Upon realizing that there don't appear to be age modifiers in Starfinder, I've decided I want to make an old woman who look vulnerable and harmless, but in reality is deceptively powerful. Something like Madame Gao from Netflix's Iron Fist, or something similar.
What class/rules combinations might best help such a concept come to life?
Any?
Starfinder has guns, magic, and crazy operative abilities. Anyone even vaguely genre savvy is going to recognize that an 'old woman' is probably the most dangerous person in the room.
I presume by 'harmless looking and venerable' you don't want her to look like she can bench-press tanks, so a high strength solarion or soldier build is probably out, but that seems the only restriction. She can still be a deft hand with a knife or blaster, or just rip your mind from your skull.
See also: Bene Gesserit, tiny martial arts masters from manga/anime, and/or Granny Smith from My Little Pony.
Is there anything stopping me from giving her super strength, and then describing her as looking feeble?
With things like cybernetic implants and ability crystals in the game, there's no reason she'd have to have hulk out muscles to be strong.
Well, no there isn't. But that's true anyway- character descriptions and stats aren't particularly tied together. But players tend to whine about that sort of thing
She could always bluff a/o disguise her strength away.
Worst case you could treat her bluffed feeble appearance as the bluff roll of a feint check and render the PCs flat-footed when she then puts them through a wall.
That's an interesting idea. I'll consider it. Now if only Starfinder was more "unarmed friendly."
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glamered pulse gauntlets? Even has a knockdown on crits. Old lady might be tougher than she looks, but you probably weren't planning on her putting you flat on the ground either.
glamered pulse gauntlets? Even has a knockdown on crits. Old lady might be tougher than she looks, but you probably weren't planning on her putting you flat on the ground either.
Nice.
I was thinking of decking her out in cybernetics and bio-implants, while also using adaptive biochains on everything so that she continues to look normal (and also isn't affected by things that affect cybernetics, such as metal detectors).
Currently leaning towards spy operative. Don't think anything gives a single blow wallop quite like they can.
Give her the knitting profession (tailor) and have her knit everyone scarves, like constantly.
As for hiding her strength, go with baggy old lady clothes. No one ever suspects grandma to be swol when you can't see her biceps. Contrary to what is suggested, I think Solarian would be a good class. Thinking something like Kreia from KOTOR 2.
Cybernetics or bio-implants are a given. Spy Operative is a nice touch. Unfortunately, Pulse Gauntlets don't work with Trick Attack, since they lack the operative subtype. Soldier or a high level Exocotex Mechanic for Advanced Melee.
Cybernetics or bio-implants are a given. Spy Operative is a nice touch. Unfortunately, Pulse Gauntlets don't work with Trick Attack, since they lack the operative subtype. Soldier or a high level Exocotex Mechanic for Advanced Melee.
Yeah. Sadly, I didn't realize that until I was halfway through the build's creation.
I can't believe there isn't a feat or something that let's you use other weapons.
I ended up switching her pulse gauntlet out for a peacemaker disguised as a harmless hand bag. I had a pretty good Strength operative build going for a while, but I quickly realized that if I switched the Strength and Dexterity scores, and moved the Strength personal upgrade over to Charisma, she got better in nearly every way. Though her melee DPR went and carrying capacity down a few points, her AC, Reflex saves, most of her skills, save DCs, and Resolve points all went way up.
And she's still pretty strong, just not 26 Strength strong. Here's a sneak peak of the character as she stands currently, if you're interested:
Madame Karina, venerable spy - N female human, operative 15 (spy)
I actually find it kind of disheartening; it's a good example of how Starfinder punishes you for thinking outside the box. Going to end up seeing a lot of cookie cutter builds in this system I imagine.
If anyone knows of a better character portrait that looks just as harmless, but a little more...futury, please let me know.
Any?
Starfinder has guns, magic, and crazy operative abilities. Anyone even vaguely genre savvy is going to recognize that an 'old woman' is probably the most dangerous person in the room.
I presume by 'harmless looking and venerable' you don't want her to look like she can bench-press tanks, so a high strength solarion or soldier build is probably out, but that seems the only restriction. She can still be a deft hand with a knife or blaster, or just rip your mind from your skull.
See also: Bene Gesserit, tiny martial arts masters from manga/anime, and/or Granny Smith from My Little Pony.
The only problem is, thanks to generations of Wizards and Sorcerers who think they're clever dressing like Rogues to appear not to be a caster, thus not a threat, most seasoned adventurers and enemies of adventurers target rogues first.
If you're on a battlefield and you come on a nice bound Solarian, a soldier decked out in armor, a cute envoy in flashy clothes, and a frail old woman?
Gank her first. She's obviously the dangerous one.
I thought that the Rogue, PF chained at least, was targeted first as a means of mercy killing. ;)