Specialization
A specialization or skill is an attribute assigned to Kerbals that indicates what abilities they can provide. Kerbals, with the exception of those with the Tourist specialization, can level up by earning experience, which may give them additional abilities specific to their skill.
Contents
List of specializations
- Pilots can provide SAS stabilization while aboard a vessel, with more direction selectors available at higher experience levels. One or two pilots are needed to use the probe control point feature. They can also use maneuver nodes without a connection to Kerbin. Here are the available direction selectors depending on the pilot's level :
| Level | Effects provided | G Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| ☆☆☆☆☆ | SAS and Stability | 1.15x |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Lock towards prograde and retrograde | 1.3x |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Lock towards normal and anti-normal, radial and anti-radial | 1.45x |
| ★★★☆☆ | Lock towards target, away from target, and towards maneuver | 1.6x |
| ★★★★☆ | None | 1.85x |
| ★★★★★ | None | 2x |
Since 1.11.1, players not having the Making History DLC have all kerbals and all probe cores capable of locking on full SAS nodes independently of gamemode, kerbal experience setting,... 1.12.2 fixed this by putting back the original behavior (see below).
- Engineers can have the ability to repack parachutes and repair parts using repair kits. They also greatly boost the production rate of Resource Harvesters and Converters. Since 1.11, all engineers are able to access an EVA construction mode allowing them to place parts stored in storage containers or move existing parts in EVA. Here are their capabilities depending on the engineer's level :
| Level | Effects provided | Harvesting/Conversion Multiplier | G Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☆☆☆☆☆ | EVA Construction Mode | 25% | 1x |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Repack parachutes / Repair parts (>= 1.11) | 45% | 1.1x |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Repair lander legs (<= 1.10.1) | 65% | 1.2x |
| ★★★☆☆ | Repair wheels (<= 1.10.1) | 85% | 1.3x |
| ★★★★☆ | None | 105% | 1.4x |
| ★★★★★ | None | 125% | 1.5x |
- Scientists can restore inoperable Science Modules, like the Mystery Goo™ Containment Unit, while on EVA, and process data into Science in the Mobile Processing Lab MPL-LG-2. The scientist's level only affects the efficiency of the science lab.
| Level | Effects provided | G Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| ☆☆☆☆☆ | Restore and activate experiments while on EVA | 1x |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Research at 5x speed in lab | 1.05x |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Research at 9x speed in lab | 1.1x |
| ★★★☆☆ | Research at 13x speed in lab | 1.15x |
| ★★★★☆ | Research at 17x speed in lab | 1.2x |
| ★★★★★ | Research at 21x speed in lab | 1.25x |
- Tourists have no special skills and cannot EVA. They are only made available via tourism contracts, which require transporting them to specified parts of the Kerbol system in exchange for Funds.
No experience specialization override
When playing with no Kerbal experience in the difficulty settings, some specializations are given to everyone and don't need a specialized kerbal[1] :
Pre 1.11.1
| Use case | With experience | Without experience |
|---|---|---|
| SAS and direction selectors | Pilot (selectors are level-dependent) | Everyone has SAS and all selectors |
| Maneuver nodes | Pilot, Kerbin connection or probe control point | Pilot, Kerbin connection or probe control point |
| EVA Construction Mode | ☆☆☆☆☆Engineer | Engineer (any) |
| Parachute repack | ★☆☆☆☆Engineer | Everyone |
| General part repair (>= 1.11) | ★☆☆☆☆Engineer | Everyone |
| Lander leg repair (<= 1.10.1) | ★★☆☆☆Engineer | Everyone |
| Wheel repair (<= 1.10.1) | ★★★☆☆Engineer | Everyone |
| EVA science measure | Scientist | Scientist |
| Science restore | Scientist | Scientist |
| Mining | Engineer (efficiency is level-dependent) | Engineer (always ★★★★★) |
The BetterSpecialization mod exists to fix this trait override.
Since 1.11.1
Repair and parachute repack are still depending on the kerbal XP setting as above, but the SAS ability becomes broken.
| Use case | With Making History, career mode, kerbal experience setting On | Else |
|---|---|---|
| SAS and direction selectors | Pilot (selectors are level-dependent) or probe core level | Everyone/Everything has SAS and all selectors |
Since 1.12.2
The previous SAS bug is fixed and the behavior is back to Pre-1.11.1
| Use case | With experience | Without experience |
|---|---|---|
| SAS and direction selectors | Pilot (selectors are level-dependent) | Everyone has SAS and all selectors |
Changes
- The previous SAS bug is fixed.
- Due to a bug, players not having the Making History DLC experience all kerbals and probes having full SAS ability.
- Engineers can now repair parts in EVA (solar panels, antennae, wheels,...) using repair kits.
- Tourist Kerbals implemented
- Initial release
