I think we need one more bunk, for the Doc. Honestly, in the circumstances we’re in, I say you double up bunks in 2 rooms, for 4 racks. Give the Skipper his own room. And now some amount of Medical area, although that could double with the Science Lab, and be cramped for space. We share some of the same gear anyways. This isn’t a luxury cruise. Make him a bit more utilitarian.
Might I suggest that the 4 rooms on Deck 2 accommodate 2, 2, 1 and 1 person. With the 1s on the port side of the ship. Add a second head just aft of the second room on the port side. That gives the captain and someone else a single stateroom with their own head. On the starboard side, those 2 are both double bunks, and share the head between them.
Anyways, he looks good. Utilitarian, I’m just suggesting we go further with that aesthetic. She was a rust bucket of a trader, but we’ll clean her up, at least on the inside!
Without objection, I will have Elowen create a background for Clarissa, as well as sorting everyone out together. Maybe I met Clarissa at school. I was doing Technomancer School, while she was doing medical school?
Once you're all comfortable with your backstories, you might give some thought as to how you encountered each other, how you came into possession of the Betty, and in what order.
If I can convince you guys each to post your backgrounds, and I'll take a swing at putting together a story as to how we all got together. If anyone has suggestions, I can figure that in.
Here is mine:
Vaëlorin: Seeker of Lost Worlds:
Born into the floating city of Lir’vanna, Vaëlorin grew up surrounded by luminous databanks, arcane laboratories, and philosophical debates on the nature of the cosmos. From an early age, he was captivated by the ancient myths of Castrovel—its sprawling megaflora, its psionic scholars, its boundless evolutionary potential. But myths were not enough. Vaëlorin sought proof.
His path was clear: he enrolled in the prestigious Institute of Arcane Astrometrics, a research academy that sought to map the lost connections between ancient ley lines and stellar currents. There, he was recognized as a prodigy—his mind as keen as his incantations, his calculations as precise as his spellwork. While others saw magic and science as separate disciplines, Vaëlorin treated them as one, speaking of reality as a grand symphony where every equation was a note and every spell a harmony.
Though a respected scholar, Vaëlorin grew restless. Data alone would not reveal the truth—only exploration could. He took the first transport he could find to the refugee fleet, offering his skills in science, mysticism, and technology in exchange for passage. The war against the Cyleerin had all but destroyed New Castrovel’s libraries, but within the fleet’s archives, in the scattered remnants of their ancestors’ knowledge, lay the last chance to rediscover Castrovel.
Now, as Science Officer aboard the fleet’s vessel, Vaëlorin sees every journey as another step toward the ultimate destination. Golarion may be the Council's end goal, but for him, it is merely a waypoint. His true purpose is to stand upon the soil of Castrovel once more and reclaim the lost heritage of his people.
"The cosmos is a song, and we have only heard a single verse. Let us find the next stanza together." – Vaëlorin
Preliminary stats in my profile. I’ll work on the formatting and get more detail in there regarding what the various abilities do. Like that doesn’t say what Spacefarer gives me.
The Atreides had a battle language, so should you.
Any suggestions on what to use? Any of you low intelligence knuckle draggers want to suggest your native tongue?
Any other languages I should pick up? Is there a science or magic language to have, similar to how Greek, Latin, and French have played that role in western culture?
Right! Give the ship his own background. He started out as something amazing and new, has gone through multiple owners, left out in the front yard with the old toasters and laundry machines, and get bolted together to go to space again when the Aleerin attacked, and now she’s ours somehow. Flesh it out, or I can, if someone tosses me ideas.
I'm worried about doing that with my Technomancer too!
I wouldn't worry too much. My games don't tend to require anything one would call Optimizing.
This answer makes me happy.
I will take you at your word and create a character with more flavor than crunch. He’ll be able to knock out the Science Officer role, but with this in mind, I think I can take some of the “suboptimal” Hacks, and be a more flavorful PC.
Sure, sure, but the Science Officer’s role is so critical in combat and exploring! So sayeth the elven sages! Second only to the ship’s cook, by halfling reckoning.
I'm worried about doing that with my Technomancer too!
I wouldn't worry too much. My games don't tend to require anything one would call Optimizing.
Well, in Starfinder, they really made sure that so many of the bonuses are all the same type, so they don't stack, and you feel like a dork if you end up wasting feats, abilities, etc. by overlapping bonuses.
Query: when you say "ship design" what do you mean? Picking some cool outer look, and maybe floorplan, for our ship. Or, do you mean, someone to take build points, and decide what systems, etc? If the latter, "NOT IT!" I haven't played SF in several years, and I'd end up statting out some hunk of junk!
I'm worried about doing that with my Technomancer too!
I figure (hope) you guy shave damage covered, and I will focus on more non damage-y things from my class. Sure, sure, I'll carry the mandatory raygun, or whatever, but that's not my focus.
I took the list of Realm Spells in the BRCS, and formatted them to sort by Spell Level, and Holding Level requirements. You will find that at the bottom of the Rules Doc.
It occurs to me we’re first level, so I’m already maxed. Can I research a Battle Spell?
You can research a battle spell.
BRCS wrote:
Spellcasters with the Battle Spell feat can provide even greater benefit to the armies with which they are allied.
Bath, no! No I can't, for 2 reasons:
1) There is no such Feat listed in the BRCS Document
2) Assuming they actually mean the "Battle Caster" Feat, you must be 5th level to take it.
So, there are exactly 5 "Character Actions" listed:
1) Adventure - We're not Adventuring yet.
2) Ply Trade
3) Research - I can't do Battle Magic yet, and I don't want to have "too many" 1st level Realm spells
4) Training - I'm already maxed at HPs
5) Travel - Where would I go? I mean, I'm in Caudraight for a reason.
Ok, so that leaves me with "Ply Trade" as the only valid option.
I have a +5 in Profession(Herbalist), which I believe then earns me 10gp per Table 5-15. The next round is on me.
