Ningasak |
This was a huge issue with me from first edition. As a Starfinder you are given a mission for example, go to the lava fields and find out why the magma wyrms are enraged. Then, I google the world using the computer knowledge bonus from using a web connection. +10 to my recall check. Now I know for a fact, that magma wyrms are weak against cold damage.
If I am low level, or the 'incorrect' level. I have 0 options to by a ray gun that shoots cold bullets. I can't turn a knob on my gun to change the damage type. I can't even make my laser pistol transform into a knife, or have some cool laser throwing sword.
The items in a future game, should be futuristic. If you have a 3d printer it should be able to 3d print bullets with a variety of elemental effect. And before anyone starts saying nonsense about the scientific issues of making variable bullet, this isn't science, this is a game. If you bust out your electron microscope and zoom in, you get d20's not atoms.
Honestly, every game I ran of Starfinder, I used my items. I threw out the terrible starting cash and the way too expensive guns. Nothing like telling a player 80% of their starting cash goes toward their one sword to put a damper on the science fiction fantasy of being awesome.
Want a great example of awful weapons. Check Cyberpunk Red. Nothing kills the cool like picking up a heavy pistol. Not an Ares Roomsweeper or a Veskarium Scattergun, just some default generic gun. I remember when dirty harry pulled out his 'very heavy pistol' and how impactful it was being called, 'very heavy pistol.'
I'd personally, give them all names and sources then put, *feel free to change the style/appearance/manufacturer of your weapons, the universe is a big place* as a side bar.
Seriously, Skittertech Scattergun sounds cool, but a scattergun is a category, not an weapon name. It also does nothing for world building, or context. Who makes scatterguns? Why are the all the same? There is a game called Crying suns, it has robots that make everything. People can't make stuff. That would then make sense. Every scattergun is just a 'scattergun' as they are all made by the same 3D printer. I doubt this is the same situation in Starfinder. Unless I missed a chapter where Triune took over manufacturing.