I have been reading the module "Incident at Absalom Station", and I noted that several NPCs have special abilities that I can't find listed in the Core Rulebook or the Alien Archive. These are NPCs with standard character races and class grafts, so whatever abilities they have, I would think they should be available to PCs.
Specifically, Jabaxa has "Persuasive (Ex)", which is not an ability available to Envoys; Vrokilayo Hatchbuster has "Awesome Blow (Ex)", which is not an ability available to Soldiers of any fighting style and is resolved similar to a combat maneuver (but isn't a listed combat maneuver); and Clara-247 has "Precise Shot (Ex)" which is not an ability available to operatives.
Am I missing something the Core Rules? Am I missing a rule book? If not, what am I supposed to tell my players when they wonder why NPCs are using abilities against them that they can't, themselves, learn? Granted, Jabaxa's and Clara's abilities I can just sneakily manage behind my GM screen (though I do not like the idea of a secret mechanic, as opposed to a role-played ability), but Awesome Blow is going to be a little obvious.
Sometimes NPCs will have abilities PCs can't have. There is a Solarian in part 2 and it has a ranged ability that's not in the core rule book.
Sometimes NPCs will have abilities PCs can't have. There is a Solarian in part 2 and it has a ranged ability that's not in the core rule book.
Am I the only GM who thinks that's a bad way to run a campaign? Perhaps that's something I should discuss in a different forum.
No, you aren't, and yes, that's probably something for a different forum.
Doesn't really bother me though, unless its an ability that every NPC of a certain race has that a PC can't hope to learn as well.
Edit: Also, specifically for the early adventures, they were developed well before the rules were finalized. So all of those abilities might have been standard at one point and later edited out.
Sometimes NPCs will have abilities PCs can't have. There is a Solarian in part 2 and it has a ranged ability that's not in the core rule book.Am I the only GM who thinks that's a bad way to run a campaign? Perhaps that's something I should discuss in a different forum.
Well as a GM you could let your players choose them if they aren't broken. Being able to have a ranged revelation at an earlier stage does sound cool until you realize solairans barely get any revelations to begin with. The power doesn't scale and can be easily passed with a small arm picked off a dead body.
Haven't really looked at any other abilities though.
Likely this part was developed while the core was also in development and parts that might/were thought to be included simply didn't make the cut or are part of a future product.
It's sloppy, like in some older APs where NPCs were using weapons in a way contradictory to the rules.
Gathered rules texts, for clarity:
Persuasive (Ex) When attempting a Charisma-based skill
check, Jabaxa rolls twice and takes the higher result.Awesome Blow (Ex) As a standard action, Vrokilayo can
attempt a melee attack with his assault hammer against
a single creature’s KAC + 8. If he succeeds, the target
takes 1d6+5 bludgeoning damage, is knocked 10 feet
in a direction of Vrokilayo’s choice, and falls prone. The
target must be moved in a straight line, and if it hits an
obstacle, it takes 1d6 nonlethal damage.Precise Shot (Ex) When making a ranged attack, Clara-247
ignores the target’s AC bonuses from cover or partial
cover (but not improved or total cover).Pulse Dart (Su) As a standard action, Panelliar can fire a dart
of stellar energy as a ranged attack against EAC with a
range of 60 feet. The pulse dart deals 1d10+6 fire damage
and has the critical hit effect burn 1d6.
Since when, in the entire history of D&D, have players always had guaranteed access to every single ability that an NPC/monster has had?
When those abilities are class specific and not monster specific.
Since when, in the entire history of D&D, have players always had guaranteed access to every single ability that an NPC/monster has had?When those abilities are class specific and not monster specific.
Well sense we are discussing NPCs specifically too, since about 3.0 there has been an expectation that if the source is allowed for the players and they have the appropriate prerequisites then the ability is something that could be had.
Starfinder being a game built off Pathfinder, built off 3.5 which revised 3.0 seems to have followed this concept for the most part.
If it was a monster this conversation likely wouldn't be happening as it would be accepted as "monsters are different".
For GM understanding the source of an ability is usually explained in some fashion (such as listing as a class ability).
Finally it's possible the OP is the GM (highly likely considering the book being read in this case) and sees something that would line up perfectly for one of his PCs, and this being a collaborative game, wanted to point out where the PC could find it for their own character in the future.