Settlement Phase Procedure

Turn-by-Turn Campaign Workflow • 6 Steps • 15-30 Minutes Per Phase

Overview

The Settlement Phase is the beating heart of the Penance campaign. After each mission, pilots return to their home settlement...battered, changed, carrying scars and loot. This phase bridges combat missions with long-term progression, settlement building, and narrative development.

The Settlement Phase is the beating heart of the Penance campaign. After each mission, pilots return to their home settlement...battered, changed, carrying scars and loot. This phase bridges combat missions with long-term progression, settlement building, and narrative development.

Unlike pure skirmish games, Penance's campaign mode uses a brutal tabletop RPGs-inspired settlement system where your community grows, evolves, and faces consequences. Players manage resources, build infrastructure, tend to wounded pilots, and prepare for increasingly difficult missions. Every choice matters. Every loss lingers.

The Six Steps

Each phase typically takes 15-30 minutes depending on settlement complexity and roleplay depth.

Pilots return from the mission. Some walk. Some are carried. Some do not return at all.

1a. Resolve Casualties

For each pilot who died during the mission:

• Mark as KIA (Killed in Action): Pilot is permanently removed from roster. Cross out their name. Write date of death.
• Morale Check: All surviving pilots lose 1 Morale (settlement morale penalty).
• Death Consequence: Roll on Death Consequence Table (see below). Settlement suffers additional penalty.
• Memorial Option: Players may spend 50 Credits to hold a memorial service. If they do, regain 1 Morale for all pilots and settlement gains +1 Stability.

1d6 Roll	Death Consequence
1-2	Grief: Settlement loses 1 Population. Morale -1 for all pilots next mission.
3-4	Equipment Lost: Dead pilot's equipment is destroyed (cannot be salvaged). Settlement loses 2d6×10 Credits in value.
5-6	Inspiring Sacrifice: Dead pilot becomes a martyr. All pilots gain +1 to their next Grit Check. Settlement gains +1 Stability.

1b. Salvage Roll

Roll 1d6 + Settlement's Salvage Stat to determine what the expedition recovered from the battlefield:

Result	Salvage
1-3	1 Scrap
4-6	2 Scrap + 1d6×10 Credits
7-9	3 Scrap + 2d6×10 Credits
10+	5 Scrap + 3d6×10 Credits + roll on Minor Loot Table

1c. Loot Distribution

Distribute loot earned during the mission:

1. Mission Credits: Add to settlement treasury.
2. Equipment Cards: Add to settlement equipment pool (can be assigned to pilots in Step 4).
3. Relics/Unique Items: Add to settlement vault. Players discuss who should equip them.
4. Soulstone Shards (T1-T4): Add to settlement resource pool. Used for Soulstone refinement (restores Casket Energy but adds Taint). See Forge refinement action.

Note: Soulstone Shards are acquired from mission loot tables. See campaign-loot-tables.html for drop rates by mission type.

Settlements generate income from buildings and trade, but also pay upkeep costs for infrastructure and personnel.

2a. Building Income

Each building generates income per settlement phase:

Building	Income Per Phase
Market (Tier 1)	20 Credits
Market (Tier 2)	50 Credits
Market (Tier 3)	100 Credits
Workshop	10 Credits + 1 Scrap
Trading Post	30 Credits (varies by faction territory)
Mine	2 Scrap
Farm	1 Food (reduces upkeep by 10 Credits)

2b. Upkeep Costs

Settlements pay upkeep costs based on population and infrastructure:

• Base Upkeep: 10 Credits per Settlement Phase (lights, water, basic maintenance)
• Population Upkeep: 5 Credits per 10 population (food, housing, services)
• Pilot Upkeep: 10 Credits per active pilot (Casket maintenance, fuel, repairs)
• Building Upkeep: Some buildings have maintenance costs (e.g., Infirmary costs 5 Credits per phase)

Example: Settlement with 50 population, 4 active pilots, Infirmary, and basic buildings:

• Base: 10 Credits
• Population (50): 25 Credits
• Pilots (4): 40 Credits
• Infirmary: 5 Credits
• Total Upkeep: 80 Credits

2c. Debt & Bankruptcy

If settlement cannot pay upkeep:

1. Go Into Debt: Track negative Credits. Settlement gains +1 Instability per 50 Credits of debt.
2. Bankruptcy: If debt exceeds 200 Credits, settlement must take a Desperate Measures action:
   • Sell Building: Destroy a building, gain 50% of construction cost.
   • Conscription: Send untrained civilians on mission (NPCs with 15 HP, no special abilities). High casualty risk.
   • Dark Bargain: Make a pact with unplayable faction (gain 200 Credits, but they demand future favors...GM decides consequences).

Every settlement phase, roll 1d100 on the Settlement Event Table. Events can be beneficial, neutral, or catastrophic.

Roll	Event	Effect
1-5	Catastrophe	Settlement attacked. Lose 1 building (player's choice). All pilots must defend next mission or lose 2d6 population.
6-15	Harsh Winter	Upkeep costs doubled this phase. Roll 1d6: on 1-2, lose 1d6 population to cold.
16-25	Sickness	Disease spreads. Lose 1d6 population. One random pilot gains Minor Injury ("Plague Survivor").
26-40	Quiet Days	No event. Settlement is peaceful.
41-55	Traveling Merchant	Merchant arrives with rare goods. Can buy 1 equipment card at +20 Credits cost, OR sell Scrap at +10 Credits per unit.
56-65	New Arrivals	Refugees arrive seeking shelter. Gain 1d6 population. Roll 1d6: on 6, one refugee is a skilled pilot (create new pilot at Grit 0).
66-75	Festival	Settlement celebrates victory. All pilots gain +1 Morale. Settlement gains +1 Stability.
76-85	Discovery	Scavengers find ancient tech. Gain 2 Scrap + 1d6×10 Credits. Roll 1d6: on 5-6, also find 1 Relic.
86-92	Faction Envoy	Another faction sends an envoy. Can trade resources, forge alliances, or receive quests. GM determines details.
93-97	Breakthrough	Settlement achieves technological advancement. Reduce one building's construction cost by 50% (one-time).
98-99	Engine Pulse	Theslar Engine releases pulse of energy. All pilots within settlement must roll Willpower Save (1d6+Grit, need 4+) or gain 1 Taint. Settlement Instability +1.
100	Secret Revealed	Players discover hidden location, secret NPC, or unlock special campaign mission. GM determines details (e.g., Dr. Theslar's Engine Core entrance).

Note: The full Settlement Event Table includes 100 unique events. This is an abbreviated sample showing event types. See campaign-event-tables.html for the complete table.

Each player may perform 2 settlement actions per phase. Actions represent time spent crafting, training, building, or tending to settlement needs.

Universal Actions (Always Available)

Building-Dependent Actions

The Forge (Universal Building)

• Craft Equipment: Spend Credits + Scrap to build equipment cards. See crafting costs below.
• Repair Equipment: Restore destroyed equipment for 50% of crafting cost.
• Upgrade Equipment: Spend Credits + Scrap to improve existing equipment (+1 damage, +1 Defense, etc.). Cost: 100 Credits + 2 Scrap.
• Field Repair Kit: ⚖️ NEW Recover damaged Casket HP. Cost: 3 Scrap → Recover 5 cards from discard pile back to deck. Can only be used once per Settlement Phase. (Balance: Provides campaign sustainability without auto-healing)
• Refine Soulstone: Consume Soulstone Shards to restore Casket Energy. See table below for costs and Taint gained.
• Repair Neural Threads: Permanently repair severed neural threads. Cost: 50 Credits per thread + 1 week downtime. Requires skilled technician (DC 12 Repair check).

Soulstone Refinement Costs

Shard Tier	Energy Restored	Taint Gained	Time Required	Cost
T1 Shard	+5 Energy	+1 Taint	1 day	1 T1 Shard (consumed)
T2 Fragment	+15 Energy	+2 Taint	3 days	1 T2 Fragment (consumed)
T3 Crystal	+40 Energy	+3 Taint	1 week	1 T3 Crystal (consumed)
T4 Core Replacement	Full restore (100 Energy)	Resets Taint to 0	2 weeks	1 T4 Core + 100 Credits

Warning: Soul cannibalism (consuming Soulstone Shards) accumulates Taint. At 10 Taint, pilot becomes Corrupted. Use sparingly.

Equipment	Cost
Buckler Shield (3 cards)	30 Credits + 1 Scrap
Tower Shield (4 cards)	60 Credits + 2 Scrap
Longsword (6 cards)	50 Credits + 2 Scrap
Greatsword (8 cards)	100 Credits + 3 Scrap
Pistol (4 cards, ranged)	40 Credits + 1 Scrap
Rifle (6 cards, ranged)	80 Credits + 2 Scrap
Repair Kit (3 cards, utility)	50 Credits + 2 Scrap

The Infirmary

• Treat Injuries: Spend 30 Credits to heal 1 Minor Injury or reduce 1 Severe Injury to Minor.
• Surgery: Spend 100 Credits to attempt to heal 1 Severe Injury. Roll 1d6: 4+ success, 1-3 injury becomes permanent.

The Library

• Research: Spend 50 Credits to gain +1 to next mission's Intelligence check (scouting, trap detection, etc.).
• Study Lore: Learn about enemy factions, unlock faction-specific tactics.

The Market

• Buy Equipment: Purchase equipment cards at standard cost (no Scrap required, but +20 Credits markup).
• Sell Scrap: Sell Scrap at 20 Credits per unit (market rate).

The Chapel (Church settlements only)

• Prayer: Remove 2 Taint from one pilot. Gain 1 Morale.
• Flesh Bargain: Perform Flesh Bargain ritual (permanent, see Pilot Care step).

Pilots are not machines. They carry wounds, trauma, and Taint. This step addresses their long-term wellbeing.

5a. Injury Recovery

For each injured pilot:

• Minor Injuries: Roll 1d6. On 4+, injury heals naturally (remove from pilot sheet). On 1-3, injury persists (roll again next phase).
• Severe Injuries: Do not heal naturally. Must use Infirmary's "Treat Injuries" or "Surgery" actions (see Step 4).
• Permanent Injuries: Cannot be healed. Pilot must adapt to disability (GM and player narrate how pilot compensates).

5b. Grit Progression

Pilots gain Grit (campaign stat, 0-3) by surviving harrowing experiences:

Trigger	Grit Check
Survived mission with 5 or fewer cards remaining	Roll 1d6. On 5+, gain +1 Grit.
Witnessed ally die	Roll 1d6. On 6, gain +1 Grit (hardened by loss).
Defeated boss encounter	Automatically gain +1 Grit.
Reached 9 Taint (one away from Corruption)	Roll 1d6. On 5+, gain +1 Grit (stared into Wound and resisted).
Survived 10+ missions	Automatically gain +1 Grit (veteran).

Grit Benefits: +1 to Willpower Saves, better Wound deck outcomes, faction-specific bonuses (see faction pages).

5c. Flesh Bargains (Optional)

Pilots may undergo Flesh Bargains (permanent body modification) to enhance Casket synchronization. Each faction has developed their own horrific methods:

Church of Ash & Bone

• The Shortening: Both legs removed at the altar. Gain +1 SP per turn in Casket, but outside Casket require wheelchair/crutches. "The penitent need not walk...the Casket walks for them."

Forge-Guild (Dwarves)

• Compact Form: All limbs removed and replaced with runic grafting ports. Gain +2 SP in Casket, immune to limb Component Damage, but require full prosthetic rig outside Casket. "A smith removes imperfections. You are now perfected."

Ossuarium (Undead)

• Efficient Form: All flesh surgically removed (living skeleton). Gain +1 SP, immune to Taint, but terrifying to NPCs (Morale -2 penalty in settlements). "Death is inefficient. This is better."

Thornveil Elves

• Root-Grafting: Legs replaced with living tree roots. Gain +1 SP, regenerate 1 card per turn while standing still, but movement costs +1 SP per hex (slow outside Casket). "You will never be alone. The forest will always be with you."

Wyrd Conclave

• The Glamour Pact: Eyes replaced with mirror shards, voice surgically altered to fey resonance. Gain +1 SP, can use 1 Illusion card per mission without Heat cost, but must save vs Madness (1d6, fail on 1-2) after each mission or gain 1 Trauma Wound. "Beauty demands sacrifice. You will be beautiful forever."

Nomad Clans

• Desert Forged: Skin replaced with heat-resistant synthetic weave, lungs augmented for sandstorm breathing. Gain +1 SP, immune to environmental heat damage, +1 Initiative, but require daily coolant injections (costs 5 Credits per mission or suffer 1d6 damage). "The desert claims all. Become the desert first."

The The Exchange

• Flesh Equity: Sign contract to sell organs to the Exchange (heart, liver, lungs replaced with Soulstone-powered prosthetics). Gain +1 SP, earn 10 Credits per mission automatically, but owe the Exchange 500 Credits total (if debt unpaid at campaign end, they repossess your body). "Your body is collateral. Invest wisely."

Wyrd Conclave

• Wyrd Infusion: Soulstone shards embedded directly into spine and skull. Gain +1 SP, all Wyrd/Magic cards cost -1 Heat (minimum 1), but suffer random mutations (roll on Mutation table each mission, gain 1 cosmetic mutation that doesn't affect stats). "Magic requires a vessel. You will become the vessel."

Vestige Bloodlines

• Final Metamorphosis: Accelerate mutation to 5th generation status (full animal transformation). Gain +1 SP, start each mission with 2 Biomass, all Biomass abilities cost -1 (minimum 0), but suffer permanent physical deformity (cannot hide mutations, NPC reaction penalty -2, must save vs Feral Instinct each mission or attack nearest target for 1 turn). "You wanted to survive. This is what survival costs. You are no longer human."

Emergent Collective

• Neural Integration: Biomass tendrils grafted into brain stem, permanent hive-link implanted. Gain +1 SP, share card draws with allied Emergent pilots (draw 1 extra card, give to ally), but lose ability to act independently (if no allies present, suffer -1 to all rolls due to isolation panic). "You are never alone. You will never be alone again."

Requirement: Pilot must have Grit 2+ and consent. Once performed, cannot be reversed.

GM Note: Flesh Bargains are permanent, life-altering choices. Players should understand the mechanical and narrative weight before proceeding. These are not power-ups...they are desperate trades made by pilots who have stared into the abyss too long.

With the settlement tended, pilots prepare for the next mission.

6a. Choose Mission

GM presents 2-3 mission options. Missions vary by:

• Type: Skirmish, Objective Control, Boss Fight, Escort, Defense, Exploration
• Difficulty: Easy (50 Credits reward) → Nightmare (500+ Credits + Legendary Loot)
• Faction: Which enemy faction controls the area
• Terrain: Ruins, Forest, Tainted Wastes, Engine Core, etc.
• Consequences: What happens if players ignore this mission (e.g., settlement loses trade route, faction grows stronger)

Example Mission Choices:

Mission	Difficulty	Reward	Consequence if Ignored
Defend Trade Caravan	Medium	150 Credits + 2 Scrap	Lose Trade Post income (-30 Credits/phase)
Raid Bandit Camp	Hard	200 Credits + 3d6 Scrap + Loot Roll	Bandits attack settlement (lose 2d6 population)
Investigate Engine Anomaly	Very Hard	300 Credits + Relic + Lore Discovery	Instability +2 (Engine pulse grows stronger)

6b. Assign Pilots

Players choose which pilots will embark on the mission:

• Required Pilots: Most missions require 2-4 pilots minimum.
• Injured Pilots: Can deploy with injuries, but suffer penalties (-1 SP for Severe Injuries, -1 to all rolls for permanent injuries).
• Rookies vs Veterans: Grit 0 pilots are inexperienced but grow faster. Grit 2-3 pilots are reliable but risk permanent loss.
• Load-Outs: Assign equipment from settlement vault. Each pilot builds their deck (10 Universal + 6 Faction Core + Equipment cards + 2 Tactics = 26-50 total cards).

6c. Embark

Pilots step into their Caskets. The settlement watches them depart. They may not all return.

Settlement Phase ends. Mission Phase begins.

Example Playthrough: Church Settlement After Failed Mission

Settlement Tracking Sheets

Campaign Milestones

As campaigns progress, settlements reach milestones that unlock new mechanics and story beats:

Milestone	Requirement	Unlock
Established Settlement	50 population, 3 buildings	Unlock Trading Post construction
Veteran Squad	2+ pilots with Grit 2	Unlock Boss Fight missions
Thriving Economy	200+ Credits treasury, no debt for 3 phases	Unlock Market Tier 2 upgrade
Martyr's Rest	5+ KIA pilots memorialized	All pilots gain +1 Morale permanently (inspiration from fallen)
Engine Researchers	Library constructed, 3+ Lore Discoveries	Unlock "Engine Core Access" missions (endgame content)
Unbreakable	Survive 20 missions without settlement collapse	Settlement gains "Veteran Status" (Instability -2 permanently)

Designer's Notes: Pacing & Tone

The Settlement Phase is designed to create emotional investment in your pilots and community. Unlike pure skirmish games, Penance's campaign mode forces players to grapple with consequences: dead pilots stay dead, injuries linger, debt accumulates, and every mission choice has opportunity costs.

Pacing Guidelines:

• Early Campaign (Missions 1-5): Focus on survival and building basic infrastructure. Players should feel scrappy and desperate. Low Credits, frequent injuries, no safety net.
• Mid Campaign (Missions 6-15): Settlement stabilizes. Players have 2-3 buildings, steady income, veteran pilots. This is the "golden age" before things get harder.
• Late Campaign (Missions 16+): Escalation. Boss fights, Engine Core missions, high-risk/high-reward choices. Players should feel confident but cautious...they have a lot to lose now.
• Endgame (Mission 20+): Climax. World-changing missions. Dr. Theslar, Engine Core collapse, faction wars. Players risk everything for glory or survival.