Starfinder Society Year 5 Rule Updates

Greetings, Starfinders! The launch of the Year of Redemption’s Rise is less than a month away, and we hope you’re all excited. Jessica and I are here today to talk about some of the new rule changes taking effect on May 27th, when Year 5 launches at PaizoCon. Our transition to Achievement Points last year was a big shift, so this year we’re keeping things simple.

Illustration by Michele Giorgi

New Species

With the advent of our new year, we have five species moving to the Always Available list! As of May 27, players may create as many dragonkin, pahtra, sarcesian, shobhad, and vlaka characters as they like. As outlined in the Starfinder Society FAQ, any admittance boon for these species can then be used as “Existing Character” boons to gain a boost to certain stats. The boons in the Achievement Points system have been updated to reflect this option, and you can download an updated copy now. These boons cannot be purchased after May 27.

Dragonkin characters have the following additional rule:
When you create a dragonkin character, you must select another player’s character to form your partner bond with. Mark down that character’s Organized Play number on your character sheet. If that character is permanently slain, then you can select a new partner bond by marking a new Organized Play number on your character sheet between sessions.

New Factions

Three new factions have risen to prominence this year as well. The Advocates, Cognates and Manifold Host factions can be selected by all characters once Year 5 launches. No further boon purchases are required to champion any of these factions. Previous members of the Manifold Host faction now enjoy an expanded slate of boons and have early access to higher-tier boons by virtue of their time spent bringing the faction to prominence.

Raise Dead

This update isn’t tied to Year 5 specifically, but I figured this was as good a place as any to mention it. Recently, some of our volunteers pointed out that in the move to Achievement Points, the Raise Dead boon for the Starfinder Society required players to pay both AcP and credits to resurrect their character. As the Fame boon never required the extra credit expenditure, this was clearly an error somewhere along the line, and we apologize for it. The boon has been updated to remove this clause, and if anybody did spend credits on the boon, you may restore those credits on your next Chronicle Sheet. Thanks to those who pointed out this error!

Now, I’ll turn it over to Jessica for some more previews of upcoming boons for Year 5. Take it away!

Alex Speidel
Organized Play Coordinator

New Boons

Hello, fellow Starfinders!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared previews of our three minor factions: the Advocates, Cognates, and Manifold Host. While the Advocates and Cognates are launching with a complete slate of boons, the Manifold Host is receiving a few new boons to round out their already existing boon selection. However, our minor factions aren’t the only factions receiving new boons this coming year! All three of our Second Seekers factions are receiving two new boons, and today we’re revealing three of them! This increase brings them in line with our other major factions. Note that these boons aren’t final yet and may change slightly before release.

Second Seekers (Ehu Hadif)

Expert Scanner (Starship Boon):
You believe information and preparation are integral to a Starfinder’s success and have learned a few tricks to get the most out of your starship’s sensors. When you utilize a starship’s sensors, you increase the modifier granted by those sensors by 2. This doesn’t increase the range of those sensors. For example, if you’re on a starship with basic short-range sensors, you treat the sensors as having a +4 modifier, rather than a +2 modifier.

Special: A starship can benefit from only one copy of this Starship boon at a time.
Other Notes: 15+ Reputation with Second Seekers (Ehu Hadif)
AcP Cost: 4

Second Seekers (Jadnura)

Reflective Meditation (Slotless Boon):
You’ve taken Jadnura’s lessons to heart and have spent a great deal of time contemplating your place in the universe and within the Starfinder Society. Once per scenario, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to meditate on your current course for 10 minutes. When you do so, select mind or matter. If you select mind, for the duration of the next combat encounter, you gain a +1 bonus to saving throws. If you select matter, for the duration of the next combat encounter, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Other Notes: 5+ Reputation with Second Seekers (Jadnura)
AcP Cost: 4

Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo)

Experienced Diplomat (Slotless Boon):
Your time with Luwazi Elsebo has taught you how to juggle the needs of disparate parties and smooth over diplomatic missteps. Once per adventure, when you would fail at a Diplomacy check that’s written into the adventure, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to reroll that Diplomacy check. You must use the second result.

Other Notes: 15+ Reputation with Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo)
AcP Cost: 4

That’s all for now, Starfinders! I hope you join us as we launch into the Year of Redemption’s Rise!

Jessica Catalan
Starfinder Society Developer