OSW yeah there are really only a few options for weapons and armor starting out.
I would recommend at least a 12 str even if you are going to be primarily ranged attacked. Bulk adds up quick and there are some feats, like power armor proficiency that have str requirements.
"Laser rifle, azimuth" is probably your best bet starting out. Light, fairly cheap, good damage and crit.
You will want a projectile weapon at some point, but to conserve money, you can probably rely on your melee weapon to deal with invisible or fire resistant critters.
On the melee side, "Doshko, Tactical" is the biggest bang for the buck. If your Dex is substantially higher than str you can use a knife or baton using you dex to hit. Less damage, especially as you level, but it can work well early on.
Misc equip, mostly the usual, personal comm, serum of healing, Rope, batteries, ammo, light, possibly toolkit and/or medkit. Most improved misc stuff probably needs to wait for more funds.
Armor wise, unlike weapons, you have the money, just barely to bump up your ac pretty well if you skimp on some other areas. "Carbon skin, graphite" is a very good light armor. That will start you with about as good an ac as you get at 2nd level. "Freebooter armor I" is almost as good, but a bit more balanced on the cost side.
On feats the only thing i have to add to Varg is the barricade and kip up feats. In combat that doesn't involve melee threats you can stack your ac very quickly by dropping prone and/or building cover.
sorry for the wall of text, have been playing casters in a couple of starfinder games and so my brain has been imagining what it would be like to be able to use all the fancy armor and weapons. :)
@Doomguide: Awesome info. Yep, I have 12 Str.
Was thinking Azimuth laser, but no idea what it is or looks like. Is Azimuth the aperture or similar? And thus the burst/range descriptor follows the weapon name?
Yep, Doshko looked like the go. Will look at your offered options for misc eqpt and armour later - is Xmas day here in Oz. Thanks again.
OSW, how did you find Kek's avatar? I ask because I haven't been able to find a good shirren avatar.I think it is a Demon, though there are two Demon options - it's the one with 29 options rather than 9. There also an insect on the first page of options unfiltered, near the bottom.
I would also check Magical Beasts, Deities and anything else you can think of.
If I'm not selected, use mine! ;)
Abberations could work too...
@OSW As far as I can tell Azimuth is just a cool sciency word they attached to avoid calling it Laser Rifle I :P
From the Oxford English Dictionary Online.
"Definition of azimuth in English:
azimuth
NOUN
1 The direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the horizon.
1.1 The horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing.
Origin
Late Middle English (denoting the arc of a celestial circle from the zenith to the horizon): from Old French azimut, from Arabic as-samt, from al ‘the’ + samt ‘way, direction’."
I think Doomguide is right. Azimuth laser does not make sense to me, sounds very cool though.
Working on my human operative. Mostly done on paper, just have to make the alias, I think.
This is Digger's submission. Small time crook who enlisted to get out of trouble and (though he'd not admit it to himself) to perhaps have opportunities he'd never have otherwise. I'll write a more substantial background later. Visiting the parents and watching some Stranger Things now.
I think Azimuth might be the name of the company who makes it, similar to the way we say Colt .45.
Here is my new submission. It should fit a bit better with the themes of the campaign, even if it's still rather wacky.
TN Elf Mystic 2
STR 10
DEX 16
CON 9
INT 12
WIS 16
CHA 10
HP/SP 16/10
EAC 16 KAC 17
BAB 1
Init 3
Fort +1
Ref +3
Will +6
Speed 30'
Tactical Baton: +4 to hit; 1d4b damage
Spell Attack: +4 to hit
Spell DC: 13+Spell Level
Skills: Culture r2 +6, Diplomacy r2 +5, Life Sciences r2 +6, Mysticism r2 +10, Perception r2 +11, Piloting r0 +4, Sense Motive r2 +8, Survival r2 +8
Feats: Spell Penetration
Class Features: Healing Touch (1/day heal a target 10 HP), Channel Skill (Perception, Piloting) +1, Minklink (1/day/target), Connection (Star Shaman; Walk the Void)
Spells/Day: -/3
Spells:
0: Detect Magic, Psychokinetic Hand, Telekinetic Projectile, Token Spell
1: Mind Thrust, Mystic Cure, Shooting Stars (Magic Missile)
Equipment: Graphite Carbon Skin Armor, Smoke Grenades x5, Tactical Baton, 485 credits
Fenris knows that his destiny is to ascend to Godhood.
He has known that he has been on this path ever since he started receiving visions of him sitting as an equal to the other gods of the pact worlds.
Fenris received his first vision as a child on Castrovel. At first, his visions only came during dreams, but as he came of age, his visions began to manifest during the day, each time showing him the next step he needed to take on his road to ascension. When he came of age, he joined the Starfinder Society, as he saw that this was where he needed to be. When the time rifts first began, he was stationed on a space station near the first rift when it tore the station apart, he was in the one place that was miraculously spared. This was when his mystic talents first awakened.
When the expedition came about to the Telos system, He had a vision of himself walking an icy world, so he was about to volunteer for the first expedition when he received another vision showing himself signing up for a rescue mission instead.
Fenris does not discuss his visions with others. Instead, he just uses a combination of persuasion and logic to convince the people he needs to be where they need to be.
Fenris is an Elf with short, stylish black hair and golden eyes. He has several piercings on both ears, and likes to wear black leather with gold trim that matches both his hair and eyes. He is just over 6' tall, and seems to have almost no body fat. He is built more like a long distance runner than a weight lifter.
Ok, all equipment bought. 9 credits left, though Kek *will* need to buy some field rations. At the moment he has none, having just arrived from a mostly time-rift scarred/destroyed vessel.
Backstory and character sheet are finished on this profile. As someone who is carrying 5 + 8L bulk and becomes encumbered at 6, I hope there isn't too much heavy loot.
Blasphemer! :p
Well, high tech is available, so hopefully we will need to buy a forklift or two.
Hi all, I wanted to add a little bit to the recruitment.
could everyone please include a small writing sample that involves a scene with your character. be sure to include some dialogue either with yourself or another person. this sample should help to provide a looking into your character's personality a little bit.
Also, an alias is not required, but please include your full submission in a single post if you did not create an alias.
Also just to be sure everyone knows, I am not selecting till after the new year. (I did not set a specific date yet.)
Key is pragmatic, curious and outgoing, at least for a Shirren with regard to non-Shirren.
Kek's attitude toward post-Swarm individuality is not as pronounced as some, but Kek does like making decisions and being faced with choices.
Given the loss of youngling and mates, Kek is surprisingly matter-of-fact and sees no point dwelling on the loss, though it is still a great grief.
Strange, that the airlock decontam should mist for "bugs". Am I not also a "bug"?
Kek passed a shiver through their carapace, antennae flitting absently. The new respirator compound they had implanted took some getting used to, like breathing through a series of sheathed sleeves, spiricles augmented.
Taking stock of this station, Kek felt immediately at home - always comforted by a shell of metal or the artificial gravity and air of station life.
Better in here than on-world, or worse, out there in the void, respirator notwithstanding.
Shouldering the bulky pulsecaster, Kek stowed the other weapons where they could, and took care not to bump the Kasathas in heated or animated conversation - hard to tell really with that many gesticulating limbs. To Kek, aliens' physiologies were just that, alien.
"Oi, Feelers. You want to sell the 'caster? Or maybe buy a toasty ifrit flamer?"
Kek turned to consider the speaker - a humanoid of some kind. Given galactic fashion/apparel, a current fad of interesting hair accoutrements and inorganic piercings and other biological implants, the speaker could easily cross a spectrum of human hybrids. From Kek's experience humans seemed to be compatible with a staggering array of other creatures and could find desire for even more.
A half-elf perhaps?
Kek disliked making the Common "tongue" - fluency was an issue, but moreso was facility. Nevertheless, it did not pay to be rude.
"This Kek makes greeting. Kek has prepared for contingencies, and requires yet only sustenance. Shirren rations, will be provided. Exchange rate?"
Kek purposefully made their diction polite but incorrect. It was to be hoped the vendor would think Kek simple and leave Kek be - sometimes it paid to be just a little... awkward.
The humanoid made the showing-of-the-teeth that Kek still found unsettling, and then spread its hands wide.
Ah. The charade begins...
Kek prepared for some serious haggling, station-style.
N.B. As Kek is Host-gender, Kek is Kek, or they/their rather than he or she.
As Fenris drifted through the vacuum of space, he turned ever so slightly until he could see the shuttle and it's crew, their eyes staring in shock at him as he waved. Let them believe what they will. I care not. he thought as he continued the slow spin until they were out of his view.
He then stared out into the void and remembered the first time he had looked at the stars...
"Father, look! There are lights in the darkness!" the young boy said, pointing up to the star-filled sky.
"Yes, son, those are called stars, and each of them is surrounded by a galaxy, many of which teem with life, like Castrovel does." The older Elf smiled down at his son. That night, after staring up at the sky in wonder and listening to his father explain stars and celestial bodies, the young man drifted off to sleep, and almost immediately began to dream...
A woman, surrounded by fire yet not burning. A Lizardman who had a stick that also sprouted fire, but the stick was not on fire. A butterfly whose wings shone like the stars he had seen earlier. All of these and a hundred hundred more greeting him as an equal. A brother.
...Then a suited man was wrapping his arms around him and dragging him back into the shuttle. Shaking himself free inside the antechamber, the Elf simply said "I did not need your rescue. The boundary of space holds no fear for me. I am, indeed, it's brother."
Here you go.
N Android Soldier 2 (bombard)
Str 14 Dex 16 Con 12 Int 13 Wis 10 Cha 8
HP/SP 16/18 Speed 25'
EAC 15 KAC 17 combat maneuvers 25
BAB +2 Init +3 Resolve points 4
Fort +4 Ref +3 Will +3 *+2 racial bonus to saving throws against disease, mind-affecting effects, poison, and sleep, unless those effects specifically target constructs.
Speed 25'
Attacks
Assault Hammer: +5 to hit; 1d6+2 B
Artillery laser, azimuth: +6 to hit, 1d10 F damage, crit (1d6 burn). Called infusion.
Flash grenade I: +6 to hit, blind 1d4 rnds, 5 ft radius, DC 14
Dragon Gland: 15' cone of lightning 3d6 damage. DC 11+ 1/2 char level.
Skills Acrobatics +5, Athletics +4, Engineering +6, Medicine +6, Piloting +8, Profession(Weapons design) +5, Survival +4. Feats Weapon Focus: Heavy, Versatile Focus
Special
Constructed: For effects targeting creatures by type, androids count as both humanoids and constructs (whichever effect is worse). They receive a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against disease, mind-affecting effects, poison, and sleep, unless those effects specifically target constructs. In addition, androids do not breathe or suffer the normal environmental effects of being in a vacuum.
Exceptional Vision: low-light vision and darkvision
Flat Affect: -2 penalty to Sense Motive checks, but the DCs of Sense Motive checks attempted against them increase by 2.
Upgrade Slot: Androids have a single armor upgrade slot in their bodies. Regardless of whether androids are wearing physical armor, they can use this slot to install any one armor upgrade that could be installed into light armor.
Grenade Expert (Ex): You increase the range increment of your thrown grenades by 5 × your Strength bonus. In addition, you’re able to salvage enough materials to create a grenade without paying for it. Creating a grenade takes 10 minutes. You can create any grenade whose item level is less than or equal to your soldier level, but this grenade is unstable and only you can use it effectively. If anyone else tries to use the grenade, it is a dud. You can have only one grenade created by this ability at one time (if you create a new grenade using this ability, the old grenade no longer works).
Languages: Common, Azlanti
Gear: Hidden Soldier Armor, Assault Hammer, Artillery laser, azimuth(called infusion), Dragon Gland, 1 Serum of healing I, 1 Medpatch, Toolkit, personal comm, Temporary Flash grenade I, 13 credits.
The beige interior of the security office was jarred from its bland existence by the strobing lights from the emergency response vehicles, and the smell of smoke and ozone from the odd figure slumped in the holding cell. His form would would normally evoke an image of sleek technology and military precision, however this image was spoiled by the exposed circuitry and charred synth flesh in his left eye and much of his left side.
Focus on me Agent Vicis. said Starfinder Gorson Ru, snapping the fingers on all four hands to rouse the injured Androids attention. Tell me again how a simple courier mission to a trade conference resulted in the destruction of the not one, but two ships, and the thousands of credits of cargo.
Vicis stopped poking at the damage to his side and focused his one intact eye on his superior. Technically the cargo shuttle can be repaired. Probably. with a sigh he continued, That “Cargo”, was enough contraband weapons to start a small war.
Agent Vicis! Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is is for the society! the Kosathan Starfinder started in.
Go bleach yourself! Barked Vicis. Just because those idiots donated to the Starfinders doesn’t make them the good guys. You people and your politics. Half those weapons were recovered from goblin raiders. Lasers, grenades, cargo frames, fighters. And at any moment they could have blown up or worse. I just helped them along a bit. the agent calmed a little, then spit some milky blood on the tiles of the floor. Look, none of the rats or their terrorist customers were killed. You get to turn over a dozen criminals to Absolam security, and the merchant corp gets to deny they had any idea what was going on. Hell, they will probably offer an even bigger “donation” to keep us quiet about it. Its a win for everyone. Except for my combat rig that is. sighing and going back to examining his damaged implants. Hey, can I get reimbursed for these repairs?
The red-faced sputtering from Gorson Ru, suggested that was unlikely.
Hi guys, still here and still time to apply
Will finish my character and put it up here tomorrow.
Ok, looks like not much more traffic, I will be closing this recruitment on Friday 5 Jan 2018, 11pm EST (that's 4am on Saturday 6 Jan UTC)
only an hour to go, not much for applications.
We may not cover the gamut of the classes but we cover pretty much all of the needs. We can cover the ship positions solidly. We have aoe, we have hp healing, we have a charisma monkey, we have offensive magic.
The only thing i see missing from the standard lineup is that we don't have a way to heal stamina short of a 10 minute rest. Personally, i think that there should be something with the medicine skill to deal with that, but that is just my pet peave.
Perhaps it would be good for all of us to post again to reconfirm our interest.
Still here...
I like that idea Doom, those still interested post here and provide a link to your character.
I will try and set up some intro this weekend.
also, posting requirements: I like once a day, but sometimes it is not always possible, so if we can manage at least 4 per week I think we can keep things moving.
while the game will have combat. I do not want that to be the primary focus.
leveling will not be via xp. I'll just declare level ups as the story progresses.
Here is Doomguides character. Or at least what he may look like in many levels.
Here is Fenrus.
I’m still interested.
Let's do business.
Let's do business.
FYI you can use your dex for attack rolls with operative melee weapons.
but not damage rolls.
Nice, good to know. Thanks.
ok looked over the characters, the only thing I see right now (minor thing)
W.P Stagg: I am unsure on your skills operative's edge bonus does not stack with any bonus from skill synergy.
also for everyone, please update your profiles to include your back story. and your interaction sample.
Ok game-play and discussion are open.
I think I have 5 of you:
Vicis
Fenris
K'teskt
W.P. Stagg
Kek
ok looked over the characters, the only thing I see right now (minor thing)
W.P Stagg: I am unsure on your skills operative's edge bonus does not stack with any bonus from skill synergy.
also for everyone, please update your profiles to include your back story. and your interaction sample.
Ah, thank you. This was literally my first Starfinder character. Will adjust and archive backstory.
From the SRD:
OPERATIVE’S EDGE (EX) 1ST LEVEL
Your diverse training as an operative grants you a +1 insight bonus to initiative checks and to skill checks. This bonus increases by 1 at 3rd level and every 4 levels thereafter.
SPECIALIZATION 1ST LEVEL
Your specialization represents your primary area of expertise. Pick one specialization upon taking your 1st level of the operative class. Once made, this choice cannot be changed. Your specialization grants you the Skill Focus feat in your specialization’s associated skills, and you gain a free skill rank in each of those skills at each operative level (this does not allow you to exceed the maximum number of skill ranks in a single skill).
SKILL SYNERGY
You understand how two skills work well together.
Benefit: Choose two skills. These skills become class skills for you. If one or both were already class skills, you gain a +2 insight bonus to those skill checks instead.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times. Its effects don’t stack. Each time you take it, it applies to two different skills.
So it's not really clear.
all of those are insight bonuses, and they do not stack
operative edge is a +1 insight bonus
skill focus provides a +3 insight bonus
Skill synergy offers a +2 insight bonus to two skill (or makes them a class skill)
I will keep you in mind and see how well I can handle what I have.
sorry about that.