Propulsion
Source GM Core pg. 235
Vehicles typically travel over land, on water, or through the air, and their Speeds indicate their terrain and movement types. But vehicles also have a form of propulsion—the way in which their movement is powered—and this propulsion often has additional considerations.
There are five main types of propulsion: magical, motorized, pulled, {rules 1205 "rowed"}}, and wind. A vehicle can have more than one means of propulsion, though it usually uses only one type of propulsion at a time. The vehicle's means of propulsion informs the skills a pilot can use for piloting checks, and some means of propulsion have additional rules.
There are five main types of propulsion: magical, motorized, pulled, {rules 1205 "rowed"}}, and wind. A vehicle can have more than one means of propulsion, though it usually uses only one type of propulsion at a time. The vehicle's means of propulsion informs the skills a pilot can use for piloting checks, and some means of propulsion have additional rules.
Magical
Source GM Core pg. 235
Magically propelled vehicles are powered by spells, magic items, or an entirely magical engine. A magical propulsion system can be targeted with counteracting effects like dispel magic, using half the vehicle's level rounded up for its counteract rank and a standard DC for the vehicle's level for the counteract check. A creature can use Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion (depending on the type of magic), or Piloting for a magical vehicle's piloting checks.
Motorized
Source GM Core pg. 235
Motorized vehicles are the most common but are vulnerable to effects that target tech items and can gain the glitching condition. Modern motorized vehicles don't require an expendable resource to operate, although particularly archaic models might run on batteries, petrol, or other chemicals, draining a charge of petrol per hour. Motorized vehicles are piloted using the Piloting skill.
Pulled
Source GM Core pg. 235
These vehicles are wheeled conveyances pulled by one or more creatures. The Speed of the vehicle can never exceed that of the slowest creature pulling the vehicle. The creatures pulling the vehicle don't act on their own; they instead act as part of the vehicle's actions, and their movement as part of those actions triggers reactions just as it does for the vehicle itself and its pilot.
When a pulled vehicle takes collision damage, so do the creatures pulling that vehicle (though they can typically attempt the basic Reflex saving throw to mitigate that damage). The death of one or more pulling creatures might damage or slow the vehicle, and it might cause the pilot to lose control.
For a vehicle pulled by an animal or similarly unintelligent creature, a pilot can use Nature for piloting checks; for sapient pulling creatures, the pilot can instead use Diplomacy or Intimidation for piloting checks. Piloting can usually be substituted for these skills.
When a pulled vehicle takes collision damage, so do the creatures pulling that vehicle (though they can typically attempt the basic Reflex saving throw to mitigate that damage). The death of one or more pulling creatures might damage or slow the vehicle, and it might cause the pilot to lose control.
For a vehicle pulled by an animal or similarly unintelligent creature, a pilot can use Nature for piloting checks; for sapient pulling creatures, the pilot can instead use Diplomacy or Intimidation for piloting checks. Piloting can usually be substituted for these skills.
Rowed
Source GM Core pg. 235
These vehicles are propelled by the power of creatures rowing the vehicle from within. The creatures rowing the vehicle act only as part of the vehicle's actions, and their movement as part of those actions triggers reactions just as it does for the vehicle itself and its pilot (though rowers often have some degree of cover).
When a rowed vehicle takes collision damage, so do the creatures rowing that vehicle (though they can typically attempt the basic Reflex saving throw to mitigate that damage). The death of one or more creatures might cause the vehicle to go out of control or slow the vehicle but usually doesn't damage the vehicle.
A pilot on a vehicle rowed by other people can use Diplomacy or Intimidation for piloting checks.
When a rowed vehicle takes collision damage, so do the creatures rowing that vehicle (though they can typically attempt the basic Reflex saving throw to mitigate that damage). The death of one or more creatures might cause the vehicle to go out of control or slow the vehicle but usually doesn't damage the vehicle.
A pilot on a vehicle rowed by other people can use Diplomacy or Intimidation for piloting checks.
Wind
Source GM Core pg. 235