Since I will be GMing this, what is the effect of increasing starting credits? Say to 1,500? Or even 2,000?
I dunno. I suggest experimenting. Please share your results!
I dunno. I suggest experimenting. Please share your results!
True. Given the level limits on starting gear, it might not be as helpful as it might seem.
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I'd suggest that it doesn't matter all that much so long as no one starts with better than item level 1 gear.
Yes, it depends if you allow the extra credits to be used to buy level +2 or better gear. If you do the pcs will be significantly more powerful so the challenge ratings will be off.
Which is my concern. :(
They would also have less incentive to loot bodies for gear.
That would be a good thing. The game already discourages this by only giving a 10% return on loot.
So, why exactly are you contemplating this cause of action?
Because buying starting equipment was harder then I thought it would be (for the sample characters I was creating to learn the system).
Start with a suit of second skin armor (250 cr) and
'consumer backpack, hygiene kit, travel clothing, 11 R2Es, 1 personal comm unit, 1 flashlight (2 bulk plus 3 L bulk [3.3 bulk if carried], 35 cr)' as a stock equipment set for all of your first level characters.
Leaves you with 715 credits to spend and the basic needs are all covered. Swap personal hygiene kit out for +3 R2Es for any character with access to token spell, at a bulk of 1.6 instead of 2.3.
I could buy almost 30 extra frag grenades...which is easily allowing for 45 starting frag grenades (which is 4 bulk), a detonator, a semi auto pistol, a stationwear flight suit, and 5 R2E's. As an Ysoki soldier bombard style I could make 1 more grenade for free and store 10 grenades in my cheek pouches keyed to the detonator...and I could do that 4 times and 6 grenades on the 5th time.
Keep in mind that mk 2 frag grenades cost twenty times what mk 1 frag grenades cost for a +1 bonus to the save DC. Seems awful pricey for +1d6 damage allowing a Reflex save for half 1 better.
Keep in mind that mk 2 frag grenades cost twenty times what mk 1 frag grenades cost for a +1 bonus to the save DC. Seems awful pricey for +1d6 damage allowing a Reflex save for half 1 better.
Yep that's why I stuck with Mk 1.
R2E? (Ready to Eat?)
R2E? (Ready to Eat?)
Yeppers. Asides from "meals" (which don't have much of a shelf life and cost a bunch) and "field rations" (what you eat when you can't kill something and cook it), there are R2Es - 1 century shelf life complete daily water-n-food in a nifty bag with all the necessities. At a credit a pop @ light bulk, grabbing at least 10 is worth it since you know you won't be eating those gawd-awful field rations for a week and a half.
I'd suggest that it doesn't matter all that much so long as no one starts with better than item level 1 gear.
So, if someone starts with a heavy weapon, they can't buy ammo for it?
I'd suggest that it doesn't matter all that much so long as no one starts with better than item level 1 gear.So, if someone starts with a heavy weapon, they can't buy ammo for it?
I hadn't noticed that part on the ammunition table. Haven't made anyone using a heavy weapon - they're kinda pricey and bulky.
Ammunition for what stuff you could otherwise buy that uses heavy rounds is just fine. ;)
Bulky I'll give you, but the light reaction cannon is just 10 credits more than a hunting rifle, same range and ammo capacity, 1d10 rather than 1d8. The heavy reaction cannon is similar to the combat rifle at level 10, though loses out in ammo capacity, and only 250 credit difference.
The big difference is just bulk. Sadly, price and damage are far too similar for the two weapon classes, and ammo/usage are often worse for heavy weapons.
Ja. I'm not partial to heavy weapons until the mid-level ranges circa 10th, on a theoretical basis at present.
The light reaction cannon = B.A.R., to me.
That's intentional. You aren't intended to begin with decent gear. It the "grandad's rusty battleaxe" trope.So, why exactly are you contemplating this cause of action?Because buying starting equipment was harder then I thought it would be (for the sample characters I was creating to learn the system).
Ah. But, if I (the most likely Starfinder GM) am not a fan of that trope, then it could be changed by giving access to better gear.
But, before doing so, I wanted to see if that would cause problems with the game's intended mechanics.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought when buying gear you can buy within 2 lvls up without breaking anything. Of course that means at the starting 1,000 you would not be able to get very much or quality other gear.
I think the issue we would be looking at with increasing the starting credits without changing character creation in any other way is that we do not currently know just how much doing that increases the PCs' level of power. Are they just slightly above standard 1st level characters, or are they almost to 2nd level? I would guess the former, since that is where standard PCs would be after their first lucrative encounter.
Now if you simply started the PCs out as 2nd level characters with 2nd level starting money and a 2nd tier ship, we know exactly what their power level would be.
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1,250 cr is the most I'd suggest letting it go over the standard. 1,500 puts them half-way to 2nd.
OTOH, there are plenty of times/tropes/et al that "gramma scattergun's" trusty shotgun turns out to be a bit nicer than off-the-shelf.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought when buying gear you can buy within 2 lvls up without breaking anything. Of course that means at the starting 1,000 you would not be able to get very much or quality other gear.Laughing is right. You can start buying +1 item level above your level, +2 is in a large city
I'm not finding where this is in the rules.
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I'm not finding where this is in the rules.Correct me if I am wrong but I thought when buying gear you can buy within 2 lvls up without breaking anything. Of course that means at the starting 1,000 you would not be able to get very much or quality other gear.Laughing is right. You can start buying +1 item level above your level, +2 is in a large city
Page 167 under 'Item Level' lists those as the available options.
Tricky part is affording them. Costs escalate quickly.
From making my SFS Mechanic, I didn't see a huge difference having 1700cr (Pregen chronicle sheet) to spend. I think I got lvl 2 armor and my drone ended up with the lowest laser carbine.