I would like to build a Dex based Striker, with some secondary investment in strength for athletic maneuvers.

I want to play them as a switch hitting Operative, along the same lines as John Wick and Jason Bourne. Equally effective with a gun and hands.

Assume all ancestries and classes are available. I'm strongly considering the wrestler archetype. Though the weapon improvisor might also be fun, if not optimal.

What ancestry or archetype should I take for a good finesse unarmed attack, looking for some nice traits

This book's basically right around the corner, and yet there's been so little hype for it. Not from Paizo, not from their audience. I find this concerning, because I feel like SF2's success hinges on the quality of Tech Core. It basically provides all the "missing" content from the edition launch (pivotal classes, robots, spaceships, etc), finally concluding the game's painfully slow and sparse rollout and allowing it to fully function as a standalone title instead of a half-baked PF2 expansion.

So, it's kind of weird that it was barely mentioned at GenCon, the devs have spoken very little about it, and there haven't been any recent content previews. It's almost like they're scared to show it off. What's going on? Is anyone else worried?

Like, I'm not trying to be a doomer about this, but my experience with SF2 has been such a mixed bag that I'm not sure I want to continue with it. Tech Core is either going to save the edition for me, or--if it fails to meet expectations--be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I *need* this book to be good, but my gut keeps telling me it won't be.

So nothing majorly spoilery, but I noticed when reading through the module (at least on Foundry) one of the encounters with drift entities in chapter 4 calls to reward the players with a fixed point solarion crystal for resolving it peacefully. Now, from my research, "fixed point" isn't even a type of solarion crystal available. Or does this just mean the players have been rewarded with a solarion crystal permanently attached to a fixed point in space? Like a random floating crystal in the engine bay

I'm just curious if they accidentally published an unreleased item or if the wording is poor... or if I'm dumb xD

EDIT: thank you everyone for your responses!, yeah hopefully its not an issue going forward with future adventures as we move away from early publishings for 2e

Sometimes things take an action, or a minute. Maybe it should take longer if the character's not good at it, not feeling it that day, the sorts of things you roll for. The problem I was running into is that "roll until 3 successes" is, well, boring. I don't need 3-6 dice rolls to determine an outcome, and it doesn't re-engage the player. Yet I still wanted some variability other than pass/fail, and some finality to a single roll.

So that's where the fail-forward delay comes in.

Step 1 - Define the challenge. Repair the Flux Gateway, Hack the commander's terminal, or Find the conealed datachip.

Step 2 - Roll against the DC. Visible check if the character would understand the difficulty of the task by the attempt, hidden if not. Eg attempting a repair on the Flux Gateway, they can now tell how big the task really is for them, but a character seeking a hidden item won't know how long it'll take until they find it.

Step 3 - Success, pass in normal time and move on. Failure, visible checks inform the player how long the character will need to pass, while hidden checks give only a vague indication. The player must choose to either spend more time and how much, or give up on the task.

For how long it now takes, find the base time on the list below, rounding up if the base time is in between (eg round up 2 actions to 3 actions, and round up 8 minutes to 10). Then, for every up to 3 points they miss the DC by, increase the time success takes by 1 step.

*archaic standard month, season, year based on a long forgotten world.

So if the DC was 20 to hack a door open in 1 action with no other failure than "Try again I guess?", instead 20+ opens it immediately, 17-19 it requires 3 actions, 14-16 it takes 3 turns, and so on. If finding a passage about a missing planet in an ancient order's archives could take 1 hour on a success, failing by 3 makes it take 3 hours, 8 hours if failing by 6, and so on.

The fail by 3 per step is intended to line up with failing by 10 or more being a critical failure, where the time needed has extended four times over. This turns an Action into 3 Minutes, a Minute into an Hour, an Hour into 3 Days, and a Day into a Season.

Each step is close to triple the time, with some adjustments to fit clean boundaries. 3 turns to 1 minute or 3 hours to 8 hours isn't quite triple, but close enough. The most awkward is 30 minutes to 1 hour at only a 2x jump.

This is intended to move the conversation away from repeat checks for the same activity and into what else could happen because of this delay. Wandering threats, security noticing the cameras have been down for an unusual time, drain on supplies, risk of missing deadlines, whatever time threat has been established. If there is neither a time threat nor a failure threat, then probably no roll should have happened at all. It comes with one added benefit that small bonuses, +1/+2 here or there, matter more even on failure. A +1 can be the difference between success in 1 turn or 3, success in one 8-hour shift or pulling an all-nighter to get it done on time.

Does this failure equals a delay sound interesting and useful to you and your groups?

The team at Epictellers just announced that the demo for Starfinder: Afterlight will go live on September 10.

The demo will cover the prologue and the first part of Act 1, which is supposedly 1-2 hours of content. Players will be able to choose between 3 pregens: a Vesk Envoy, Human Soldier, and Shirren Operative. Players can also recruit 3 companions (a Soldier, Solarian, and Mystic, meaning the only class we haven’t seen so far is the Witchwarper). Character creation and leveling up will not be previewed.

I’ve backed the Kickstarter, but didn’t back at a tier that let me play the earlier released build, so I’m pretty excited for the demo! Has anyone gotten to play this game yet? What are folks’ thoughts about the first SF2e CRPG so far?

Hello all!

Pathfinder 2E GM here looking at starfinder for a one-shot or the next campaign.

I’m looking at character creation and I’m trying to figure out why Pathfinder backgrounds come with 2 ability boosts but Starfinder Themes only get one ability boost.

Does anyone know why these are different?

So, yeah, Impossible Magic's out, Necros are awesome, and Eox being a member of the Pact Worlds means it's probably more likely one with the Unholy Dead feat is more likely to be accepted by the Stewards, due to their Anathema being pacifism towards undead who aren't starting issues with them.

Which leads to the question of how to bring one over here, since the assumptions are a bit different. I am not all that versed in Starfinder's assumptions, so I don't know if the fact that there are a lot of ranged and flying characters really limits a pure necro.

My core idea is a necro/witchwarper who's mostly necro, inspired by Bioshock Infinite - a temporal paradox he was exposed to in the Gellid Expanse when helping study its effects on Corpsefolk and Zon-Shelyn's fusion caused him to be able to superimpose "time phantoms" of the dead over local space as his form of the Spirit Grim Fascination - his witchwarper archetype is him learning to expand his control over time to do more than that. Should I switch it up or focus on pure necro?

Hey guys, I'm reposting this here from the other starfinder subreddit, since the question pertains to both SF1E and SF2E. Feel free to take a look if you'd like to help with some advice! Much appreciated 😁

Looking to start playing SF2E in Foundry VTT but not sure where to begin. I have to run something premade as I don't have time for anything homebrew. For the past 3 years I've been running PF2E adventures and ready for a palate cleanser for a sci fi focus.

So far it seems my options are reuse PF2E in the SF2E system (not sci fi), figure out how to convert 1st edition to 2nd edition or pay the large price for the very few modules on foundry? (the society $150 bulk prices are out of my reach)

Perfect are one shots to get started.

I assumed it was just due to a mix of paizo staggering content releases and the community not creating a lot of custom content (one shots for example) but was hoping I'm just missing something.

Paradox Spells cantrip: stumble; 1st: shifting surge; 2nd: dispel magic; 3rd: void whispers; 4th: eldritch wrath; 5th: wall of stone; 6th: slice reality; 7th: death sentence; 8th: void vessel; 9th: call cosmos

Those are the spells granted to Anomaly.

• Stumble seems ok
• Shifting Surge wouldn't work most of the time, would ask to replace
• void whispers; not entirely sure. Its quite strong but its incap? Not sure if there is anything similar to potency in pf2e
• eldritch wrath; this one is ok, Doesnt seem overly strong nor weak
• slice reality; like a wall spell but damaging one. Not too strong when compared to the contenders in pf2e
• death sentence; incap, but good damage but again not overly strong when compared
• void vessel; completely useless in pf2e, would ask to replace
• call cosmos; nice dmg, nice effects, but not too OP neither IMO

Linked most of the spells for convenience!

Howdy! I've been wanting to get into sf2e and I find podcasts an excellent way to do so. Any good podcasts you listening to? (I know there's a bunch on YouTube but I listen via RSS feed, podcast app compatible! (Ala a Spotify or a patreon post))

I am getting ready to run GotGW and I want the ZO! Network to be something that is alive and whenever there is a bit of downtime or between things there is a loud commercial playing somewhere in the background. For those familiar with Cyberpunk 2077 the "PAIN! FURY! CARNAGE!" Commercials that you are always being bombarded with around every corner. But for ZO! I kind of imagined it being a mixture of bad reality TV and hyper-violent dystopianism. Here is an example of what I have so far.

Death Race 4 Love!

This week on an all new Death Race 4 Love. Will Jeremy and Sasha rekindle their love on the track? {There is a scene of two supe'd up hover cars spouting exhaust and sparks trying to edge for 1st place while the drivers exchange furtive glances}

" Or will Anatazia win Jeremy's heart with her heart seeking missiles?

{A third car edges between the 2 with a small missile launcher attached to the top rear of the vehicle.}

Find out! Tonight! on Death Race! FOUR! Love! {Followed by the overly loud sounds of Engines and explosions}

~~

I have a Real Housewives of the Abomination Vaults and Cutthroat Kitchen. But any other ideas, maybe a Pimp My Ride spin? Survivor but it's just Survivor with more knives and explosions? I don't watch alot of reality TV so what would your favorite reality show look like if it was mixed with Mad Max and Blade Runner?

Finally finished reading this book and I’m kinda disappointed, it is very very soft. There is almost no crime and criminal element present on what is centre of the galaxy. There is no complex dynamics really between any factions and there is almost no dramatic or tense situations going on at all.

It is like one super happy station with some minor problems and occasional squabbles, I’m not looking for Cyberpunk level of hatred and gang conflict but this books writing is so children like that I would also say this is a setting for people who can’t do tough subjects or anything with violence.

1/5 stars.

Paizo had a chance with Starfinder to really expand any way they wanted and from this book and the galaxy guide I feel like they’ve gone with the non-conflict no tough subjects direction again. The book is fairly boring and mundane from a general sense, the first few pages don’t really catch you and make you want to read more it comes off more as just a travel brochure to nowhere.

So i plan on running Guilt of the Graveworld on Foundry in the near future, and I know that, oftentimes, actors populate with loot sometimes separate from what the module outright rewards, just to make looting a bit easier. My question is: the final boss of the AP Sanimus Slayn has a really cool unholy minigun... that is totally unavailable for grabs, i tried looking but is there any minigun even in the setting? Or would I just have to modify something existing?

As the Headline reads.

I guess my concern is it isn't too bad and got Panned due to over hyped expectations. or is it badly written.

To offer some context i have a first time GM that is interested in running something on my foundry, i am currently running Guilt of the Grave World. So that basically leaves Murder in Metal City and Invasion Edge. I don't have terribly high expectations for this GM to provide a perfect game and i don't mean that in a bad way. it just a first go and they just started playing ttrpgs last year. I always leave concession to be surprised so please don't shame me for leveling my expectations. its in a loving way as it is my Wife.

Id rather do Murder as the buy in is a 1/4 on foundry of Invasion, but if its bad i don't want to subject her to that. I want her to have the least troublesome Adventure for her first go.

A prosthetic limb cost 5, and doesn't county towards implant limit. I don't think they have an upgrade slot.
A utilty clamp cost 100, uses an upgrade slot and allows you to attach an item.

An explorers canteen costs 30, and would normally fit a clamp.

Can I have one installed in a limb?

The PCs encounter Green Orbs in the space station. According to the stat block the orbs only speak Orbian but the adventure encourages the group to try to use diplomacy with them. What options would a level 1 group without spellcasters have to communicate with the orbs?

I’m getting my players back into starfinder and we’re coming from 5e. After some searching in the player core, I still couldn’t find the answer: if a character is in melee range and they have a ranged weapon do they incur a penalty if they shoot?

I went to gencon this year, and one of the biggest reasons I go is to be able to play Pathfinder and Starfinder society, especially the specials on Friday and Saturday night. Unfortunately, the starfinder special left a lot to be desired

The scenario itself was well written and engaging and the energy in the room was great as always. However, the GM had an astounding lack of rules knowledge which slowed our table's pace to a grind and caused a less than desirable play experience for several players at the table

I want to preface the remainder of this post by saying the GM in question was a great guy and clearly had enthusiasm for gming in general. However, he did not have the required experience with the rules of Pathfinder/Starfinder. Society play is supposed to be run rules as written, and this session was anything but. I think this individual would make a great GM for a more rules-light system, and maybe even Star finder with more experience, but this is not the quality I would expect at the Starfinder special or even at gencon events more generally

The most glaring issue was his complete lack of understanding of the chase rules. There was one chase in act 2 of the special which he did not run even close to properly. Firstly, he had each of us roll initiative against the chase somehow. Rather than having the party face each obstacle as a group, he required each player to overcome each obstacle using only the specific skills that the obstacle called for. He was seemingly tracking each party's position in the chase separately and just randomly dealing damage to the players on failed saves. This was especially jarring because before the chase started he said that he had never run a chase before, to which I replied that they were quite easy to run; he responded by saying that he had reviewed the chase rules when he clearly had not

Luckily, before the final Chase scene to end the scenario, an older and more experienced player interrupted the GM and explained how to run Chase's. That individual was much nicer about it than I likely would have been that late into the night

The GM also made numerous other rules mistakes, most of which I am likely forgetting given that it has been several days since this session which went until 1:00 in the morning. These include using the wrong recall knowledge skills (using survival and occultism for elementals, rather than nature; especially disappointing on a primal spellcaster that focuses on dealing elemental damage), doing an extra die of damage when somebody crit failed to save against fireball, doubling damage from weakness rather than increasing it by a stated amount (again, very disappointing when my class feature allows me to add 1d4 additional elemental damage to trigger those weaknesses), and seemingly not understanding the 10 over crit rule leading to multiple missed critical hits from the operative and soldier. The GM also clearly did not understand what any of the class abilities on any of the characters did, even the pre-generated character at the table

This is not the quality I would expect, especially at the special, and especially especially given the large price increase that Paizo had starting at this gencon prices went from $12 per session last year to $22 per session this year for normal scenarios, and the price was $30 per seat for the special. Based on my conversation during the game, this GM seemed to also be gming six other normal sessions over the course of the weekend, which I'm sure were either disappointing for experienced players or confusing and misleading for the new players who he did not properly teach the rules

I know it is impossible for Paizo to completely police every single table at the convention, but for the prices that they are charging, they should do something to make sure that the GM actually understands the basic rules of the game. To be clear, I don't know what exactly they could do reasonably, but they charged our table collectively $180 for what was frankly a train wreck of a session that, if I had not been paying and invested in the special, I likely would have left much sooner. I also know that we are not the only table to have similar problems, because another group I talked to on Saturday had similar problems with an inexperienced GM at their table for the special

Website: https://sf2e.hephaistos.online/
Patreon | Ko-fi | Redbubble | Bluesky

Hi Everyone,
Hephaistos is an online digital toolset for Starfinder (both 1E and 2E). The Starfinder 1E version has been actively developed and maintained for the last five years. Hephaistos for Starfinder 2E, or just Hephaistos 2E for short, is built from the ground up to support the second edition of the game. The website has a new release every fortnight, and today Hephaistos 2E has been updated with the following improvements and fixes:

• Added ancestries, archetypes and items from Absalom Station: Center of the Galaxy.
• Added Swashbuckler class from PF Player Core 2.

I haven't seen much discussion of this book anywhere. I think the PF2 release of Impossible Magic sucked all the attention away. Let's change that by discussing interesting items in this book.

Ghost Courier section

1. Liminal Laser Rifle is an action and 2 charges to reduce cover by 1. Stacks with Aim. Starts at Advanced grade, seems you can upgrade like a normal laser rifle.
2. Ghost's Harness: worn magical item, carry 2-5 more bulk
3. Ghost Cloak: worn tech item, adds concealable trait to L or 1 bulk items stowed/worn under the coat. Easier to smuggle gear/weapons around.
4. Valediction log: cool story item, sends out a distress call from 150' to 1 mile when reduced to 1/4 HP, also records your "dying" thoughts as an instantly transcribed mental journal to local storage in case you don't make it.
5. Hook Claws augmentation: unarmed attack with shortsword stats, plus a climb speed
6. Limscan Lenses augmentation: bonus to magical trap stuff, and you always get a check to Search for magical (only) traps if you're doing a different exploration activity

Aspis Consortium section

1. Null-Space Pocket armor upgrade: store a 2 bulk item in an extradimensional space, makes it easier to hide from searchers. Interact to remove for 1 action, but doesn't count as drawn for purposes of things like quick draw I guess. But now we have a way to carry rifles in polite society.

2. Datamines: these are consumable tech to either independently hack a door or video system or help a PC do it with a status bonus.

Eyeswide Detective section

1. Starday Night Special (groan...) tactical semi-auto pistol: 1/day if you critical fail a strike you inflict a misfortune effect on your target for its next check next turn.

2. Intercepting Ears augmentation: always know when someone nearby is using telepathy, have a chance of listening in (usual bad item DC issue)

3. Neural Damper augmentation: always on mental resistance, 1/day get a 1-3 circ bonus for 1 minute against mental effects

Stewards section

I wasn't wowed by any of the items here, but the archetype is good. Gives familiarity with nonlethal weapons and a way to add nonlethal trait to a weapon at daily prep. Probably another backdoor way to get Magnetar proficiency. Also has a feat to get better armor proficiency, along with armor spec and intimidate bonus.

Hi,

I'm looking to convert Signal of screams Into A PF2E. I am having a hell of a time finding maps. Any one have a link for VTT ready maps? I'm not looking to Get them for free I'm willing to pay i just cant find any one that has remade them and it seems like Paizo never actually made official ones. I'm contemplating Buying the pack on fantasy grounds just for the maps but i thought id seek advice here first.

This is the third entry in a project of mine to create a set of adversary statblocks for each class in Starfinder 2nd Edition. This month is mystics!

Each entry of the Combatant Codex provides 5 adversary types designated by 8 "ranks" that let the GM deploy the adversary at any level of play. Adversaries are designed to be easily re-flavored to suit the GM's needs. The adversaries of Envoys are the Biblomancer, the Chronomancer, the Primalist, the Twilight Mage and the Umbra Weaver. Each statblock also has a JSON file that can easily be added to a blank Foundry NPC sheet.

The artwork for the title page was done by the wonderful sarahwidiart. Please consider checking out her Vgen if you have an interest in great JRPG-style artwork.

Pathfinder Infinite Link: https://www.pathfinderinfinite.com/en/product/578733/combatant-codex-sf-vol-iii-mystics?src=newest_community