Settlement Phase Procedure
Turn-by-Turn Campaign Workflow * 6 Steps * 15-30 Minutes Per Phase
"Between battles, we heal. We build. We prepare for the next war. This is where your settlement truly comes alive."
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Overview
The Settlement Phase is the beating heart of the Penance campaign. After each mission, pilots return home battered and changed. This phase is where your community grows, evolves, and faces consequences. Unlike pure skirmish games, your settlement matters. Buildings generate income. NPCs die or arrive. Resources flow. Instability spreads. Every choice echoes.
RETURN
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INCOME
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EVENT
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ACTIONS
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PILOT CARE
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MISSION SELECT
Complete 6-Step Quick Reference
All steps at a glance. Detailed procedures in dropdown below.
| Step | Phase | Key Actions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RETURN | Resolve casualties, morale checks, salvage roll, distribute loot | 5-10 min |
| 2 | INCOME | Building income, pay upkeep costs, manage debt | 2-5 min |
| 3 | EVENT ROLL | Roll 1d100 on Settlement Event Table, resolve consequences | 2-5 min |
| 4 | SETTLEMENT ACTIONS | Each player gets 2 actions: Rest, Train, Scavenge, Socialize, or Building Actions | 5-15 min |
| 5 | PILOT CARE | Injury recovery, Grit progression, optional Flesh Bargains | 5-10 min |
| 6 | MISSION SELECT | Choose mission, assign pilots, build decks, embark | 5-10 min |
Total Phase Duration: 15-30 minutes depending on player count and complexity
Step 2 - INCOME
Building Income + Upkeep Costs + Debt Management
Buildings generate income per phase: Market (20-100 Credits depending on tier), Workshop (10 Credits + 1 Scrap), Trading Post (30 Credits), Mine (2 Scrap), Farm (1 Food, reduces upkeep 10 Credits).
UPKEEP: Base 10 Credits + Population (5 per 10 people) + Pilots (10 each) + Building Maintenance (some buildings cost 5+ Credits).
If cannot pay upkeep: Go into debt (gain Instability +1 per 50 Credits owed). If debt exceeds 200 Credits, must take Desperate Measures (sell building, conscript civilians, or make dark bargain with unplayable faction).
If cannot pay upkeep: Go into debt (gain Instability +1 per 50 Credits owed). If debt exceeds 200 Credits, must take Desperate Measures (sell building, conscript civilians, or make dark bargain with unplayable faction).
Step 3 - EVENT ROLL
Roll 1d100 on Settlement Event Table
Results range from Catastrophe (1-5, settlement attacked) to Quiet Days (26-40, peaceful) to Discovery (76-85, find ancient tech) to Secret Revealed (100, unlock special mission).
Notable events: Harsh Winter (double upkeep), Sickness (lose 1d6 population), Traveling Merchant (can trade), New Arrivals (gain 1d6 population, chance of new pilot), Festival (all pilots +1 Morale), Engine Pulse (all pilots roll Willpower or gain 1 Taint).
Step 6 - MISSION SELECT
Choose 2-3 mission options, assign pilots, embark
GM presents missions varying by type (Skirmish, Objective, Boss, Escort, Defense, Exploration), difficulty (Easy 50 Credits to Nightmare 500+), faction (which enemies), terrain, and consequences.
Players choose which pilots embark. Injured pilots can deploy (suffer penalties). Assign equipment from settlement vault. Each pilot builds deck (10 Universal + 6 Faction Core + Equipment + 2 Tactics = 26-50 total).
Settlement Phase ends. Mission Phase begins. Pilots step into Caskets. They may not all return.
Settlement Phase ends. Mission Phase begins. Pilots step into Caskets. They may not all return.
Detailed Action Reference
Step 4 Building Actions Available
FORGE: Craft Equipment (Longsword 50 Credits + 2 Scrap, Greatsword 100 + 3 Scrap, etc.), Repair (50% of craft cost), Upgrade (+1 damage/defense for 100 Credits + 2 Scrap), Refine Soulstone (T1 Shard restores 5 Energy + 1 Taint, T4 Core fully restores + removes all Taint for 100 Credits).
INFIRMARY: Treat Injuries (30 Credits heal Minor or reduce Severe to Minor), Surgery (100 Credits attempt to heal Severe, roll 1d6: 4+ success else permanent).
LIBRARY: Research (50 Credits +1 to next mission Intelligence check), Study Lore (learn faction tactics).
MARKET: Buy Equipment (standard cost + 20 Credits markup), Sell Scrap (20 Credits per unit).
CHAPEL (Church only): Prayer (remove 2 Taint +1 Morale), Flesh Bargain ritual (permanent modification).
LIBRARY: Research (50 Credits +1 to next mission Intelligence check), Study Lore (learn faction tactics).
MARKET: Buy Equipment (standard cost + 20 Credits markup), Sell Scrap (20 Credits per unit).
CHAPEL (Church only): Prayer (remove 2 Taint +1 Morale), Flesh Bargain ritual (permanent modification).
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Key Mechanics
Flesh Bargains - Permanent Body Modifications
| Faction | Name | Benefit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church | The Shortening | +1 SP per turn in Casket | Both legs removed, require wheelchair outside Casket |
| Dwarves | Compact Form | +2 SP, immune to limb damage | All limbs removed, replaced with runic grafting ports, require full prosthetic rig outside |
| Ossuarium | Efficient Form | +1 SP, immune to Taint | All flesh surgically removed (living skeleton), Morale -2 penalty in settlements |
| Elves | Root-Grafting | +1 SP, regenerate 1 card per turn standing still | Legs replaced with tree roots, movement costs +1 SP per hex outside |
| Fae | The Glamour Pact | +1 SP, 1 Illusion card per mission free | Eyes replaced with mirror shards, voice surgically altered, terrifying to mortals |
| Nomads | Desert Forged | +1 SP, immune to environmental heat, +1 Initiative | Skin replaced with synthetic weave, lungs augmented |
| Exchange | Flesh Equity | +1 SP, earn 10 Credits per mission | Heart/liver/lungs replaced with Soulstone prosthetics, permanent debt contract |
| Emergent | Neural Integration | +1 SP, share card draws with allied Emergent pilots | Biomass tendrils grafted into brain stem, permanent hive-link |
Requirement: Pilot must have Grit 2+ and consent. Once performed, cannot be reversed. These are permanent, life-altering choices.
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