Pilot

Pilot(ground) Pilot(Spacecraft)

Pilot(naval) Pilot(aircraft)

(Dex; Trained Only)

Check: Typical piloting tasks don’t require checks. Checks are required during combat, for special maneuvers, or in other extreme circumstances, or when the pilot wants to attempt something outside the normal parameters of the vehicle. When flying, the character can attempt simple maneuvers and stunts (actions in which the pilot attempts to do something complex very quickly or in a limited space).

As a rule of thumb, easy vehicle maneuvers – including low-speed turns and loops – do not require a check; they only require movement. Stunts – actions in which the pilot or driver attempts to do something complex very quickly or in a limited space – require Pilot checks. Using a ship’s afterburners to increase speed has a DC of 10, and using braking thrusters to slow a ship down rapidly has a DC of 15. Performing a tight loop is somewhat more challenging (DC 25), and the DC for avoiding hazards ranges from very easy (DC 0) to nearly impossible (DC 40)

Each vehicle’s description includes a maneuver modifier that applies to Pilot checks made by the operator of the vehicle.

Special: A character can take 10 when making a Pilot check, but can’t take 20.

A character with the Vehicle Expert feat gets a +2 bonus on all Pilot checks non spacecraft.

Aircraft (heavy aircraft, helicopters, jet fighters) require the corresponding Aircraft Operation feat,

or else the character takes a –4 penalty on Pilot checks.

Any Pilot check made to operate a starship has a -4 penalty unless you have the appropriate Starship Operation feat.

A character with the Spacer feat and at least 1 rank in this skill gets a +2 aptitude bonus on Pilot checks in space.

(both feats come into effect with starship hangercraft, as long as it contain a FTL system.

If the vessel does not possess FTL, only spacer applies as it is a short range fighter.

Time: A Pilot check is a move action.

The pilot of a starship can make a Pilot check to escape after being held or immobilized by another starship’s grapplers or tractor beam; see Grappling Systems for more information on grapplers and tractor beams.

Special: For modern-day (PL 5) spacecraft such as the space shuttle, the Aircraft Operation (spacecraft) is sufficient to negate the –4 penalty on Pilot checks; however, this feat cannot negate the penalty as it applies to PL 6 or higher spacecraft.