Starfinder: Nomad Section (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

Setting this thread up for game development and OOC discussion.

Alrighty... I was originally considering two main campaigns to run: the published 'Dead Suns' AP, or a conversion of the old 'Age of Worms' 3.5e AP. While I think AoW would port perfectly into the Starfinder setting, I am still pretty unfamiliar with the new rules. Its a good possibility I'd get bogged down in the conversion grind and slow down the game.

AND THEN I started reading through 'Dead Suns', and while it has some cool elements, its also a bit generic in places. Not very inspiring so far. =/ However, its a very good platform to introduce the Starfinder rules and setting.

AND THEN I read a recent blog announcement -- Starfinder APs are going to a 3-part (vs the current 6-part) format! I'm a huge fan -- PbP games are notoriously slow, so the ability to run a complete story arc in potentially less than a decade is inspiring. Plus, it makes the idea of weaving multiple adventures into a campaign with the same PCs a lot more realistic.

AND THEN I read that the next AP is 'Against the Aeon Throne', featuring the Azlanti Star Empire as villains! I'm already more interested than in the current AP.

Problem is the first chapter doesn't come out until August... bah! So, in the meantime, I'm happy to run a low-level introductory scenario. There's a couple Starfinder Society modules that would work perfectly.

What do you think?

It's all new to me so i'm super excited, regardless.

Thinking an operative of some sort ... skill monkey, scout type. Also may consider taking a soldier/sniper route as well. Looking at android or damaya lashunta

For what its worth, Hero Lab Online has a functioning character builder. I was able to use the demo -- haven't hit any pay/sub requirements yet.

I too was looking at an operative, always liked bounty-hunter themed characters for space adventures but reading more on the mechanic too.

No idea on race

Note, there are a ton of 'alien' races from the Alien Archive that could be used for characters (GM permission, etc).

Unfortunately, the online SRD *still* isn't up yet. There are a couple of other 3rd party ones though.

Do the alien races have "if used as a PC" stats in the Alien Archive?

Verthani might make a good operative. That could be fun.

Space goblin hit and run soldier. Hmmm

I'm good for anything, but I really like the Starfinder AoW concept.

The flying brain dude (contemplative) reminds me of the Great Gazoo. Make him an envoy, could be epic.

The following races from the Alien Archive have character racial traits. Still need my okay to use in game, though. Don't want anything too silly ofc.

Barathu -- flying jellyfish-like things from Bretheda
Contemplative -- big-braid humanoids
Draelik -- tall mystic humanoids
Dragonkin -- pretty much what you think
Drow -- dark elves... in space!
Formian -- ant-men
Goblin, Space -- self-explanatory
Gray -- mysterious aliens like from X-files
Haan -- wierd, floating insect things
Ikeshti -- lizardmen... in space! But not Vesk.
Kalo -- aquatic humanoids
Maraquoi -- feline-ish humanoids with 7 different sexes
Nuar -- albino minotaur-like humanoids
Reptoid -- shapeshifting reptilian (go figure) race
Ryphorian -- durable natives of Triaxus
Sarcesian -- large humanoids with solar-sail wings
Shobhad -- 4-armed giants with tusks
Skittermander -- tiny ewok/kobold things
Urog -- large silicon-based insect beast
Verthani -- humanoids with skin-camouflage ability
Witchwyrd -- big 4-armed magical folk
Wrikreechee -- insect humanoids with claw-arms

The 'Dead Suns' AP volumes also had a few with racial traits. Let me know if any of these sound interesting and I'll send you more.

Kish -- tall hairless humanoids, survivalists, descendants of the kishalee
Ferran -- short humanoids from high gravity world
Woioko -- amphibious people with eel-like features
Elebrian -- human-like native race of Eox, powerful intellects, nearly extinct

That's a big list, but the core races are just fine, so don't sweat the sea of options.

I'm going to save AoW for another day... maybe PF2!

If you guys are willing, put together some characters and I'll be ready to go when you are. Gives me impetus to brush up on the rules again!

I am looking at building the four following characters to get used to the rules and figuring out what equipment and such does.

Dave, lemme know if the races are allowed (one is from Pact Worlds)

• Space Goblin Bombard Soldier: Slightly maniacal, wants to break things. Carries ridiculously big guns like an artillery laser, wears heavy armor, throws lots of grenades
• Kasatha Solarion: Cliche Jedi type personality
• SRO Mechanic: Sarcastic robot hacker; mimics/mocks emotions and human judgement
• Verthani Ghost Operative: sniper/stealth cybernetic scout; fascination with technology and exploration

Still working on themes for each of them. Are themes from Pact Worlds available, Dave?

Assuming 1,000 credit starting cash?

HeroLab Online is pretty awesome ... easily useable with the demo version (free with no time limit) for you guys.

Here's the first completed one I've made, so far.

Another one

Forgot to equip armor on Lasereater. Will increase ACs.

Yeah, standard 1,000 credit starting wealth.

I'm swamped this week. I'll try to get a character put together this weekend.

Point buying? If so how much?

10 are the basic rules. Default on hero lab online.

Apparently later iterations of hero lab will allow Dave to distribute loot and have us claim it there and allow us to assign duties on a starship

Does a weapon come loaded or do we need to purchase initial ammo?

Yes, standard 10 point build.

For ammo, I don't know. Unless the book says otherwise, I'd assume weapon and ammo are separate. You don't get a free arrow with your bow in PF.

Sure, ill need to relook at gear on these two. Ammo costs are wildy different for different weapons.

Working on a Ikeshti Mechanic Bounty Hunter and then I will be working on an Android Operative Outlaw. Should have something done here in the next hour or two

I'm thinking an Android soldier mercenary with a Blade Runner Officer K type flavor - brooding, lethal and slightly unbalanced. I'll stat something up on hero lab.

Here's my solarion. Doesn't require ammo, so no updates necessary here. I have xenoseeker as a theme and Cleave as a feat, but would likely take some different things from Pact Worlds (there is a kasatha theme and a kasatha battledance feat that I'd likely take instead). If Charlie plays a soldier and Kam goes with an operative, I'll play this guy.

Here's an armor-based solarion, might be leaning more toward this guy

Here's my first pass at a character. Just using Hero lab, I need to do more research into the system.

Hero Lab adds ammo as part of the initial purchase. I'll look through the rulebook to see if it states it in there somewhere.

I like the space goblin the most, but in the interest of party balance will go solarion if Charlie is taking the soldier role.

Creating multiple characters in case someone wants to grab one. No intention of playing this one.

Since I can't seem to create the Ikeshti race here is my Mechanic as an Android as the stats are close

Weapons that use standard ammunition (arrows, charges, darts, mini-rockets, petrol, rounds, scattergun shells, etc.) are sold preloaded. For weapons with other forms of ammunition (such as grenades), ammunition must be purchased separately.

Since I can't seem to create the Ikeshti race here is my Mechanic as an Android as the stats are close

Did you try building a 'custom race' in the character builder. I'm sure they will add the other Alien Archive races at some point soon. I think Tike said the Pact Worlds book options were being added also.

PS - that is some sweet HTML code!

I was running out the door and didn't even look, sigh...thankfully I emailed you my PDF so you can do all the work

I did try build custom race on the online version and it isn't letting me put any stats in, most likely user error but I don't like hero labs myself

Ikeshti shows up on my hero lab. Did you make sure alien archive was selected?

I don't own it, said I had to buy it to use it

Huh ...

And my Opp

Tike I think you should play your goblin, you made him first and you like him best, if we end up needing something else after we get started we'll figure it out

Here is a first cut with stats.

Dave if you have a chance can you build out the Mechanic in your hero labs and shoot his stat block over to me?

Yeah, will do. I need to figure out if/how to connect my HeroLab classic account to the HL online app. Tike, how did you do that? Or did you create a new login?

I found an answer... if you have a Realm Works account, you use that for HLO. If not, you are considered a "new" user. There is currently no connection between HLO and HL classic.

Dave if you have a chance can you build out the Mechanic in your hero labs and shoot his stat block over to me?

Building the ikeshti mech in HLO (its very easy to use... not sure why you hate it so much). I don't see a feat or skill focus indicated. What are you wanting for those?

Also, you had 8 skill points spent, but should only be 7 (4 base + 3 Int). I removed the point from Diplomacy, but let me know if you prefer something else.

hmm, so if Charlie is going to play a character who venerates the devourer, that might take this whole party in a different direction. The solarion idea I had won't play well with that.

Space goblin would, but don't really want two soldiers in the party. Mark has an operative. Kam making the mechanic.

I'll probably still play the solarion, but maybe change the motivation, alignment (and possibly race). Might go vesk, now that I think about it.

Brad, look at mystic or technomancer.

Guess there's an envoy as well ... should look at that class. Feels like a bard. Nobody wants to be the bard.

Devourer, what? That's probably not a great plan.

I put together this medic-style solider for anyone to use. I was trying to make a non-magic healer (which seems like a natural fit for the game), but there's no such build options available yet.

Looks like the party is starting to come together!

Charlie - Bax-9/Android Soldier
Mark - Valnor/Human Operative
Kam - Kossax/Ikeshti Mechanic
Tike - ??/Vesk Solarion
Brad -??

Nothing final yet, but make your choices and I'll plan to kick things off in a day or two. I'll work Brad into the game if he joins a bit late. Also, since this is a new(-ish) game and we're all still learning, if you decide your character/build just isn't working the way you were expecting, I'll be pretty liberal with the respec/replace chances. Don't feel like you're locked in to one character for the duration.

That reminds me of the old Dark Sun character 'stables', where you kept 3-4 PCs, running one and keeping the others in the wings for ready replacements. The concept works well in the densely-populated future game! If you want to run maintain characters, go for it... you can operate one in the game at a time, with the other(s) doing some kind of generic garrison duty.

Hmmm... Kind of makes gearing tough though. Would have to keep wealth/equipment equal, but non-transferable.

I'm still waffling. I may end up playing Lasereater, regardless.
Here are both of my final choices. Thoughts from the others?

Just built him as an Android, the more I was reading about it I figure it's a better race for it.