Pilot skill check

[IanBruntlett]

In the CRB, edition 2016 and 2022, where the Pilot skill is explained, it does not mention which characteristic(s) are also relevant to a Pilot skill check.

Does anyone know which characteristic(s) to apply DMs to a Pilot check with?

TIA...

 

[MasterGwydion]

In the CRB, edition 2016 and 2022, where the Pilot skill is explained, it does not mention which characteristic(s) are also relevant to a Pilot skill check.

Does anyone know which characteristic(s) to apply DMs to a Pilot check with?

TIA...

I would say that something like a fighter would be DEX, while something like a capital ship would be INT. Although if you want to see how well someone flies on no sleep, I will say END. Or as a house rule, INT or DEX up to the maximum bonus of your END mod for flying while exhausted.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Agreed, it depends on the situation and the check...

I would say flying by the seat of the pants is DEX, executing a preplanned trajectory is EDU, calculating the trajectory is INT, or something like that.

The Core book gives us some hints:

Core, p157:
It may also scoop hydrogen from a gas giant, requiring a Difficult (10+) Pilot check (1D hours, DEX).

Core, p68:
Flyer
The various specialities of this skill cover different types of flying vehicles. Flyers only work in an atmosphere; vehicles that can leave the atmosphere and enter orbit generally use the Pilot skill.
...
Landing Safely: Routine (6+) Flyer check (1D minutes, DEX).
Racing Another Flyer: Opposed Flyer check (1D x 10 minutes, DEX).

Performing the same task using Pilot skill is presumably the same attribute.


High Guard has some more hints:

HG'22, p13:
A ship without a functioning gravitic drive that attempts re-entry without heat shielding will burn up. If equipped with undamaged heat shielding, re-entry is successful on an Easy (4+) Pilot (1D x 10 minutes, DEX) check, with failure resulting in burn-up (this task is often undertaken at a slower rate, making it easier).

HG'22, p57:
The use of Forced Linkage requires a task chain. First the attacking ship’s pilot must position their ship for the linkage attempt. If the target ship is crewed and powered, make an opposed Pilot check (DEX or INT) against the pilot of the target ship.

HG'22, p129:
A pilot may deliberately enter or cancel a tumble by making a Routine (6+) Pilot check (D3 space-combat rounds, DEX).

Companion:

Companion'22, p91:
Assuming the pilot makes some attempt to land in a fairly clear area, a Difficult (10+) Pilot check (DEX) is required to get the ship on the ground safely.

Companion'22, p177:
If only one of the ships wishes to keep out of dogfighting range, have the ships’ pilots do an opposed Pilot (Dexterity) check, allowing any unused Thrust to be used in this step as a +DM on a one-for-one basis.

DEX seems to be the default choice of attribute to use with Pilot checks.

 

[MasterGwydion]

DEX seems to be the default choice of attribute to use with Pilot checks.

It does, but My guess would be, not so much when using Pilot (capital ship). Big difference in being a fighter pilot versus driving the USS Nimitz or USS Iowa

 

[AnotherDilbert]

It does, but My guess would be, not so much when using Pilot (capital ship). Big difference in being a fighter pilot versus driving the USS Nimitz or USS Iowa

Sure, but spacecraft are not watercraft. A Tigress accelerates just as fast as a tiny fighter, unlike water-bound battleships.

Imagine a battleship accelerating like a PBR...

 

[Geir]

Don't ask what characteristic is used for piloting a motorized sailing ship backwards under a bridge.
(Too soon?)

 

[Limpin Legin]

Don't ask what characteristic is used for piloting a motorized sailing ship backwards under a bridge.
(Too soon?)

DEX as a bane check? Or ENDurance to keep a steady nerve while doing delicate manoeuvre.

 

[Arkathan]

Sure, but spacecraft are not watercraft. A Tigress accelerates just as fast as a tiny fighter, unlike water-bound battleships.

Imagine a battleship accelerating like a PBR...

I don't have to imagine an aircraft carrier DECELERATING that quickly... and it looked exactly like TOS tilted shaky cameras.

 

[AnotherDilbert]

I don't have to imagine an aircraft carrier DECELERATING that quickly... and it looked exactly like TOS tilted shaky cameras.

Ran aground?

A PBR is supposed to be able to stop from top speed in 10 m or so...

 

[Arkathan]

Ran aground?

A PBR is supposed to be able to stop from top speed in 10 m or so...

A parked Spanish Freighter.
The officer of the deck was too busy saluting an outgoing submarine to notice the big honking freighter.
The rip was about a football field long, so maybe I'll have to imagine a little.

Walking with one foot on the floor and the other on the bulkhead was... interesting.

 

[Condottiere]

Dexterity for pilotting.

Intelligence for ship's tactics.

 

[MasterGwydion]

DEX as a bane check? Or ENDurance to keep a steady nerve while doing delicate manoeuvre.

INT for either not knowing the height of your own ship, or EDU for not knowing the height of the bridge at that time of day. lol

 

[rinku]

Usually DEX for flight control, as others have said.

Mongoose Traveller DOES NOT use a dedicated stat for a particular skill, which is totally in line with how things were done back in the day.

Skills are a dice modifier. You may get a separate modifier from having a good or poor characteristic. What characteristic is used, is appropriate to the TASK, not the skill used for the task. And... not every task uses a characteristic modifier.

I must admit, I'd always added DEX for pilot rolls, but strictly speaking the core book only specifies DEX for some Piloting tasks, like fuel scooping.

 

[Condottiere]

Hand eye coordination.

Versus multiple choice question.

 

[Terry Mixon]

Usually DEX for flight control, as others have said.

Mongoose Traveller DOES NOT use a dedicated stat for a particular skill, which is totally in line with how things were done back in the day.

Skills are a dice modifier. You may get a separate modifier from having a good or poor characteristic. What characteristic is used, is appropriate to the TASK, not the skill used for the task. And... not every task uses a characteristic modifier.

I must admit, I'd always added DEX for pilot rolls, but strictly speaking the core book only specifies DEX for some Piloting tasks, like fuel scooping.

With robots, dex is used even when there are no limbs. A workaround is to use agility instead, but that's a house rule until the offical rules change, if they ever do. Or give them little, tiny arms like Deadpool.

 

[rinku]

Makes their I/O ports seem so huge...

 

[MonsterX]

EDU for discussing famous pilots in history. SOC for lording your piloting superiority over inferior pilots. STR for getting jammed controls unstuck.

 

[rinku]

Also STR for pulling out of a dive at 15G...

EDU may come up a fair bit, really. Fighter pilot tactics in a dogfight. Having to do the drunken Astrogator's job for them. Recognising a pilot by how they fly their ship.
Spotting that after market modification...

 

[TrippyHippy]

Also SOC if you can afford to pay for an autopilot app.

 

[To Tha Moon!]

I've been using EDU for my Jon Smithe character's Pilot checks. But it's a Scout/Courier and not a Fighter or Air/Raft.

I don't think you're looking at a steering wheel or such at TL-13. Just a lot of buttons.

But everything official I'm seeing is saying DEX.