Where are the rules for creature types?


Rules Questions


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I can't seem to find them. You know, the section that describes the resistances and immunities of a given creature type, whether they eat, sleep, and breathe, etc.

I've checked through the Core Rulebook and the Alien Archive. Am I going crazy or does such a section simply not exist in Starfinder?


Oh... super hazy since I haven't been through there in a while, but I think recall seeing that around the graft section in alien archive.

Maybe? If I'm wrong, I'm sorry.


Pg 132 of the Alien Archive has all the Creature types / subtypes


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Vexies wrote:
Pg 132 of the Alien Archive has all the Creature types / subtypes

Thanks, but I don't think that's the same thing. Those are more like templates for making monsters and stuff. What I'm looking for is more of a global rules appendices or something.

If I'm a PC trying to find out more about my character's abilities, and not a GM making a monster, then I don't think that the Graft rules are really going to help me any.

If it did apply, we'd end up with weird situations, like Borai suddenly having no Constitution score, which I don't think is the case, since they get +2 to their Constitution.

There's got to be a general rule somewhere though, since there's plenty of exceptions listed in various racial entries. Take the Borai from Pact Worlds, for example. It is explicitly stated that they don't gain undead immunities. To that I ask, where is the general rule that states that all undead gain undead immunities in the first place? If there is no general rule, then why state an exception at all?


I believe that no such general rule exists. Properties such as Undead Immunities are not tied to type, but to graft, which is a subtle but important distinction; PC stats are independent of creature type grafts. Thus, a PC's creature type is significant only when dealing with an effect that cares about it. A PC gains no special benefit from their type beyond what is explicitly provided by their racial stat block.

It is not mechanically necessary for the Borais stat block to explicitly state it does not provide undead immunities, but it is a point of additional clarity that preempts any possible argument to the contrary.


Yep, all the relevant info you need about what makes a Goblin a Goblin or a Undead a Undead are all on page 132. it tells you what senses it has, special abilities, immunities and what not. Its the only place currently any of that exists and I believe this is the format we will receive it going forward.

In Starfinder all the relevant type and race info is in the racial write up and for NPCs its in the Alien Archive. For PCs at least type only really has a bearing beyond whats stated in their write up as descriptors for spells and affects to interact with.

If your looking for the universal Monster rules, which state what the undead, construct etc. immunites are its on page 152 of the Alien Archive. The blurb in the Borais write up does bring up a interesting point. I would have to concede then that unless the write up specifically states you dont have type immunities then it looks like its assumed you do.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So we have at least two posters with two different lines of thought. Looks to me like the additional clarifying lines are only causing confusion. :(

Edit: I found the following on page 132 of the Alien Archive:

The listed traits are usually innate to all creatures of the type, so it is recommended that a creature with this type gain them.

So it looks like Vexies is correct, in that it is assumed that all creatures of the same type should get the traits, exceptions abound.

One such exception is the paragraph on page 4 of the Alien Archive that indicates PCs only get those traits mentioned in their PC racial entries, which also makes Hithesius correct in his assertion that PC creature types likely only matter when specifically called out.

That's confusing and potentially contradictory enough to warrant clarifying that Barai don't gain undead immunities I suppose, though I'm still left to wonder why they didn't also mention that they get to keep their Constitution score. Guess they figured that would be obvious to most.


From the FAQ for Alien Archive races:
Player characters do not receive creature type grafts or creature subtype grafts, even when those grafts have the same names as the PC race's the abilities. They are considered to be of the indicated type or subtype for purposes of abilities limited by type and any prerequisites.

Basically, PC races only have whatever is called out in the PC race block, unless they're missing something, which will end up in a FAQ eventually (like the AA races.)


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Pantshandshake wrote:

From the FAQ for Alien Archive races:

Player characters do not receive creature type grafts or creature subtype grafts, even when those grafts have the same names as the PC race's the abilities. They are considered to be of the indicated type or subtype for purposes of abilities limited by type and any prerequisites.

Basically, PC races only have whatever is called out in the PC race block, unless they're missing something, which will end up in a FAQ eventually (like the AA races.)

Thank you. With the amount of races they've been releasing, there are going to be several such FAQratta entries before the end I'm sure.


No worries. And yeah, I bet we're not done with FAQs from AA before... oh.... Fall. Autumn, even.

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