting rookies
Master Technician
Active - Once per Battle
During the Refresh Phase, remove up to 3 SCRAP cards from your deck.
Good for: Component damage recovery, deck cleanup
Killing Blow
Passive
When you destroy an enemy Casket (reduce to 0 HP), immediately draw 3 cards.
Good for: Aggressive offense, snowball chains
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Faction-Specific Skills
Each faction has unique skills that synergize with their core mechanics. These require the pilot to be playing that faction.
Church of Absolution
Crimson OfferingChurch
Tier 2 - Passive
Blood Offering costs 1 HP instead of 2 HP per use.
Enables more aggressive martyr playstyle without rapid self-destruction
MartyrdomChurch
Tier 3 - Once per Mission
Sacrifice 5 HP permanently (for the mission). All attacks this turn deal +5 damage and ignore Armor.
Ultimate burst damage at extreme cost - truly embodies Church sacrifice
Dwarven Forge-Guilds
Rune MasteryDwarves
Tier 2 - Passive
Start each battle with 1 Rune counter already placed.
Faster ramp-up for defensive and armor-piercing strategies
Fortress StanceDwarves
Tier 3 - Once per Battle
Until end of next turn: +3 to all Defense Dice, cannot move.
Ultimate defensive hold - become an immovable fortress
The Ossuarium
Soul Harvest EfficiencyOssuarium
Tier 2 - Passive
Soul Harvest recovers 1 additional card (3 cards instead of 2).
Improved resource recovery synergizes with attrition playstyle
Undying WillOssuarium
Tier 3 - Once per Mission
When reduced to 0 HP, reshuffle your discard pile into your deck and continue fighting.
Thematic resurrection - death is merely an inconvenience
Elven Verdant Covenant
Bleed ControlElves
Tier 2 - Passive
Reduce Bleed damage taken by 2 (minimum 0).
Counters mirror matches and prevents self-inflicted bleed penalties
Thornvine MasteryElves
Tier 3 - Passive
Bleed counters you inflict deal +1 damage per stack.
Dramatically scales bleed damage - infinite scaling potential
The Wyrd Conclave
Wyrd ManipulationWyrd
Tier 2 - Passive
Gain 1 Wyrd Token at the start of each battle.
Earlier access to reality-bending abilities
Reality FractureWyrd
Tier 3 - Once per Battle
Spend 3 Wyrd Tokens: Teleport up to 5 hexes and gain +2 SP this turn.
Extreme mobility and action economy burst
Nomad Collective
Improvisation ExpertNomads
Tier 2 - Passive
When you loot equipment mid-mission, it costs -1 SP to equip this mission.
Enhances adaptive scavenger playstyle
Scavenger's LuckNomads
Tier 3 - Passive
When an enemy Casket is destroyed, roll 1d6. On 5+, gain 1 random equipment card to your deck.
Rewards aggressive play with equipment gains
The Exchange
Credit EfficiencyExchange
Tier 2 - Passive
Gain 1 Credit Token at the start of each battle.
Faster access to bribery and mercenary abilities
Bribe MasterExchange
Tier 3 - Once per Mission
Spend 3 Credit Tokens: Target enemy skips their next activation.
Ultimate control ability - money buys time
Vestige Bloodlines
Biomass SurgeBloodlines
Tier 2 - Passive
Gain 1 Biomass Token whenever you destroy an enemy component.
Faster mutation access through aggressive play
Adaptive EvolutionBloodlines
Tier 3 - Once per Battle
Spend 4 Biomass Tokens: Heal one destroyed component to 4 HP.
Component resurrection - counters death spiral
Emergent Syndicate
Swarm CoordinationEmergent
Tier 2 - Passive
When you have 2+ Metamorph Tokens, gain +1 to all attack rolls.
Rewards token accumulation with consistent offense
Hive Mind LinkEmergent
Tier 3 - Passive
Allied Support Units within 3 hexes gain +1 to their behavior rolls.
Enhances support unit reliability - true hive coordination
Crucible Pacts
Forge HeartCrucible
Tier 2 - Passive
Ignore the first 2 Heat you would gain each turn.
Dramatically improves heat management for fire-based builds
Volcanic FuryCrucible
Tier 3 - Once per Battle
Gain +4 Heat immediately. All attacks this turn deal damage equal to your current Heat.
Ultimate burst damage scaling with heat - risk equals reward
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Iconic Pilots and Their Skills
The legendary pilots of Year 437 have mastered the art of warfare. Here are their skill loadouts, representing decades of brutal experience:
| Pilot Name | Faction | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Sister Vex - "The Hollow Penitent" | Church of Absolution | Death Defiance, Crimson Offering, Martyrdom |
| Inquisitor Grayle - "The Absolver" | Church of Absolution | Headhunter, Heat Sink Upgrade, Martyrdom |
| Forgemaster Durr - "The Calculator" | Dwarven Forge-Guilds | Battlemaster, Rune Mastery, Component Savant |
| Ironwright Karsa - "Rust-Eater" | Dwarven Forge-Guilds | Scrap Scrounger, Component Reinforcement, Master Technician |
| Bonelord Karath - "The Debt Collector" | The Ossuarium | Soul Harvest Efficiency, Undying Will, Master Technician |
| Mortis the Silencer - "The Quiet Reaper" | The Ossuarium | Efficient Movement, Death Defiance, Soul Harvest Efficiency |
| Rootwarden Kess - "The Pruner" | Elven Verdant Covenant | Terrain Expert, Efficient Movement, Component Savant |
| Thornwalker Sylris - "Blood-Bloom" | Elven Verdant Covenant | Bleed Control, Thornvine Mastery, Cornered Beast |
| Mockingbird - "The Many-Masked" | The Wyrd Conclave | Wyrd Manipulation, Reality Fracture, Battlemaster |
| The Veil-Walker - "Sorrow's Echo" | The Wyrd Conclave | Wyrd Manipulation, Efficient Movement, Combat Awareness |
| "Three-Card" Morrow - "The Drifter King" | Nomad Collective | Efficient Movement, Death Defiance, Scavenger's Luck |
| Wraith-Caller Yenna - "The Dust Prophet" | Nomad Collective | Battlemaster, Opportunist, Improvisation Expert |
| Proctor Ilyara Voss - "The Actuary of Ash" | The Exchange | Credit Efficiency, Bribe Master, SP Efficiency |
| Broker Tannis - "The Coin-Counter" | The Exchange | Credit Efficiency, Combat Awareness, Scavenger's Luck |
| "Woundwright" Tallis - "The Stitcher" | Vestige Bloodlines | Biomass Surge, Adaptive Evolution, Component Reinforcement |
| Apex-Strain Vor - "The Devourer" | Vestige Bloodlines | Biomass Surge, Killing Blow, Cornered Beast |
| Hive-Node Zephyr - "The Chrysalis" | Emergent Syndicate | Swarm Coordination, Efficient Movement, SP Efficiency |
| Swarm-Singer Krix - "The Thousand Voice" | Emergent Syndicate | Swarm Coordination, Hive Mind Link, Opportunist |
| Ember-Boss Skragg - "Ash-Tongue" | Crucible Packs | Forge Heart, Volcanic Fury, Soulstone Overcharge |
| Boom-Shaman Grikka - "Cinder-Eyes" | Crucible Packs | Forge Heart, Hive Mind Link, Heat Sink Upgrade |
These skill combinations reflect each pilot's unique combat philosophy, scars, and decades of experience. Use them as boss enemies with enhanced capabilities, or as inspiration for player pilot builds.
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Settlement Phase Training
During the Settlement Phase, you may spend resources to train pilots:
Training Action
Cost: 50 Credits per session
Effect: Choose one pilot. They gain +50 XP.
Trade-Off: You can only perform one Settlement action per phase. Training means you cannot Repair, Recruit, or Trade this phase.
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Flesh Bargain Integration
The Flesh Bargain can grant skills as alternative rewards:
Example Bargain: "The Veteran's Edge"
Cost: -4 Max HP (permanent)
Reward: Gain one Tier 2 skill immediately (ignore XP requirement)
GM Note: Use Flesh Bargain skill rewards sparingly. They should feel powerful but costly.
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Pilot Death and Skill Loss
When a pilot dies permanently (Casket destroyed, failed death save, etc.):
- All skills are lost
- No XP carries over to new recruits
- Veteran pilot death should be meaningful and painful
Optional Rule: Mentorship
If a veteran pilot (2+ skills) dies, their highest-tier skill can be passed to one other pilot in the roster as a "legacy."
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GM Guidelines
Balancing Skilled Pilots
When players have skilled pilots, adjust difficulty:
- Increase enemy numbers by 10-20%
- Give enemies 1-2 skills of their own
- Add environmental hazards
- Use more boss-tier enemies
When to Use This System
✓ Use When:
- Campaigns run 10+ missions
- Players want RPG progression
- Permadeath is accepted
- Faction mechanics are mastered
✗ Skip When:
- Campaigns are 1-5 missions
- Players prefer tactical purity
- Minimizing bookkeeping
- Learning core rules
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Designer's Notes
Pilot Skills add progression depth to campaigns, making veteran pilots feel distinct and powerful. However, they also create snowball risk (veterans get stronger while rookies stay weak) and loss aversion (players fear permadeath more).
Pilot skills work best when integrated with Flesh Bargain (HP-for-power trades) and Settlement Phase Training (resource management). They should feel earned through blood, not handed out freely.
"A pilot is forged in fire, tempered in loss, and sharpened by survival. Skills are not learned—they are carved into your soul."