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Debuting tomorrow, Everyman Gaming is releasing a new line of Starfinder compatible products entitled the Star Log.EM series. Star Log-EMs are mini products that contain a thousand words on a specific topic of Starfinder design.
You can get a quick look at tomorrow's new product, Star Log.EM-001: Exocortex Options here!
Also, yes. That IS a space grippli and that IS what they look like in Rogue Genius Games' Starfarer's companion.
The series looks cool but mechanic options aren't my thing.
Now that several products in this line have come out, I have a question about a pattern I have been seeing. Do you see archetypes the sole accepted method for converting prestige classes, or will you eventually come across a Pathfinder prestige class that would convert better into a Starfinder prestige class?
Converting those prestige classes to Starfinder archetypes seems to have some advantages (in that you don't have to worry about how to advance abilities from your primary class) and some disadvantages (as there is only a single entry point level for each archetype).
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Now that several products in this line have come out, I have a question about a pattern I have been seeing. Do you see archetypes the sole accepted method for converting prestige classes, or will you eventually come across a Pathfinder prestige class that would convert better into a Starfinder prestige class?
Converting those prestige classes to Starfinder archetypes seems to have some advantages (in that you don't have to worry about how to advance abilities from your primary class) and some disadvantages (as there is only a single entry point level for each archetype).
Personally, I haven't seen a Pathfinder Prestige Class that doesn't work better as an archetype. It's better (and easier) to balance, and you can focus on the core gameplay mechanics of the concept rather than having to fill a bunch of "dead levels" that probably don't help your overall gameplay experience much. For example, the PF gets rogue talents just because there are levels to fill, and "some" rogue talents are decently compatible with the shadowdancer. They didn't really add to the gameplay experience until Blood of Shadows came along almost a decade later. The shadowdancer archetype, however, can focus in on the things people want to do as a shadowdancer (jumping from shadow to shadow) without having to worry about trading good base class powers for prestige class powers that are basically placeholders.
Now, an extension of your question—does the Starfinder archetype system work well at converting all possible Pathfinder archetype combinations—has a solid answer of "no." The reason is simple: Starfinder Archetypes typically only trade "choosable" class features with the exception of classes like the mystic. For everyone else, an archetype can't make bold changes to a class's gameplay, so archetypes like sanctified slayer or vivisectionist, which trade major class features, simply couldn't work in the system.
I'm playing around with a couple ideas for how to make SF base classes more modular, but I reckon I'd need a talk with Owen and some more solid ideas before I move forward with that plan.