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I'm putting together a narrative campaign for a few friends that is generally pretty rules light, but I do want to have a few rules for HQ character upgrades and advancement. I've looked around for some examples, but they all seem to favour characters who get stuck in combat over other types. I don't want the Tau player to feel like he needs to bring a Commander instead of an Ethereal just because the Ethereal wouldn't get any kills, for instance.

Anyone have any ideas for a system that could work? I'm functioning as GM and not leading a faction myself, so if the system needs some non-biased human input to function that's not a problem. Quite a few battles are planned, so something that doesn't increase half the characteristics of each character after each battle is probably wise.

So basically, between games you would want the HQ to be recognized for his skill and make advancements stats wise?

I've done something similar, and one method that worked well is give flat stat line increases to the HQ for deeds done. Say you shot an HQ/Heavy/Troop squad to death, maybe give the HQ +1 BS or the rest of the campaign. Or if the HQ managed to hold an objective at the end of the game, give him stubborn or +1 toughness. Or something like that.

Maybe create a table that they can roll on, and for each "achievement" they get an additional roll, or gain "experience points" towards a roll.

Achievements:
- Your Warlord survives the match
- Your Walord kills an enemy with a shooting attack
- Your Warlord kills an enemy in close combat
- Your Warlord scored slay the Warlord
- Your Warlord ended the game holding an objective point
- Your Warlord ended the game scoring Linebreaker
- Your Warlord scored First Blood
- Your Warlord removed at least 1 Hull Point or Wound from an enemy Super-Heavy Vehicle or Gargantuan Creature
- Your Warlord manifested a Psychic Power every turn of the game and survived the match
- Your Warlord survived an attack that would have inflicted Instant Death (Warlords with Eternal Warrior cannot score this unless hit by a D-weapon).

Not bad ideas. Of course, they benefit one kind of HQ much more than others, but perhaps it can't be avoided. I'm thinking each "achievement" could score a point, and then the different reward tables could cost certain amounts of points to roll on. Maybe even buy certain things directly.

That way they don't bloat up too fast.

Well you can always modify the Achievements to be whatever you want to promote. The ones I've listed benefit lots of different kinds of Warlords, though a VERY powerful Warlord (like perhaps a Grey Knight Librarian) may benefit more as it can achieve more of them. You can also put in things that reward risky behaviour, like surviving an Instant-Death attack, or perhaps deep striking within 2" of an enemy model.

If your players have more "utility" HQ's, like an Imperial Guard company command squad, maybe have achievements based on those specific things. Perhaps "Issue a bonus order", or "Pass 10 leadership checks for orders during a game". An Ork player might have "declare 3 charges during the game with your warlord", while a Tau player might have to achieve "Use supporting fire with your Warlord 3 times".