Shoot For the Stars—Final Starfinder Core Rulebook Cover Revealed!

Friday, March 24, 2017

One year. It's hard to believe that only a year has passed since we first started working on Starfinder. So much has happened in that time. We've built a setting. Designed a whole new game. Charted out an Adventure Path. Somehow managed to squish 800+ pages of content down into a 528-page Core Rulebook. Successfully avoided throwing each other out of windows over design disputes. You know, all the challenges associated with a new game.

And now we're here. Today, the Starfinder Core Rulebook ships to the printer. It's been a monumental undertaking, and I'm incredibly proud of and thankful for everyone who worked on it, from all of the Starfinder design and development team to Managing Editor Judy Bauer and her editorial strike force and our Creative Design Director Sarah Robinson, who's been responsible for overseeing or creating literally every visual element in the entire book. It's been a massive undertaking, and we couldn't have done it without everyone here.

Cover Illustration by Remko Troost

In celebration, here's a first look at the final Starfinder Core Rulebook cover! After all this time, it's both exciting and terrifying to step back and know that, from this moment forward, the Core Rulebook is out of our hands. Will it make it to orbit? Will it survive reentry? We've done our best, and all we can do now is watch.

We are go for launch!

James L. Sutter
Creative Director

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Tags: Remko Troost Starfinder
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4 people marked this as a favorite.

If y'all wanna email it to me, I can start printing as well. Save you some time. ;)

Liberty's Edge

We already have some interest here in Northwest Indiana in Starfinder organized play. I think that this book will do very well.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Why wield a lightsaber axe or a flamethrower when you can wield a longsword? Many kudos to the lady on the left for keeping it classy.

This cover has a very "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel to it, which I imagine is how most Starfinder adventuring groups are going to resemble in their eclectic party makeup. I approve.

Scarab Sages Developer, Starfinder Team

12 people marked this as a favorite.

Seriously, many thanks to everyone who has worked so hard on this.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

Awesome.

Community & Digital Content Director

21 people marked this as a favorite.

Okay, let me gush for a sec:

This book is beautiful. It is so danged pretty. It looks fantastic. Like, guys. GUYS.

The people I work with in this building do magic.

Shadow Lodge

William Ronald wrote:

We already have some interest here in Northwest Indiana in Starfinder organized play. I think that this book will do very well.

Southern IN already has a facebook group for SFS that's filling up daily too! :)

Silver Crusade

SWEET!


Any chance of a poster print of the cover art being available?

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Already rallying support south of Seattle.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Ravingdork wrote:

Why wield a lightsaber axe or a flamethrower when you can wield a longsword? Many kudos to the lady on the left for keeping it classy.

This cover has a very "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel to it, which I imagine is how most Starfinder adventuring groups are going to resemble in their eclectic party makeup. I approve.

Huh, neat. Looks like it'll be more fantasy than I previously expected. Not a bad thing.

Liberty's Edge

In a way it reminds me of Hell on Earth which was futuristic Deadlands and which I enjoyed immensely.

Really looking forward to this :-)

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
CanisDirus wrote:
William Ronald wrote:

We already have some interest here in Northwest Indiana in Starfinder organized play. I think that this book will do very well.

Southern IN already has a facebook group for SFS that's filling up daily too! :)

Well I can't speak for the rest of Northeast Indiana but my area is also preping for Starfinder.

Silver Crusade

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

*Sorry Kanye, but not sorry*

For my theme song
My laser space jeans on
My by any means on
Pardon, I'm getting my scream on
Enter the spacedom
But watch who you bring home
They see a blue man with a raccoon woman
At the top floor they gone come to kill Sky Titan
Middle Bretheda packed in
Came to see me in my blue skin
Number one question they asking
Laser every question you asking!
If I don't get ran out by Triaxans
Here come some conservative Hellknights
Claiming I'm overreacting
Like them lich kids in Eox beach


My group can't wait to take our adventures to the stars!


Love the cover guys. Can't wait to see what comes after it though.


James Sutter wrote:
Successfully avoided throwing each other out of windows over design disputes.

Dispute resolution via defenestration is always a risk with creative collaboration.

I'm assuming you fine folks at Paizo resolved these things far more maturely...

...via drinking contests (er "flip mat research forays" for the IRS folks who may be wondering about those write-offs).

Scarab Sages

Amazing cover!! I am getting more and more excited to premier Starfinder and Starfinder Society in our area!! If the cover is any indication of what is inside, awesomeness abounds!!


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Wow, that cover looks awesome.

Gorbacz wrote:

*Sorry Kanye, but not sorry*

For my theme song
My laser space jeans on
My by any means on
Pardon, I'm getting my scream on
Enter the spacedom
But watch who you bring home
They see a blue man with a raccoon woman
At the top floor they gone come to kill Sky Titan
Middle Bretheda packed in
Came to see me in my blue skin
Number one question they asking
Laser every question you asking!
If I don't get ran out by Triaxans
Here come some conservative Hellknights
Claiming I'm overreacting
Like them lich kids in Eox beach

I have far simpler tastes... ♫♪ SPACE PANTS! ♫♪


2 people marked this as a favorite.

oooooos at the rocket sword

Dark Archive

My group is eagerly anticipating the free RPG day teaser! August can't come soon enough.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

I hope everyone has a towel.

DON'T PANIC!


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Assimilation is imminent.

Resistance is futile.


Not bad.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Wow. Somehow, a reptile and a rodent in the same party just seems to smack of party conflict. Hopefully, some of that space tech evens out the playing field for the rodent-like ysoki. Space PVP!


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Awesome cover!!!

A larger version of the art can be found here.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

If I didn't already have it on preorder... Aces. Simply aces.

Liberty's Edge

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

You have me convinced: Ratfolk are awesome.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I. Can't. WAIT!!!


Great looking cover. That is not WAR art?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I don't think I've seen any Wayne Reynolds are showcased for Starfinder. Of course I would love to, Wayne's "preponderance of equipment" aesthetic her sometimes applies to Iconics (and others) I really like, and have posted on this forum about wanting to see more technological/sci/fi WAR work.


WAR is one of my favorites


Lookin' pretty sweet Owen!


Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Great looking cover. That is not WAR art?

I believe it's by Remko Troost.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

A long time ago (1977), in a galaxy far far away on the other side of the pond someone decided that all SciFi covers should look like that.
Why?

Paizo Employee

So damn good.

Scarab Sages Developer, Starfinder Team

5 people marked this as a favorite.
TimD wrote:
James Sutter wrote:
Successfully avoided throwing each other out of windows over design disputes.

Dispute resolution via defenestration is always a risk with creative collaboration.

I'm assuming you fine folks at Paizo resolved these things far more maturely...

Well after I successfully ended one disagreement with rock-paper-scissors, we decided it was no longer a good idea to settle things with rock-paper-scissors...

Scarab Sages Developer, Starfinder Team

4 people marked this as a favorite.
DoomedPaladin01 wrote:
Lookin' pretty sweet Owen!

Thanks!

I cannot overstate how much this was a team effort, and how little I had to do with the cover or the rest of the visuals. The book is GORGEOUS, and the vast majority of the credit for that goes to Creative Design Director Sarah Robinson, the artists and art staff, and Starfinder Brand Manager James Sutter. Everyone involved gave feedback as appropriate, but the art staff and brand folks get tons and tons more credit than me for how great this looks.

I just spent three days looking over it. It's a stunning book.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Wzrd wrote:

Awesome cover!!!

A larger version of the art can be found here.

Looking at the original art (larger size without logos) you can see the spaceship combat better.

It seems to be a clash between the Pact World Alliance and their allies, Veskarium, against the Shirren.

Impressive art, impressive cover, and I'm sure it's going to be an impressive book as well.

Well done everyone!


The art on these make me want to play it so much more then I already did.


I want that Vesk's weapon


The way I see it, judging but what we see here
The iconics will be:
Human envoy
Vesk soldier
Ysoki mechanic
Android operative
Kasatha technomancer
Lashunta mystic
And the yet known race as a solarion

Liberty's Edge

Steven "Troll" O'Neal wrote:
Ravingdork wrote:

Why wield a lightsaber axe or a flamethrower when you can wield a longsword? Many kudos to the lady on the left for keeping it classy.

This cover has a very "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel to it, which I imagine is how most Starfinder adventuring groups are going to resemble in their eclectic party makeup. I approve.

Huh, neat. Looks like it'll be more fantasy than I previously expected. Not a bad thing.

I actually feel the opposite. I mean, I love the cover, it is gorgeous, but it looks like pretty much straight up Space Opera. I was expecting some element that made it obviously Science Fantasy -- wizards and robots, dragons and starships, that sort of thing. I agree that it has a powerful GotG vibe, which is good, but I hope interior art and other pieces embrace the fantasy aspects more directly.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Life is awesome wrote:

The way I see it, judging but what we see here

The iconics will be:
Human envoy
Vesk soldier
Ysoki mechanic
Android operative
Kasatha technomancer
Lashunta mystic
And the yet known race as a solarion

From the two peices of art supposedly showing all the iconics together. The shirren is the mystic, the kasatha is the solarion, and the Lashunta is the technomancer. The others seem correct though.


Reynard wrote:
Steven "Troll" O'Neal wrote:
Ravingdork wrote:

Why wield a lightsaber axe or a flamethrower when you can wield a longsword? Many kudos to the lady on the left for keeping it classy.

This cover has a very "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel to it, which I imagine is how most Starfinder adventuring groups are going to resemble in their eclectic party makeup. I approve.

Huh, neat. Looks like it'll be more fantasy than I previously expected. Not a bad thing.
I actually feel the opposite. I mean, I love the cover, it is gorgeous, but it looks like pretty much straight up Space Opera. I was expecting some element that made it obviously Science Fantasy -- wizards and robots, dragons and starships, that sort of thing. I agree that it has a powerful GotG vibe, which is good, but I hope interior art and other pieces embrace the fantasy aspects more directly.

Indeed.

The old promotional art that is now presented as the Character Folio cover had a Kasatha using what we could assume to be magic; he was casting a spell. Now we have no magic or any fantasy element at all in the cover of the Core Rulebook.

For us, people that are following all the news about the product, this might have no impact at all.

This had no impact on me, until I saw this post.

However... For a new player, or a person that isn't familiar with Paizo or Pathfinder, this could be enough to cause the misunderstanding that Starfinder has no fantasy/magic in it. No one is "casting magic" and there's no iconic creature of an average "fantasy" settings (orcs, elves, dragons, dwarfs, goblins)...

Well, I'm sure the majority will read the books back for the product's description - the art is amazing enough. ;)


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Cover looked good. I wonder if that is the same Owen Stephens who worked on Black Company book back in the day. I did some Playtesting for it that tweaked some damage rules.

Want ask my standard damage question of how criticals work. Will there be critical damage threshold like starship combat?

Ps thought the starship combat looked really good. I hope that there are some interesting twist to damage for personnel combat which is also big part of the game. Not I take 20 damage thing. To be honest though, not to hard to fix even if it is.

Not super excited page count went from 560 to 528.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

On the 560 to 528 decrease the price went up to 59.99 so what are we getting quality wise for the price increase of 59.99 at 528 versus Pathfinder 49.99 576. Thicker pages? Better binding ect.


the cover looks good, but compared to the amazing artwork on the PF CRB I'm a little disappointed. A group shot facing the 4th wall? really? that's the most creative idea you came up with?


the Pactworld cruisers remind me a bit of the Earth Alliance capital ships in Babylon 5.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I now have a picture for Flush Gurdon, Vesk Sanitation Engineer. AWESOME!

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