Technomancer vs Mystic

[This Side]

Hey all,

In trying to build my first starfinder character for society play, I am definitely leaning towards playing one of the caster-classes (both because I like the utility of spells as well as the fact that it seems most people in my area are going with other classes). I am now trying to decide between Mystic and Technomancer.

I am currently leaning towards Star Shaman Mystic, primarily due to the ability to heal HP damage now that wands are no longer a thing. However, it seems like from reading the forums, HP damage can be pretty limited.

I am interested in what more experienced players see as the pros/cons of each class - my goal is to have a reasonably optimized character with some unique attributes to bring to a society table.

[Deadmanwalking]

Mystic is great for healing. HP damage may not happen as often as it used to, but it does still happen and Mystics are the only people who can do anything about it during combat. They also get condition removal stuff, which remains as useful as ever.

Mystic is also far better at SoD single-target spells than Technomancer. Screwing over that guy in particular is much more their forte. This includes mind control spells.

Finally, Mystic is very good at divination effects, particularly 'psychic' ones like reading minds.

Technomancer, meanwhile, is much better at area effect damage spells and at every other kind of utility spell not mentioned specifically above such as mobility, defensive buffs (mirror image, displacement, etc.), illusions, all that sort of thing.

So...it really depends on what you're looking for.

[The Diehard Bard]

If you want a purer caster, most things I've seen point towards the mystic. The technomancer is closer to "gunshoot magus" than "space wizard", so if you want to be a spellslinging magic hacker, technomancer would be more your speed.
(plus supercharge weapon will brighten any soldier's day)

[pauljathome]

The other thing to consider is that a Mystic will have the highest wisdom in the party (almost certainly) and therefore likely be best at a whole bunch of useful skills.

The Technomancer, on the other hand, will have very high intelligence and hence be very good at two of the Uber skills in Starfinder (Engineering and Computers both come up a LOT). Together with a few more skill points.

In general Mystics SUCK in starship combat. A Star Shaman is the exception but even they may find themselves behind an operative. Depending on build they may be merely poor in the captain role (arguably the least important role) or gunner role (dex isn't a huge priority for most Mystics). Depending on how much of that you expect in your campaign may influence your decision

[Fake Healer]

I was looking at the same idea re:mystic or technomancer, and here is what I seem to be finding....
Mystic has slightly more hit points/stamina, more skill points(mostly, depending on int), the same proficiencies, they both have a good range of spells but with offensive types leaning toward technomancer(although mystic is no slouch there either with stuff like mind thrust) and fixer spells leaning more toward mystic, and the options within the mystic class (star shaman, mindbreaker, etc...) make them look like a much better class....then you see the skill list and realize that unless you decide to use your class option narrowly or go with a specific theme or decide to multiclass, you are going to be severely deficient in starship combat and any tech roles.
So if you go into mystic with an eye towards the lack in those areas I think you can make a better mystic personally but I forsee that most mystics will either be Star Shamans or have an Ace Pilot theme if they decide not to multiclass. Otherwise they basically sit out starship combat.

[pauljathome]

Fake Healer wrote:

Otherwise they basically sit out starship combat.

Its not QUITE that bad. They can be passable Captains or Gunners (my Mystic has invested in Piloting despite it not being a class skill precisely so he can be a Gunner).

The Mystic is still probably one of the worst gunners on the ship but he's likely not THAT much worse and most ships have more guns than characters.

[Tacticslion]

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