(Another) Question About Skills

[Evincar2001]

I just got my copy of Mercenaries yesterday, and the rules/FAQ come off as a little vague about how Skill sorting is determined. I understand the draft concept just fine, but here's what I'm not understanding:

When it implies that Skills be drafted, is each person receiving 5 Skills to choose from (i.e. pick 1, pass left) out of all 30 Skill cards that are available? Or are they choosing from 5 of the 10 Level 1 Skill cards?

Other inherent questions here are: If you choose from the Level 1 Skill cards, can you actually level up your Skills? If you can level them up, do you retain the abilities of the lower level? (Example: If you have Level 2 Medic, do you get the abilities of both Level 1 and 2 Medic?)

Obviously, if you draft from all 30, the last paragraph is irrelevant, but this is just something I need clearing up. The set is fantastic overall, but in order to feel like I'm playing the expansion correctly, I'll need to know this. Thanks!

[Khrest]

Draft using the 30 card pool. They do not level up. You could adapt an Auxiliary rule to play it that way though and some skills benefit from their level counterparts.

[Evincar2001]

I figured you had to draft from the 30, but the number figures according to the rules were just so inconsistent. Example: Running through the same 5 Skills over and over. Not sure how likely that is when you have 30.

Either way, if this is indeed the case, it's good to know we were playing it correctly.

[Tyrantvirus999]

At the beginning of the game you shuffle skills and then deal each player 5. Once each player has been dealt skills you look at them pick one from your 5 and pass to the left. Continue this until all skills have been given out. Once each player has drafted their 5 skills remove 2 of them from the game.

Also the level is only there to show difference in abilities. You could have all level 3 skills or all level 1 it doesn't matter. However level 3 skills only get the ability printed on the card not all previous level's abilities.

Hope this helps.