Starfinder Iconic Characters Revealed!

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Last Friday, our friends at Game Informer released a sneak preview of all seven iconic characters for Starfinder. We wanted to share that image with you as well, but first—what do we mean by "iconic character," anyway?

As many of you probably already know, in the Starfinder Roleplaying Game, as in Pathfinder, every class is represented by an iconic character: a single individual who illustrates and embodies the concept behind that class. Originally, way back when Paizo was still publishing the magazines Dungeon and Dragon, this was just a convenient shorthand for us—rather than explaining to each new artist what made a ranger a ranger, we could just show them a single piece of art and say, "Draw this ranger." But to our surprise, as these reference characters appeared in more and more illustrations, fans began to grow attached to them and wonder about their stories. So when we launched Pathfinder, we went ahead and gave these characters names and backstories, and they quickly became some of our most popular characters, going on to star in comics, audio dramas, and more. (I know that I personally have a heck of a lot of fun writing Valeros, Merisiel, and all the rest in the Pathfinder comics!)

Character Illustrations by Remko Troost

Now, with Starfinder, we're excited to unveil a whole new lineup of iconic characters to showcase their respective classes and races! In the coming months, we'll be giving you each character's backstory in blog posts here at paizo.com, but for now here's a sneak preview of their art, plus their names, races, and classes. Going clockwise and starting with the leftmost character, we've got:

Raia (lashunta technomancer): Lashuntas are a race of telepaths, and technomancers are the magical version of computer programmers, hacking the laws of physics.

Iseph (android operative): Androids are artificial people, and operatives use stealth and skill to get in and out of dangerous situations.

Obozaya (vesk soldier): Vesk are powerful reptilian aliens, and soldiers specialize in heavy weapons and armor.

Keskodai (shirren mystic): Shirrens are insectile people who recently broke free from a predatory hive mind, and mystics channel the universe's mysterious energies, often through faith in a god.

Altronus (kasatha solarian): Kasathas are four-armed aliens from a desert world, and solarians shape the energy of stars and black holes into armor and weapons for themselves.

Navasi (human envoy): Humans are... well, humans, and envoys use wit and charm to bolster their allies and demoralize or befuddle enemies.

Quig (ysoki mechanic): Often called "ratfolk," ysoki are a plucky and hotheaded race, and mechanics build their own custom drones or rely on an implanted AI to aid them in combat.

Which of course leads to the question—which of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more Starfinder previews and design blogs!

James L. Sutter
Creative Director

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Remko Troost Starfinder
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Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

First off: Interesting crew. Since these iconics will be adventuring together, this makes them a crew and rather Guardians of the Galaxy like...so a very good thing! :)

I think my favorite is Keskodai, even though I can't see (him/her/other?) very well at the back for the simple reason that he worships Pharasma. As the goddess of death or prophesy, I wonder?

Sovereign Court

13 people marked this as a favorite.

Why does Quig not get boldfaced like the others? Man, Ratfolk always get the shaft.

Dark Archive

Man Quig gets hosed. Poor guy. He's my favorite.


Quig, because it's awesome to be handy in space and a flamethrower is always useful for killing nasty space bugs. Just ask Ripley.

Scarab Sages Developer, Starfinder Team

19 people marked this as a favorite.
James Krolak wrote:
Why does Quig not get boldfaced like the others? Man, Ratfolk always get the shaft.

Clearly Quig grabbed the bold typeface for use in a different mechanical device. Also, if YOU were going to shoot at one of those entries, wouldn't you be more likely to fire at a bold one?

It's a feature, not a bug!

Don't judge!


Quig favorite by far. Also, I'm really hoping that they kept the ratfolk's Swarming racial ability, it made for some fun games.

For those who aren't familiar with it, two PF ratfolk could both be in the same square at the same time. Cool, right? It gets better. If they're both in the same square and both attacking the same target, it's considered flanking. FLANKING. The op of this ability was the best. One game, I gm'd an entire party of 5 ratfolk (the 5th guy was a sniper, so he was cool sticking back from the group). Good times.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Look at all the good good Starfrienders!


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Very motley looking crew ;)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I like Navisi... Because I ❤ bards, especially ones with purple hair. But all of them look nifty. I cannot wait to find out more about how Solarians work.


Loving Keskodai. I'm of the school of thought science fiction needs bugs somewhere.

Plus, a space priest makes me think of Zhaan from Farscape.

Contributor

Navasi's stance and aesthetic really nail the Envoy concept!


Do you think Keskodai is about to cast a spell on Altronus for stepping on his foot?


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Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
James Krolak wrote:
Why does Quig not get boldfaced like the others? Man, Ratfolk always get the shaft.

Clearly Quig grabbed the bold typeface for use in a different mechanical device. Also, if YOU were going to shoot at one of those entries, wouldn't you be more likely to fire at a bold one?

It's a feature, not a bug!

Don't judge!

while Keskodai is the bug.


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Disappointed that the Lashuta is the technomancer, would have loved her as the mystic or solarion. Also she looks way too short for a Lashunta.


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Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Sure, you tell us their race and class, but since this game has themes and starship roles too, shouldn't we get to know their those, as well? I mean, which one is the pilot, the engineer (my guess is Quig based on what Owen said), or the captain? Who in that crew is an Outlaw, Ace Pilot, Scholar, or other theme?


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Dragon78 wrote:
Disappointed that the Lashuta is the technomancer, would have loved her as the mystic or solarion. Also she looks way too short for a Lashunta.

I, for one, am loving that the lashunta is the technomancer!


Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:
James Krolak wrote:
Why does Quig not get boldfaced like the others? Man, Ratfolk always get the shaft.

Clearly Quig grabbed the bold typeface for use in a different mechanical device. Also, if YOU were going to shoot at one of those entries, wouldn't you be more likely to fire at a bold one?

It's a feature, not a bug!

Don't judge!

Mine all mine...don't touch wrote:
Man Quig gets hosed. Poor guy. He's my favorite.

And with that - regardless of what is planned for him, Quig inadvertently already has the most personality of the bunch. :)

But I do have to say I'm really digging Remko Troost's work on this so far. Awesome stuff!

They all look really interesting and I can't wait to hear more about them. But if I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with Altronus. Solarian sounds like a fascinating class, and I've been a fan of the kasatha for a while (including playing AefPakka, a space hippie kasatha in a Legendary Planets PbP).


I'm hugely excited about the Vesk and so glad that the Vesk iconic is a soldier. Both pieces of Vesk artwork I have seen make them look pragmatic and practical (which could be a complete projection on my part), so seeing the iconic Vesk be the one who puts his trust in a good blaster instead of 'hokey religions and ancient weapons' makes me happy inside.

I'm sure the race as a whole doesn't eschew the magic and divinities of the setting, but something about their solid, confident stance immediately conjures up roleplaying ideas for a very down-to-earth character in a space fantasy setting.


Huh, I wonder if that holographic Pharasma display also has other holy symbols on it. Like what if mystics could channel the power of multiple gods (but only one at a time?)


3 people marked this as a favorite.

Honestly, I'm glad they went technomancer for lashunta. Mystic would have felt like much more of the obvious choice and this seems a lot more interesting to me.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Quig for sure, mainly because I'm really excited to see ysoki as a core race, and mechanic sounds really cool as a class


2 people marked this as a favorite.

So we've got a computery wizard, a tech rogue, gun-using fighter, a space cleric, a star-using incarnate/soulborn, an interplanetary bard, and a machine druid.

Sweet.


Altronus,Navasi and Raia are the ones I liked the most, but It's to early to pic a favorite iconic.

Illustration wise, Altronus is my favorite since the first time I saw him, but I have to say that Raia is also full of interesting details that makes me wonder what are the technomancer's abilities.

The class that got me intrigued the most is the Solarion.

I wonder if you have to choose the source of your power or if that will be determined by your alignment; by source I mean the stars and black holes. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this alignment related sources of "force". ;)


Keskodai. Pharasmin Mystic ftw


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I wonder how long it'll be before we see the solarion backverted for Pathfinder use?


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

Quig, Raia, and Keskodai... with Quig SLIGHTLY edging out the other two because flamethrowers are awesome, and if Goblins aren't core, Ratfolk will suffice!

EDIT: Which is quite a departure from Pathfinder, where my favorite iconics are all human...

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber

So, I was gonna say Quig, but now I feel like I'm going to just be part of a big Bos-Einstein condensate when I say that.

However, ever since early Starfinder promo text, I've been very attracted to the idea of a plucky ratfolk engineer (or mechanic). Indeed, I recently got a ratfolk PFS race boon, and I made a Scavenger (ratfolk Investigator archetype from Blood of the Beast) from Numeria....

That being said: I also really like the Holoholy symobl.

Given that I my favorite classes to play in Pathfinder tend to be arcane classes, and that in more straight sci-fi games (as opposed to science fantasy) I like to play either science types or engineer/gadgeteer types, I'm guessing that my favorite class will probably end up being Technomancer. And, Raia's looking pretty good talking on her holo communicator with her friend who just played really nasty pranks on Londo Molari.

Scarab Sages

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Quig <3


Pathfinder Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So, I wonder which option Quig went with -- drone or implanted AI? The text says they are both options but didn't list which choice the iconic made.

Silver Crusade

Wow the love for Quig is real! They all look great...

But for me it's gotta be Obozaya, love the look of the vesk. I guess it goes back to Kirk fighting the Gorn, always loved that battle.

However I'm most intrigued to find out more about he solarian class!


Am hoping on some crazy crests for the Vesk... Dilophosaurus Battle Wattle!

Like them all tho - very interested to read more about them (and ergo their races/setting)


BretI wrote:
So, I wonder which option Quig went with -- drone or implanted AI? The text says they are both options but didn't list which choice the iconic made.

We've had a drone show up in a couple pictures, so I'm guessing that.


The footing is really weird in the picture. Altronus is stepping on Keskodai's leg, Obozaya is stepping on his other knee (weird, considering he/she's BEHIND Keskodai), Keskodai's right leg (now broken) is sticking out between Navasi's legs (... not even going to start on the uncomfortable awkwardness of that), Iseph is stepping on Obozaya's fuel tank/ammo thing/big gun/etc., Iseph's right leg is also between Raia's legs (but not as bad as Keskodai), and Navasi looks like she's stepping on Quig's tail. Then there's Keskodai's staff, which is just everywhere (under Obozaya's foot, behind Navasi's right leg but even further in front of both her legs than his foot).

Conclusion: these pieces of art were all (awesomely) made independent of each other, and probably combined in this picture using Photoshop or some other editing software using layers.


3 people marked this as a favorite.

Might I suggest that we give the Technomancer two sub machine guns so they look really cool when faced with a lobby full of security guards.


Obozaya or Altronus. Vesk is my favorite core race right now, and I'm project Solarion will be my favorite class, hence those two. Based of what we know stat wise of the Kasatha I'm guess Altronus is more dex based, and while Obozaya has a bi gun we've also seen a pretty gnarly melee weapon in her hands before. I think she wins out just a little.


jedi8187 wrote:
Obozaya or Altronus. Vesk is my favorite core race right now, and I'm project Solarion will be my favorite class, hence those two. Based of what we know stat wise of the Kasatha I'm guess Altronus is more dex based, and while Obozaya has a bi gun we've also seen a pretty gnarly melee weapon in her hands before. I think she wins out just a little.

The Alien Archive could have more interesting aliens.

Grand Lodge

I think Raia looks awesome, well they all look pretty awesome, but she looks extra cool I think. However there's something about Iseph I don't like.


Quig, without a doubt.

See, in Skull and Shackles we had this ratfolk alchemist who managed to repetitively get himself thrown into the sweatbox, earning the nickname Sweatbox.
He survived and lived on throughout the campaign, being the most simultaneously helpful/hindering party member of the group.
"Squeak squeak. I've got this, captain!" as he throws a stink cloud bomb into the melee, forcing the captain to withdraw from combat but also denying the opponents their sneak attack on the captain.
"I've got this captain! Squeak squeak," as he turns the headlights of the Apparatus of the Crab on, cutting through the Darkness spell but also reflecting off the metallic bird, blinding half the crew.
He later, in post campaign material, magically propagated an entire legion of Sweatboxes across the Inner Sea, meaning that all future campaigns can and will feature a "Sweatbox" somewhere.

In head canon, Quig is yet another Sweatbox.
He is a Space Sweatbox.
And somewhere out there, in the eerie black, there is some spaceship with an increasingly frustrated captain.
"Squeak squeak. I've got this captain!"

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber
lordofthemax wrote:
The footing is really weird in the picture. Altronus is stepping on Keskodai's leg,

Oh no... this is the Special Edition, where the human steps on the hutt's tail....

Liberty's Edge

I choose the Lashunta

She wakes up fond distant memories of that Elven Decker on that old RPGSS cover ;-)


Navasi. Call me old fashioned, but I have a thing for humans. Plus she's cute.


Nice piece :)

Is Altronus's hidden hand holding/projecting an energy blade of some kind? It looks like that arm has altered armor on it as well. Curious to see that the Solarion is packing a sidearm and standard armor in addition to whatever they get from their class abilities but i also like the look of that armor the best of the line up so no complaints for it.

What kind of mouth do Kasatha have, is that where they keep their mating arms?

Also, i notice everyone is offset in placement which is throwing off how tall they all seem. Looking at the feet i would guess that the Shireen might actually be the tallest of the races or at least tied with the Vesk.

Scarab Sages

3 people marked this as a favorite.
rknop wrote:
Raia's looking pretty good talking on her holo communicator with her friend who just played really nasty pranks on Londo Molari.

Not many fishes

Left in the sea.
Not many fishes,
Just Londo and me.

I don't really have a favorite iconic yet, but I love the space goblins on the First Contact cover. Especially the one with his ears cramped up in a fishbowl helmet.


KarlBob wrote:
rknop wrote:
Raia's looking pretty good talking on her holo communicator with her friend who just played really nasty pranks on Londo Molari.

Not many fishes

Left in the sea.
Not many fishes,
Just Londo and me.

I don't really have a favorite iconic yet, but I love the space goblins on the First Contact cover. Especially the one with his ears cramped up in a fishbowl helmet.

already looking forward to using those helmets in the flavor descriptions in games. Fogged up, cracked and the glow of unmistakably murderous eyes glaring out of them right up until the PCs start cracking them open like the grandkids going at gammy's porcelain dishes. :)

Creative Director, Starfinder Team

9 people marked this as a favorite.

I find all the love for Quig in this thread utterly vindicating.

Ratfolk forever!


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

As a fan of UFO, I have to go with Navasi.

Also, I learned from that TV show that the only people who have purple hair are women who live and work on the moon. Since, in Starfinder, Golarion's moon is missing along with Golarion itself, it is obvious that she knows something that the others don't. ;)


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Look... I think it's important that everyone here remembers that we're all equally important parts of the team. It's about cooperation and working together, after all!

I can't believe I'm jealous of a rat. >_<


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If there's ever an inclination to do a Free RPG Day module for Starfinder, I'd be totally psyched for Ratfolk vs. Space Goblins.


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Dominar Rygel XVI wrote:
If there's ever an inclination to do a Free RPG Day module for Starfinder, I'd be totally psyched for Ratfolk vs. Space Goblins.

The battle for space shinies!

Liberty's Edge

Which genders are these iconics ? Did anyone take notes when they were individually introduced ?

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