Starfinder First Contact

Is there anything whatsoever in this that won't be in the normal books? Anything in any way?

Is there anything whatsoever in this that won't be in the normal books? Anything in any way?

When they launched Pathfinder, some of the Bonus Bestiary content was not available anywhere else for years.

The print issue is available now.

In addition to the 1d810+5 P Sarcesian tactical sniper rifle (wow -- that's even more broken than StarCraft II original version of Ghosts' Snipe ability), I have a question about the ability score part of the Aliens as PCs sidebar:

{. . .}

Additionally, Star nder uses a brand-new version of the point-buy character creation system. The modi ers listed in a creature’s Ability Buy Points entry represent an entirely different system—points used to purchase abilities rather than direct increases to the ability. It’s easy to adapt them to the traditional Path nder RPG racial traits. Simply replace the racial ability score modi ers listed here as –1 with –2, and those listed as +1 with +2; other values remain the same.

If you left out the "other values remain the same" part, this would lead to some pretty insane ability score adjustments (like +8 Intelligence for Contemplatives backported to Pathfinder), but with it, you get the weird effect that creatures backported from Starfinder to Pathfinder can have +2 or greater to an ability score, or -2 or less to an ability score, or no adjustment, but cannot get +1 or -1. What's up with that? Something seems to have gotten tangled up in editing, or I'm somehow not reading it right.

Also, giving monsters ability modifiers instead of ability scores makes sense as far as it goes, but why stop there? Why not do that for PCs as well?

Also, giving monsters ability modifiers instead of ability scores makes sense as far as it goes, but why stop there? Why not do that for PCs as well?

See this discussion

If you left out the "other values remain the same" part, this would lead to some pretty insane ability score adjustments (like +8 Intelligence for Contemplatives backported to Pathfinder), but with it, you get the weird effect that creatures backported from Starfinder to Pathfinder can have +2 or greater to an ability score, or -2 or less to an ability score, or no adjustment, but cannot get +1 or -1. What's up with that? Something seems to have gotten tangled up in editing, or I'm somehow not reading it right.

I'm pretty sure the Racial Traits boxes are using the actual ability score bonuses and penalties for the purpose of building characters. Only the bestiary statblock is using the new, abbreviated Ability Modifier only notation.

Consider the Space Goblin's "Dex +3" vs the goblin racial trait "+4 Dex".

I guess I'll bring attention to the fact that the print version is now available for purchase.

Is there anything whatsoever in this that won't be in the normal books? Anything in any way?

I believe that the Space Pirate does not yet have a future home.

Amenephis wrote:

Is there anything whatsoever in this that won't be in the normal books? Anything in any way?

I believe that the Space Pirate does not yet have a future home.

I will happily take her in.

-Skeld

Good to have some free first contactful Starfindin' stuff out there. ;)

On PC versions of alien races, and languages.

We have a standardized rule for that in the Core Rulebook (on page 17), so it's unnecessary to get specific about such info in each PC race write-up.

Unless I'm missing something, the PC version sidebars for some of the playable aliens appear to be missing movement methods and speeds, such as that of the haan. Is there a universal rule for this that I didn't see, or is one intended to use the information listed in the monster entry?

Unless I'm missing something, the PC version sidebars for some of the playable aliens appear to be missing movement methods and speeds, such as that of the haan. Is there a universal rule for this that I didn't see, or is one intended to use the information listed in the monster entry?

You're missing something.

Of course this may be different in the final version, as it feels strange.
Maybe you gain em with higher level.

Pennate wrote:

Unless I'm missing something, the PC version sidebars for some of the playable aliens appear to be missing movement methods and speeds, such as that of the haan. Is there a universal rule for this that I didn't see, or is one intended to use the information listed in the monster entry?

You're missing something.

In the introduction it says that PC aliens have lesser versions of alien abilities, some even not at all.

Of course this may be different in the final version, as it feels strange.
Maybe you gain em with higher level.

I'm sorry; I should have been clearer. I read and understood that part of the inroduction, but I found it odd that some sidebars for playable aliens lack listings for any sort of movement; if one sticks to RAW, haan PCs are completely immobile, and sarcesian PCs can't leave a vacuum without being stranded in an unforgiving environment. I was wondering if, in these cases, a player could use the movement speeds listed in the monster entry, or, alternatively, if there is some kind of rule that sets a default speed for races that lack a listed value.

You don't even know what RAW says.

I would go with what's in the stat block. :-)

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Pennate wrote:

Unless I'm missing something, the PC version sidebars for some of the playable aliens appear to be missing movement methods and speeds, such as that of the haan. Is there a universal rule for this that I didn't see, or is one intended to use the information listed in the monster entry?

You're missing something.

In the introduction it says that PC aliens have lesser versions of alien abilities, some even not at all.

Of course this may be different in the final version, as it feels strange.
Maybe you gain em with higher level.

I'm sorry; I should have been clearer. I read and understood that part of the inroduction, but I found it odd that some sidebars for playable aliens lack listings for any sort of movement; if one sticks to RAW, haan PCs are completely immobile, and sarcesian PCs can't leave a vacuum without being stranded in an unforgiving environment. I was wondering if, in these cases, a player could use the movement speeds listed in the monster entry, or, alternatively, if there is some kind of rule that sets a default speed for races that lack a listed value.

Everything for player characters is EXACTLY THE SAME as for monster races, UNLESS the sidebar says something else.

Of course it may be moot to memorize this, as the final product may change these rules.

Finally something native to Aucturn, I adore the Orocorans

So we know the character creation rules for Starfinder were tweaked right before the book went to the printer. So now that PDFs of the core are starting to pop up for subscribers, is there any word on how to adjust the ability scores for 'proper' Starfinder PCs? I'm guessing adjust like you would for PF (as per the sidebar) and call it a day, but I'm open to suggestions.

Scores start at 10, you apply Racials, and then you have 10 points to spend point for point.

Capped at 18 starting too.

Also, you can't "sell back" ability score points. Racial ability score modifiers can drop a score as low as 8, and you might not want to put points toward raising it any higher, but you get no benefit from dropping that score to 7 or lower.

Thx Rysky, Toz & Paris.

That is one of the most usefull informations yet, it would be well advised to write that in a Starfinder character creation blog.

I still just want to know how Haan use things! I mean they have tools strapped to them in the picture but how do they use them? I want to understand!

Are any of these races legal in Organized Play?

Are any of these races legal in Organized Play?

Only as special boons -- and apparently no one has gotten a space goblin boon yet.

Only with boons.