Interview with James L. Sutter about Starfinder on Gnome Stew


General Discussion


The interview is here.

Spelljammer on one end and Star Trek on the other? Not sure what spectrum that is, because it's not science fantasy to hard SF.


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Obviously there is SF that is harder than Star Trek -- but Starfinder won't be going there.


Seems a rather bizarre way to explain the genre when the perfectly good example - it's Star Wars-like - comes a sentence or so later.

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Looks to me like that spectrum is full-on space fantasy to soft SF. Spelljammer isn't even science fantasy, it's magic in space with less science than even normal AD&D.


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Well, Mr. Sutter does describe that entire spectrum as science fantasy.

So it's more a spectrum of completely bonkers science fantasy (Spelljammer) to "plausible" science fantasy (Star Trek).

Though my personal favorite bit of the interview -

James Sutter wrote:
People sometimes ask if we’re pushing an agenda at Paizo, and my answer is always: Oh my, yes. Our agenda is that RPGs are for everyone, and we’re gonna try our best to make everyone feel welcome. Period.


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"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D


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"cybernetic ninjas with energy blades." Sith confirmed in game.

"god-run megacorps." Asmodeus confirmed still in setting.


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James Sutter wrote:
[B]ut at its heart, this game is really about exploration, seeing worlds no one’s ever seen before.

This is what I want.


Did he say rhino humanoids. I'm sure I read rhino humanoids. Instantly intrigued. Base race maybe. If so I know what I'm using.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32

Torbyne wrote:
"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D

So...do we think soldier is a class?


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ryric wrote:
Torbyne wrote:
"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D
So...do we think soldier is a class?

It'd be embarrassing for the Barbarian if it turns out to be an NPC class...


I am actually glad to see mention of an assault rifle. He may have been speaking in generic terms but i hope there are solid options for physical damage instead of relying on energy weapons for everything. Mostly because as it exists now energy resistance is set up to work against single source large damage attacks and would completely wipe out the effectiveness of iterative attacks with lower damage per hit.

Silver Crusade

Torbyne wrote:
I am actually glad to see mention of an assault rifle. He may have been speaking in generic terms but i hope there are solid options for physical damage instead of relying on energy weapons for everything. Mostly because as it exists now energy resistance is set up to work against single source large damage attacks and would completely wipe out the effectiveness of iterative attacks with lower damage per hit.

I agree. As much as energy weapons are an important part of Sci-Fi/Sci-Fantasy, there should be alternatives to get around energy resistance. Devils are still a thing, after all.


lets not forget that the Borg could adapt to phasers but never figured out how to deal with Worf hacking them to pieces. Physical damage is where its at yo.


Torbyne wrote:
lets not forget that the Borg could adapt to phasers but never figured out how to deal with Worf hacking them to pieces. Physical damage is where its at yo.

Did you ever play the ancient space game, 'Stellar Winds'?

You upgraded your shields and weapons with different waveforms. If you scanned an enemy you could discover their shield waveform, then set your weapon waveform(if you had the right one) to match it to do significantly more damage. Setting your shields to counter their weapons was just as important for survival.

In a Pathfinderised mechanic, it would be something like this:

Energy weapons have one of three waveforms: sine, sawtooth or square. (Energy weapon equivalent to piercing/bludgeoning/slashing)

Shields have DR X bypassed by a specific waveform.

Modifications and class abilities might let you switch your weapon/shield's waveform to optimise it against your enemy.


jedi8187 wrote:
Did he say rhino humanoids. I'm sure I read rhino humanoids. Instantly intrigued. Base race maybe. If so I know what I'm using.

Kaylethon


Umbral Reaver wrote:
Did you ever play the ancient space game, 'Stellar Winds'?

Whoops. It's Solar Winds.


xorial wrote:
jedi8187 wrote:
Did he say rhino humanoids. I'm sure I read rhino humanoids. Instantly intrigued. Base race maybe. If so I know what I'm using.
Kaylethon

Kind of hard to use without stats, but certainly seem cool. Only thing better than rhino humanoid is four armed rhino humanoid


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Rhino Humanoid -> Judoon from Doc Who should give some inspiration! Kind of dressed in biker gear almost - hmmm, rhino bikers from mars - lol! :D


ryric wrote:
Torbyne wrote:
"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D
So...do we think soldier is a class?

Take it from one, Soldiers have no class.


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Abraham spalding wrote:
ryric wrote:
Torbyne wrote:
"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D
So...do we think soldier is a class?
Take it from one, Soldiers have no class.

Well , if we are being literal about it then should we assume that if one picks Soldier then you get a ton of class abilities that have nothing to do with fighting or soldiering? Archetypes for moving paperwork through bureaucratic systems, bonuses to staying awake vs non-magical effects, resistance against poisons and drugs due to Rip It tolerance, bonuses to Kn: ORM/Safety Stand Down (bonus vs. mechanical hazards and alcohol?)


Anthony Adam wrote:
Rhino Humanoid -> Judoon from Doc Who should give some inspiration! Kind of dressed in biker gear almost - hmmm, rhino bikers from mars - lol! :D

Sco po tro no fro jo ko fo to do.

Judoon - The epitome of Lawful Neutral.

Creative Director, Starfinder Team

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Torbyne wrote:
"if your Pathfinder barbarian runs around the space station with a sword and no shirt, he’s gonna get torn up by some first-level soldier with an assault rifle. As he should. " feeling so warm and fuzzy inside :D

:D

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