I was really keen on everything about Starfinder in the run up to its launch, but somehow, whenever I try looking at the books and trying to come up with character concepts for Starfinder society, everything leaves me flat.
It feels like the reverse of flicking through Pathfinder content - there just about every time I flick through a player companion or rulebook I end up with yet another character concept I'm keen to get a chance to play.
I think its just been me getting the wrong idea about a few classes and then disappointed when I looked into them that I can't really do what I wanted. That's not the games fault, just me wrong assumptions and then feeling meh when it doesn't work.
1) Idea: prior to the game I really wanted to play an Android Solarian. The idea of a being with originally artificial intelligence being a supernatural warrior type really appealed.
In Practice: Solarian really needs CHA along with many other stats. Android gets penalty to it, really doesn't seem viable. OK, lets try something else...
2) Idea: sneaky sniper type. Heard good things about the operative. Enjoyed how trick attack worked in the demo. Wanted to play someone good at infiltration and getting to a good vantage point to give his buddies covering fire whilst hidden.
In Practice: While operatives get sniper weapons, and can get debilitating shot, there's no way to get trick attack damage on them. It seems operatives are meant to be up close with small arms or melee weapons. Not what I wanted, move on...
3) Dwarf Mechanic: Bit stereotypical but a dwarf that's really good with machinery could be fun in a setting with lots of tech stuff - maybe he gets really angry with people who start breaking it like an enraged armed tech support guy.
In Practice: Nope - Dwarves not allowed in SFS. Sadly many of the new races either leave me entirely cold (Lashuntas - the deely boppers really put me off, Vesk - too stereotypically warlike) or I just not have enough of a feel for their roleplay yet to get into them (Kasathas, Shirren). Try something else...
4) Mystical Android attempt 2. Ok what could be more mystical than a mystic. Besides they are the only real healers and that always seems to be needed. I can get into being an android cleric type.
In Practice: Well a healer mystic could be like a cleric but... you have 6th level casting not 9th. Lost the flexibility of prepared spells for instead knowing a very small list. You get less channeling and it comes off the same key resource you use to not die. I get it that this is not a cleric class, but I can't see what they've gained in return for these trade offs apart from some skill points. Leaves me feeling this would be very watered down. Running out of ideas...
Anyway - that all may seem a bit ranty. I know this is a different game and coming at it from a Pathfinder mindset is getting me disappointed, but I'm struggling to come up with something that both works and feels exciting to roleplay.
So - can anyone share some ideas on Starfinder characters that they have enjoyed playing and what makes them fun - either or both in terms of flavour and how they work on the tabletop?
I really want to love this game, I just haven't found anything that clicks yet
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I've come up with a few:
A vesk mechanic (exocortex) who was pressured into military service but didn't enjoy it and wasn't good at it. He had to develop a combat implant just to keep up.
A literal Kyra-bot (Saranrae-worship android mystic)
An Akitonian human Outlaw who has reformed after being taught the ways of the Solarian. He's desperately trying to outrun his past.
I've come up with a few:
A vesk mechanic (exocortex) who was pressured into military service but didn't enjoy it and wasn't good at it. He had to develop a combat implant just to keep up.
A literal Kyra-bot (Saranrae-worship android mystic)
An Akitonian human Outlaw who has reformed after being taught the ways of the Solarian. He's desperately trying to outrun his past.
This is exactly the sort of thing I meant - I especially love the Kyra-bot idea
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This is exactly the sort of thing I meant - I especially love the Kyra-bot ideaI've come up with a few:
A vesk mechanic (exocortex) who was pressured into military service but didn't enjoy it and wasn't good at it. He had to develop a combat implant just to keep up.
A literal Kyra-bot (Saranrae-worship android mystic)
An Akitonian human Outlaw who has reformed after being taught the ways of the Solarian. He's desperately trying to outrun his past.
Feel free to use them
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1) Idea: prior to the game I really wanted to play an Android Solarian. The idea of a being with originally artificial intelligence being a supernatural warrior type really appealed.
In Practice: Solarian really needs CHA along with many other stats. Android gets penalty to it, really doesn't seem viable. OK, lets try something else...
It seems like your only real problem with this is the CHA penalty. If you take the Icon or Xenoseeker themes, then you're only down by 1 point, which can be fixed at level 5. Okay, the maximum bonus you can have is going to stay at +3 instead of +4 until then, but I don't think it's that big a deal. If it's a character concept you like, then who cares if it's slightly less powerful than a Human or Lashunta Solarian would be?
I don't know if those themes fit the concept you were going for, but I could imagine an Android Solarian being somewhat of a celebrity. The Xenoseeker seems quite reasonable, too.
1) Idea: prior to the game I really wanted to play an Android Solarian. The idea of a being with originally artificial intelligence being a supernatural warrior type really appealed.
In Practice: Solarian really needs CHA along with many other stats. Android gets penalty to it, really doesn't seem viable. OK, lets try something else...
It seems like your only real problem with this is the CHA penalty. If you take the Icon or Xenoseeker themes, then you're only down by 1 point, which can be fixed at level 5. Okay, the maximum bonus you can have is going to stay at +3 instead of +4 until then, but I don't think it's that big a deal. If it's a character concept you like, then who cares if it's slightly less powerful than a Human or Lashunta Solarian would be?
I don't know if those themes fit the concept you were going for, but I could imagine an Android Solarian being somewhat of a celebrity. The Xenoseeker seems quite reasonable, too.
What he said. Ultimately, don't put *too* much weight behind something that ultimately means little more than 5% chanse to succeed at things plus a few other assorted benefits. It'll even out in due time, and in the mean time you have things you can do that others can't (like walk out into space in your underpants)
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An Android going ranged Solarian focusing on Graviton stuff can be quite nice if you want to go that route. Dex 16/Cha 14 is very doable on that build and perfectly serviceable. On a melee build, you're probably gonna want to go Str 14/Dex 13/Cha 14...but that's doable and not a terrible stat lineup at all.
As for Mystic...comparing Starfinder Classes to Pathfinder ones is odd and tends not to work. Being the only spell caster in the game who can heal or do most of the single-target SoD stuff is a very nice position to be in, and you can readily (with a moderate Feat investment) also be as good in combat as anyone who isn't Full BAB. And you'll absolutely rule at two specific skills, which is pretty cool.
1) Solarian does not need that much Cha, of course it is nice to have some resolve points but thats everything you need them for
2) I agree that sucks somehow but a special agent who can go close up and trick enemies is for playing with others way more interesting then someone hanging out in the back potentially dissolving half the encounter before others can fight
3) I don't play SFS so I don't care, play with some friends who dont slam a door into your face (and you don't have to pick one of two standard ships)
4) Dude...look at the spells, you can't compare old casters to the new one. About the flexibility...well thats a matter of taste so I better don't get started
lets give a few more possibilites:
A gambler who is somewhat (in)famous, master in reading people and getting other to do what he/she/it wants
Background: Icon; Class: Envoy or Operative
possibly pick up connection inkling later on for usefull cantrips (like psychokinetic hand, telekinetic message, token spell) and charm person to make sure the people always like you (you never know when you need a friend)
Kasatha Weapon Master: with 4 arms you got a lot of possibilities
You could take Opening volley, shoot with a longarm and later hit em with a heavy 2h melee weapon (picking up the right feats on the way of course) or just pick a number one handed weapons (or a 1h, 2h combo), you can always be flexible
Possibilities: Soldier with fighting style options are perfect for a weapon master, armor solarian is also pretty neat since you dont lose movement (or armor in the long run), get utility and are still very durable (you have to use more of your regular feath though)
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I haven't had a chance to play yet, but all I know is when I do, I'm going to play an android named Uncanny Valerie and that is enough to give me joy.
When a character concept has excited you in other games? Focus on character rather than setting. Figure out what you want to do and then pick a class that fits rather than the other way around.
Melee exocortex mechanic who always wanted to be a great swordswoman, but was never great at it. Uses overcharge, exocortex, and drone mods to do so.
Ysoki soldier who uses the biggest gun possible.
Soldier/ envoy icon who is a video streaming adventurer trying to get the most viewers possible with the craziest, most reckless strategies and flashiest weapons.
A smooth talking smuggler solarion who isn't afraid to use a gun.
Outlaw mechanic and her drone that are guilty of war crimes on several colony planets in the vast.
A technomancer assassin.
A mystic mind breaker assassin.
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Fed up with the tradition-driven typical Kasatha society, a rogue group of Kasatha have broken off. Masters of 'rock-striding' (the kasathan version of parkour), they are criminals and outlaws who blatantly break longstanding traditions to show Kasathan society that there is another way. They are known for fighting dirty and using strange acrobatic movements to a get a leg up on their opponents, and have several black market connections that help them disappear when the heat is on.
Kasathan Outlaw (Daredevil) operative.
Currently about to be playing a "human" Outlaw Soldier. Formerly a rebel on his homeworld, he went to prison at a young age for terrorism, murder, assault, etc.
After a few years in prison he was offered surgical expirementation and a "mobile" prison by serving as in the penal legion. Several surgeries, muscle grafts and gene therapy, and having a suit of armor bolted and welded shut around him resulted in who he is now.
Worked with the DM, he is a "Human" using Vesk stats, with the Vesk stats and bulk representing his surgically enhanced size and muscles, a "shine job" surgery on his eyes represents the low light vision, and a Gill Sheath represents another surgery. The DM is letting me start out in Vesk Overplate I but I yake a -6 to social roles against any authority figures and against anyone who dislikes criminals.
I'm GMing a game now, but looking through the book, I think it would be really fun to make a spec-ops style technomancer that uses sniper weapons and grenades.
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First you have to realize this is a new game, this is not pathfinder. Then you have to realize that everyone kinda sucks at first level in starfinder. This game scales a lot more than pf does. Your stats start lower, and gain a lot more as you level. I too felt a bit bummed at first looking at the numbers, trying to make a cool character. Then I looked closer and realized a few things.
1 compare taking a 14 stat to an 18. At level 1-4 you are -2 modifier lower, at level 5-20, you are -1 lower (assuming you max the stat either way). Not a big difference for starting 4 points lower. So you need a lot of high stats? No problem, you get +2 to 4 of em every 5 levels.
2 constitution is not very important, you can make do with a lot lower than pf (I mean 10 is fine for anyone). Con is no longer a required secondary stat.
3 racial stat modifiers mean very little. With no scaling point buy, there's really no reason not to play a charismatic android if you want to. No matter how you arrange your stats you end up with +6 total stat modifiers at level 1.
4 the basic scaling of damage and such is built in class features, the choices are more flavor rather than boosting the numbers like they are in pf. So we can pick whatever is cool without worrying we're gimping ourselves.
No matter how you arrange your stats you end up with +6 total stat modifiers at level 1.
This isn't strictly true. It is true that, if you make your stats the right way you will always end up with +6. But, if you make odd stats, you can end up with lower modifier.
For example, if I was a human I could get 13/13/13/11/11/12 at first level, including theme. This gives me a total of +4, not +6.