Question about Pilot Salary and Experience Chart

[SwampRat]

Hello, folks, I'm a new player learning the rules. I've read the rulebook and the Victory Track documents, but still have some questions.

In particular, I am confused by the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart (page 21 of the rulebook). The leftmost column of that chart has the heading "Total Skill Improvements". That term does not appear anywhere else in the rulebook, nor does it appear in any issue of Victory Track. Is this equivalent to the pilot's XP? Or is it equal to the total increases in their skills that they have purchased using XP? Or is it something else that I'm missing?

This is especially relevant when creating a new pilot. Using the example published in Victory Track 2, the CO of the example squadron starts with 6 XP, the XO with 4 XP, and the other two pilots 3 XP each. OK so far. But when you cross-reference those values with the pilot salary and experience chart, you get conflicting information.

Victory Track 2 says the example XO is a Colonel, with a combat rating of 'Regular.' If you look up 6 in the left column of the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart, I see that 10 to 6 has combat rating Regular, but is only a Captain. Also in Victory Track 2, the example XO has 4 starting XP, is listed as a Lt. Col., and has combat rating 'Regular'. But, when referencing the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart, 5 or less XP is only a Green Lieutenant. Why are their ranks (and the XO's Combat Rating) higher than the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart indicates?

If I assume that "Total Skill Improvements" is the number of skill increases the pilots purchased using their XP, it still doesn't work. In VT Issue 2, the example CO increased his Initiative by 1 (cost: 1XP), Maneuver by 1 (cost: 1 XP), Cannons by 1 (cost: 1XP), and AtA Head by 2 (cost: 3 XP), for a total of 5 total skill point increases at a cost of 6 XP. If this is his 'total skill improvements', the CO is at 5, which should make him a Green Lieutenant on the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart. What am I doing wrong?

Also, on page 9 of Victory Track 2, the two Lieutenant Pilots are listed as having 4 XP. I'll assume that's a typo, because I thought "rank-and-file" pilots started with 3 XP.

Thanks for the help!

[mwaschak]

Hi George!

Thanks for the message.

In particular, I am confused by the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart (page 21 of the rulebook). The leftmost column of that chart has the heading "Total Skill Improvements". That term does not appear anywhere else in the rulebook, nor does it appear in any issue of Victory Track. Is this equivalent to the pilot's XP? Or is it equal to the total increases in their skills that they have purchased using XP? Or is it something else that I'm missing?

Yes, this is the pilots XP. Sorry for the confusion there.

In this case stick with the rulebook. The Victory Track is likely using the wrong terminology for the officers. The Pilot Salary and Experience Chart is the template we would be using for the Victory Track PDF.

If this is his 'total skill improvements', the CO is at 5, which should make him a Green Lieutenant on the Pilot Salary and Experience Chart. What am I doing wrong?

Right, I believe the CO had 6 XP at the start of the mission, which makes him a Regular. However, he is the Squadron CO. These were records of actual session reports Charlie and I played out so I am sure the VT would be in error as it captures our gameplay banter. I will review the old notes though.

Also, on page 9 of Victory Track 2, the two Lieutenant Pilots are listed as having 4 XP. I'll assume that's a typo, because I thought "rank-and-file" pilots started with 3 XP.

It is. I will review the game notes but new pilot are 3 XP, not 4.

Thanks for the help!

No problem! Let me know if I can help further.

-Jay

[SwampRat]

Thanks for clearing that up!

[mwaschak]

Thanks for clearing that up!

My pleasure!

If you are ever looking for a PBEM, please let me know . I would like to get a game going with some rival squadrons.

-Jay