So, I had this thought earlier today, and I don't think I've seen it expressed anywhere else.
The PC version of races and the "monster" version of races are different. How feasible might it be for there to be racial archetypes (in the Starfinder sense of archetypes) to bring the PC version closer to the "monster" version?
I'll use the haan as an example. All characters will naturally get better AC, saves, and HP, so that's probably not an issue. All I think they need is (a) full flight, (b) the balloon attack, and (c) firespray all day long. Give those at the appropriate levels, possibly in increments, and the PC haan is much closer to the full haan.
Without seeing the rules, it's hard for me to tell what levels these would be appropriate at, but (a) seems to fall in place early for Starfinder, and (c) could be judged by what level a similar weapon would be. For (b), maybe there's a vaguely similar spell that could be used as a guideline.
Thoughts?
Edit: Oops, I forgot (d) the claw attack. I'm sure that can be worked in somewhere.
I think that might be nifty. Trading away class abilities for Monster abilities. On the flip side though. I feel it clashes a bit with Paizo's direction for Archetypes in Starfinder and opens up a can of worms in the sense of if you are doing it for x monster why aren't they doing it for y monster ya know?
I have been thinking about this, as well, over the last several days. It puts me in mind of the monster classes that Rite Publishing does in our "In the Company of..." series, but doing it with archetypes, instead. I think it is a very fitting way to get a properly functioning monster, like say a medusa or a vampire, all of its own abilities over time, while still allowing the PC to have their own class advancement like core race PCs.
I could see a Drow Noble archetype as well.