Starfinder PbP: Non-SFS Campaign based on SFS scenarios


Recruitment

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Hi, folks.

I'm looking to run a campaign of Starfinder and I plan to use SFS scenarios as a basis while I get a feel for the system. Gradually I intend to introduce homebrew elements and write my own material but as yet I don't feel confident enough to do that.

So this recruitment is for such a campaign. As with SFS 101, it will begin with characters who have just become Starfinders. However, because homebrew elements will exist, these scenarios will not be eligible for SFS credit. I would like this campaign to be ongoing and we will see how long we can keep it up.

Combat maps will probably be done on Google Slides or Google Drawings. Pacing will be not too fast: one post every day or two.

About me: I am an RPG veteran, having first been introduced to D&D back in 1977. I currently have two PbP campaigns I am running, one hombrew game that has been running for about two years, and a Pathfinder game (Rise of the Runelords) that has been going for about six months.

I am looking ideally for about five characters (since this is the assumption for SFS scenarios).

Theme: The campaign will mostly focus on exploration. The characters have newly enlisted in the Starfinder society at the start of the game.

Build Rules:
* Characters start at 1st level.
* Standard Starting Wealth (1000 credits) and items up to level 3 may be bought by starting characters. Items from Alien Archive may only be bought at character creation by characters of the race the item entry is in.
* Standard 10-point buy.
* Races: Most of the selections I make will likely be core race characters, but I will allow others to be submitted.
* * Legacy Races: All are allowed.
* * Alien Archive Races: Only races that are native to the Pact Worlds or the Veskarium will be allowed. In addition, races native to these areas who "do not play well with others" will not be allowed. Some races are pretty weird and will have a hard time fitting, so I will impose a higher standard on those races. So:
* * * Native to Pact Worlds or Veskarium: Dragonkin*, Haan, Ikeshti, Kalo*, Maraquoi, Nuar, Ryphorian, Sarcesian, Shobhad, Skittermander*, Verthani ... All OK
* * * Native but Weird: Barathu, Contemplative, and Urog... maybe... it better be good if you want to submit one of these though.
* * * Native but Does Not Play Well With Others: Drow, Formian, Space Goblin ... not allowed
* * * Not Native: Draelik, Gray, Reptoid, Witchwyrd, Wrikeechee ... not allowed

* Special Race Notes:
- Dragonkin characters will need to arrange to have an ally under their "Partner Bond." This ally need not be a Ryphorian but will need to be another player, and will be entered as a paired submission. So you need to develop a background together.
- If you wish to play a Kalo, you need to put some thought into how your character will manage in an atmosphere. Normal armor seals against vacuum, but since water cannot be pressurized the way air can, your armor will only be able to sustain you for hours instead of days. I am willing to houserule a "rebreather" armor upgrade though I haven't figured out how that will work yet.
- Skittermander characters will need to designate someone who they have latched on to in order to "help." Since actual race abilities are not involved, this need not be decided in advance of formal recruitment but it wouldn't hurt to team up with someone and create a joint background.

What Your Submission Should Include:
* A summary of your character concept, including what starship role you expect to fill. I will only select one character who is optimized to be a pilot, for example.
* A stat block (minor tweaks will be allowed before the game gets underway)
* A description and a background. Doesn't have to be too long, but should be more than a couple sentences.
* A writing sample in-character - Please put this in a Spoiler though. Don't clutter up the thread.
* A quick summary of your estimation of your RPG experience and Starfinder system mastery. I don't mind recruiting people who have never played an RPG before, but give me some warning so I know what to expect.

An alias is not necessary, but I do find it helpful. Remember that you cannot change your alias name after you have posted 10 times, so you may want to keep posts from your alias down to a minimum until selection is done.

Please don't use some 3rd party site to host character information. I find it really annoying to click on someone's profile and then only find a link directing me to yet another location. I'm getting impatient in my old age. If you don't know how to format things for the forums, then that is something you need to learn.

What I Will Look For:
* Good writing. Half of GMing is reading players' posts, and I'd prefer to read posts that are well written.
* A creative concept. Characters with an "angle" that makes them interesting and fun are a definite plus.
* A well put-together character. If you need help with the mechanics, just ask; I am happy to help in that regard. It is actually difficult to make a "bad" character in Starfinder unless you are doing it on purpose. But if your character is sloppily done or hard to understand then that often means problems down the road. So make your character sheet clear and concise, and be sure you are good at the things you plan to be good at.
* Posting Record. If you have a habit of dropping out of games unexpectedly or failing to post a lot then that will hurt your chaances.
* A balanced party. I know that "party balance is a myth" but I know that when I play I want the things that my character is good at not to be overshadowed by other players. I would rather have a good variety of character abilities.

Homebrew rules:
* I do plan on homebrewing a variety of things. Expect a variety of new equipment to be available.
* For starters, I will probably use these House Rules for Large and Small characters. These rules will mainly apply to player characters since most things are factored into the stat block of monsters.

Deadline: I will keep recruitment open for two weeks, so it will close on Sunday, November 19th, at midnight EST.

Let the recruitment commence!


dotting


Dotting. Thinking of an android mystic with the empath connection. :)

Liberty's Edge

Dotting. Multiple character ideas, including an Urog Technomancer and some form of Dragonkin (so long as someone else is willing to pair up).


I have a ysoki mechanic that I would like to submit.

I'll adjust his background and stats to your requirements and post him for your consideration.

Game on!


Brainiac wrote:
Dotting. Thinking of an android mystic with the empath connection. :)

This is an interesting combo. I am playing an android mystic myself, though it would not have occurred to me

Jace Nailo wrote:
Dotting. Multiple character ideas, including an Urog Technomancer and some form of Dragonkin (so long as someone else is willing to pair up).

I really would love to play a Dragonkin character myself. Though I suspect they might be a bit over powered... I'm still willing to allow them.

Urogs are on my "weird" list. You may submit one, but your will have to really shine with that sort of character.

Fabian Benavente wrote:
I have a ysoki mechanic that I would like to submit.

No problem. Ysoki are kind of made to be mechanics.


Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber

Dotting ... kinda made a yoski pilot/mechanic just got to find where I put it ... or make a new one ...

.. well maybe a more traditional vesk mercenary .... it's a tough job and someone has to do it.

Liberty's Edge

Peet wrote:

Jace Nailo wrote:
Dotting. Multiple character ideas, including an Urog Technomancer and some form of Dragonkin (so long as someone else is willing to pair up).

I really would love to play a Dragonkin character myself. Though I suspect they might be a bit over powered... I'm still willing to allow them.

Urogs are on my "weird" list. You may submit one, but your will have to really shine with that sort of character.

I know, that is why I am still debating and also waiting to see if anyone would like to pair up with a Dragonkin. I was also thinking of potentially making a Lashunta Operative. On a related note, could I submit another character if the Urog is not acceptable?


Peet wrote:

This is an interesting combo. I am playing an android mystic myself, though it would not have occurred to me

I thought it would be a cool dichotomy to base a character on. Here is my submission: Rising Dawn, android mystic. She's a priest of Sarenrae with the empathic connection. I made her specialized in Computers so she could serve as a science officer on a starship.

Stat Block:
Female android mystic (priest of Sarenrae) 1
NG Medium humanoid (android)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +7

DEFENSE
EAC 12, KAC 13, AC vs. Combat Maneuvers 21
Hp 10; SP 7; RP 4
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +5; +2 vs. disease, mind-affecting, poison, and sleep

OFFENSE
Melee battle staff +0 (1d4)
Ranged azimuth laser pistol +1 (1d4 fire)

Mystic Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +4)
1st (3/day)--detect thoughts (DC 14), mind thrust (DC 14), mystic cure
0 (at will)--daze (DC 13), detect affliction, detect magic, stabilize

STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 11
Base Atk +0
Feats Skill Focus (Computers)
Skills Computers +5, Diplomacy +4, Intimidate +4, Medicine +5, Mysticism +7, Perception +7, Sense Motive +5
Languages Celestial, Common
SQ connection (empath), connection power (empathy), constructed, flat affect, healing touch 1/day (5 HP), theme knowledge (-5 DC on religion-related Culture and Mysticism checks), upgrade slot
Gear: azimuth laser pistol, battle staff, second skin, basic medkit, hacking kit, mk 1 serums of healing (4)

Background:
The android who now calls herself Rising Dawn has only been active for a few years. She spent her early life working on computers in one of the many wings of the AbadarCorp headquarters. Like most androids, she struggled to understand the nuance of emotions. Unlike other androids though, when she was near humanoids, she would get strong impressions of their thoughts and feelings towards others around them.

Constantly bombarded by feelings just beyond her realm of comprehension, the android could not concentrate on her work and was let go from AbadarCorp. Fearing herself on the verge of a mental
breakdown, she looked for spiritual aid, eventually coming to the church of Sarenrae. There the priests recognized that the android's empathy was not a curse but a gift, a connection through which she could channel mystic powers. They opened her eyes to the glory of the Dawnflower, instructing the android in love and compassion, of hope and kindness. She took the name Rising Dawn in honor of her goddess. While she still struggles at times to connect with those around her, Rising Dawn is committed to using her empathic powers for the betterment of others.

Rising Dawn looks like a young human woman. Only her circuitry tattoos reveal her synthetic nature. She has pale skin and long, reddish-blonde hair and wears the gold and blue robes of a Sarenite priestess over her second skin armor.

Writing Sample:
The android snatches the hand of the pickpocket before he can pull it free of her robes. She turns towards the young human boy and frowns as he struggles in her grasp. Eyes half-closed, she opens her mind to his.

She can sense his desperation, his fear of being punished, but beyond that a solemn determination. He is doing what he can to survive. She cannot blame him for his crimes.

"I have foiled your attempt at thievery," says Rising Dawn. "But the Dawnflower teaches forgiveness and mercy. I know you meant no ill will. I will not turn you over to the authorities. Instead, I shall purchase a meal for you."

She smiles slightly. "This is not a trick. I only urge that you take heed to the lesson you have learned today. The next person you try to steal from may not be so understanding. It is not too late to change the course of your life. Seek the temple of Sarenrae, and you will find a life of redemption."

Experience:
I have been playing RPGs for over 20 years. I have been running Pathfinder games since its inception and have run a handful of Starfinder games in the past few months.


Rising Dawn wrote:
I thought it would be a cool dichotomy to base a character on. Here is my submission: Rising Dawn, android mystic. She's a priest of Sarenrae with the empathic connection. I made her specialized in Computers so she could serve as a science officer on a starship.

About Rising Dawn:

Nothing wrong with this submission overall.

Background:

* I wouldn't mind seeing something in her background about where she has been living. As a GM I tend to give people small bonuses if they are looking for information relevant to their background, such as "Since you are in your home town, you get +2 to culture checks here." Note that the Church of Sarenrae has a strong presence in the bubble-cities of the Burning Archipelago in the sun.

* If you put a few NPCs in your background that gives me some hooks to hang plot ideas on. A former boss at Abadarcorp, a fellow Priest of Sarenrae, whoever.

* The adventure will assume that characters are new recruits to the Pathfinder Society. Why did she join? She could have remained with the church and still "use her powers for the betterment of others."

Mechanics:

* I noticed that you have taken the Skill Focus feat. Nothing wrong with that, but you will note that if you take Skill Synergy instead, it will not grant it's insight bonus to computers; instead it will make computers a class skill for you. Overall the net effect is the same, but Skill Synergy gives you a +2 in something else as well. Diplomacy maybe?

* You have a CHA of 11. Unless you are planning to take the Psychic Power feats, there is no value for CHA to be an odd number. DEX and INT both have a lot more feats that require odd scores, so my recommendation would be for that last point to go into one of those scores instead of CHA.

* Mind thrust is a powerful attack, but you don't get nearly enough spells to use it every round in combat. So is your plan to use your laser pistol for most of the time in combat? On the grounds that you should be able to do things aside from cast spells, you might want to consider making DEX 14 and CON 10. In Starfinder you seem to be able to get away with a lower CON than in Pathfinder, and the difference between a CON 12 and a CON 10 is that you can take 17 damage at 1st level instead of 16.

* You might want a melee weapon with the operative property since your DEX is better than STR. You also might want to start with a hand computer. A Tier 1 computer miniaturized to 0 bulk costs 60 credits. A personal comm unit counts as a tier 0 computer so that might be enough.


Jace Nailo wrote:
On a related note, could I submit another character if the Urog is not acceptable?

If you are asking if you can submit more than one character, the answer is no.

I don't mind giving you feedback when you put your character together (as long as its not too close to the deadline), but I'm not going to actually strike people from the list until I start making selections. If you are not confident about making an Urog character then I would try something else.


Thanks for the tips! I will tweak my background tomorrow with some NPCs, her current living situation, and why she decided to join the Starfinders.

Mechanics:

*I didn't realize Skill Synergy makes skills class skills. I will swap my feat for that, and add the bonus on Diplomacy (I will get insight bonuses to Sense Motive and Perception from my class at higher levels).

*I will change my Cha to 10 and bump my Dex up to 13.

*My plan is to use the laser pistol mostly, yes. My Con is at 12 because of the android racial modifiers. Dropping it lower won't give me any points back.

*I will likely trade the staff for a survival knife then since it has the operative property. I'll exchange some of the serums of healing for a computer as well. I will do the math and post an amended stat block and background tomorrow.

Liberty's Edge

Peet wrote:
Jace Nailo wrote:
On a related note, could I submit another character if the Urog is not acceptable?

If you are asking if you can submit more than one character, the answer is no.

I don't mind giving you feedback when you put your character together (as long as its not too close to the deadline), but I'm not going to actually strike people from the list until I start making selections. If you are not confident about making an Urog character then I would try something else.

Ok, probably won't make an Urog then.

Anyone wish to pair up with a dragon-kin character?


Rising Dawn wrote:
*My Con is at 12 because of the android racial modifiers.

Androids do not get a CON bonus. They get +2 to DEX and INT, and -2 to CHA.


Ack! Oops, had it backwards, sorry--didn't reference the book when I made my last post. I will tweak things further.

Please bear with me. This is only the second Starfinder character I have made.

Liberty's Edge

Peet wrote:
* Standard Starting Wealth (1000 credits) and items up to level 3 may be bought by starting characters. Items from Alien Archive may only be bought at character creation by characters of the race the item entry is in.

Does this mean that you can only get the items at character creation, or can these items be acquired at higher levels? And if the second, can they still only be acquired by the race that the item entry is in?

Wayfinders

Dotting for interest. The profile with this character is a 1st level SFS character which I will flesh out with background details. I'll get back with a post once I've tweaked the design a bit and worked up the other submission requirements. If you notice anything about the character as she exists now, let me know.

She is a human Icon Envoy.


Here’s my submission of Kivipra, a lashunta technomancer. I am willing to rework or expand the background if needed.

Spoiler:

Kivipra
Technomancer 1 Lashunta Damaya Spacefarer
CG Medium Female Humanoid (lashunta)
Init +1; Senses Perception +0
------------------------------
DEFENSE
------------------------------
EAC 12
KAC 13
AC vs Combat Maneuvers 21 [8+KAC]
Stamina 5
Hit Points 9
Resolve Points 4
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +2
------------------------------
OFFENSE
------------------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Unarmed 1d3 nonlethal
Melee Knife, survival 1d4
Ranged Laser pistol, azimuth 1d4F 80’ crit 1d4 burn; 20 charges
Thrown
------------------------------
STATISTICS
------------------------------
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 12
Height 5’6” Weight 147 lbs.
Age 26
Base Atk +0
Feats Skill Synergy (Athletics, Survival)
Skills (7 skill points) ACP −0
Athletics* +6 (1+3+0+2)
Computers +7 (1+3+3)
Engineering +7 (1+3+3)
Mysticism +4 (1+3+0)
Perception +3 (1+0+0+2)
Physical Science +7 (1+3+3)
Piloting* +6 (1+3+2)
Profession (cartographer) +7 (1+3+3)
Survival +4 (1+3+0)

*ACP applies to these skills
Languages Common, Castrovelian
Equipment Second Skin armor, azimuth laser pistol, survival knife
------------------------------
RACIAL FEATURES
------------------------------
Dimorphic Damaya
Lashunta Magic At will: Daze, Psychokinetic hand. 1/day: Detect thoughts.
Limited Telepathy Can mentally communicate with any creature within 30 feet with whom they share a language.
Student +2 racial bonus to any two skills. Perception and Athletics.
------------------------------
CLASS FEATURES
------------------------------
Key Stat Intelligence
Armor Proficiencies Light armor
Weapon Proficiencies Basic melee weapons, small arms
Spells 0th level: Detect Magic, Energy Ray, Mending, Transfer Charge. 1st level: Hold Portal, Supercharge Weapon.
------------------------------
THEME FEATURES
------------------------------
Knowledge Physical science skill
------------------------------
BACKGROUND
------------------------------
Kivipra’s mother Jolifis is a mechanic. Her father Vundabee is a mystic archaeologist. Her older brother Chasean is a mystic as well. During her childhood, they had a ship and would go to different planets searching for ruins and exploring the land. When it was time for her lashunta transformation she moved to Castrovel and lived with her mother’s sister, Pranisupa. In time Kivipra became a damaya. Rather than rejoining her parents she stayed on Castrovel to finish her education and remain with her friends.

At the age of twenty, Kivipra entered The New Sovris Mystickal University. It is a space station orbiting Castrovel with a well-regarded technomancy program. After she graduated she was hired by QaroMC Zedrio, one of the premier cartography businesses exploring the Vast. Instead of being in a starship, she was assigned to Absalom Station. After seven months with her desk job, Kivipra was able to gain an interview with the Starfinder Society. She doesn’t know that Pranisupa called in a favor to get her niece the interview. When she joined the Starfinders, she knew her life was on a trajectory she’d been longing for.


Jace Nailo wrote:
Does this mean that you can only get the items at character creation, or can these items be acquired at higher levels? And if the second, can they still only be acquired by the race that the item entry is in?

Later on, items that appear in Alien Archive may become available, but you will generally have to roleplay finding the contacts who can provide them for you.


Okay, here is Rising Dawn, version 2.0:

Stat Block:
Female android mystic (priest of Sarenrae) 1
NG Medium humanoid (android)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +7
DEFENSE
EAC 13, KAC 14, AC vs. Combat Maneuvers 22
Hp 10; SP 6; RP 4
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +5; +2 vs. disease, mind-affecting, poison, and sleep

OFFENSE
Melee survival knife +2 (1d4)
Ranged azimuth laser pistol +2 (1d4 fire)

Mystic Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +4)
1st (3/day)--detect thoughts (DC 14), mind thrust (DC 14), mystic cure
0 (at will)--daze (DC 13), detect affliction, detect magic, stabilize

STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 10
Base Atk +0
Feats Skill Synergy (Computers, Diplomacy)
Skills Computers +5, Diplomacy +6, Intimidate +4, Medicine +5, Mysticism +8 (+12 to disarm traps), Perception +7, Sense Motive +5
Languages Celestial, Common
SQ connection (empath), connection power (empathy), constructed, flat affect, healing touch 1/day (5 HP), theme knowledge (-5 DC on religion-related Culture and Mysticism checks), upgrade slot
Gear: azimuth laser pistol, battle staff, second skin, basic medkit, hacking kit, tier 1 computer (miniaturized), trapsmith's tools, mk 1 serums of healing (2), 5 credits

Background Addendums:
Rising Dawn has spent most of her time among the slums of Absalom Station, helping provide healing and succor to the downtrodden. But she feels like there's more for her out there in the universe. She has joined the Starfinder Society to spread the light of Sarenrae into the galaxy's darkest reaches and share her faith with new civilizations among the stars.

A few NPCs: Callio Rossen, male human. AbadarCorp middle manager. He trained Rising Dawn in computer operations, and his reputation took a hit when he was forced to let her go from the company.

Xyzzchk, host shirren. Priest of Sarenrae. They helped Rising Dawn understand her empathic connection and taught her how to call on it to use magic.


tomtesserae wrote:

Here’s my submission of Kivipra, a lashunta technomancer. I am willing to rework or expand the background if needed.

** spoiler omitted **...

OK, about Kivipra:

Crunch: mostly looks fine.

Your sheet says 7 skill ranks (which is correct) but you have spent 9 ranks.

I'm not sure if supercharge weapon and hold portal are the best spell choices. Do you have a kind of strategy that you envision using?

If you plan to carry a laser pistol, you might want to have a spare battery.

Fluff: Your backstory is pretty bland.

Your family: Were they adventurers? Archaeologists sponsored by an academic institution (if so they could have been Starfinders themselves)? Scavengers, living off selling relics they have found? How did they support themselves?

Your former Job: Why would a cartography firm hire a technomancer? And why would you take such a job? You have reasonable skills, but your main ability is to cast supercharge weapon and hold portal, neither of which seems like it would be useful working in a desk job at a mapmaking company.

What made you want to be an adventurer?


I have an Idea that I am using as an NPC in my F2F starfinder game.

Dr. Jonathon J Mortimer (that is the name he has chosen for himself).

He is an exile from the Azlanti Star Empire. (human) I do not have a real detailed backstory yet.

the basics of the the stats:

Human Mechanic, scholar theme, with the forerunner archetype.

character pic

his pet dog


Stell Z-Lin

Stell Z-Lin wrote:

Dotting for interest. The profile with this character is a 1st level SFS character which I will flesh out with background details. I'll get back with a post once I've tweaked the design a bit and worked up the other submission requirements. If you notice anything about the character as she exists now, let me know.

She is a human Icon Envoy.

OK, looking at your sheet now.

Looks like the intended combat strategy for this character is to use the clever feint improvisation to give her teammates a bonus to hit a specific enemy. Nothing wrong with that.

For the record, Improved Feint doesn't apply to Clever Feint, in case you didn't know. That doesn't mean it's a bad choice though.

I notice that you have a bow, even though you are not proficient. Using a bow requires the Special Weapon Proficiency feat, and I don't see that on your sheet. Or did I miss it? Unless you were planning on using grenade arrows (which are not very good anyway), I don't think it's worth spending a feat to be able to use bows. Their performance is about the same as a tactical pistol and they take 2 hands and weigh more.

Your operative weapons use DEX to hit so they should be at +1 to hit, not +0.

Second Skin is okay but at your DEX I would probably want something better. If you juggle things around you can probably afford Kasatha Microcord. You probably don't need two melee weapons, considering you probably never want to actually be in melee. For the record, if you only plan to use harrying fire and covering fire to help allies, the Needler Pistol is the weapon you want.

You have 12 skills listed, but you should have 11 skill ranks total, including your bonus rank for being human. You haven't shown how your skill totals work so I can't tell if any of the ones listed are untrained.

To be honest though, as an Envoy and a human, you get tons of skills. I personally wouldn't bother having INT so high. I might be inclined to shave a point or two off and increase DEX or WIS or CHA. For this character, Computers and Physical Science seem to be "throwaways;" skills that you dabble in for no particular reason. If you want to invest in a throwaway skill, I would recommend Piloting, because if you are not the captain of a ship you can use your piloting ranks instead of your BAB if you act as a gunner.

You haven't posted a background yet, so I can't comment on that, but overall I see nothing wrong with the concept of this character.


Edward Sobel wrote:
Human Mechanic, scholar theme, with the forerunner archetype.

Interesting! I have yet to see someone actually use one of the archetypes yet. Look forward to your submission.


Considering a submission! Probably an android xenophile ????


I've been kicking around the idea of a Vesk Mechanic or Technomancer... I'll see about putting a submission together.

Liberty's Edge

Peet wrote:
- Dragonkin characters will need to arrange to have an ally under their "Partner Bond." This ally need not be a Ryphorian but will need to be another player, and will be entered as a paired submission. So you need to develop a background together.

So, why does a Dragonkin character need to have another character as a partner bond? Why can they not simply have no partner they are bonded with?


So I am going to submit Manas Barsar the Verthani Mechanic. A worshiper of Oras the Agent of Change he believes in constantly seeking out new stimuli and experience in order to adapt and evolve as a person. Formerly of a bioaugmentation research group on Verces he has recently sought out the Starfinder Society in order to see more of the universe and continue to grow. He's basically designed to be a Science Officer thematically but he could also be an Engineer given his skill set. I haven't played Starfinder yet because I dont like the idea of doing Society games online for some reason. I would prefer to play a campaign where one group of characters sticks together, grows together and makes their own story together. That is a large part of what attracted me to this game.

I dont have a lot of experience on here. I think I've been accepted to two games. One of which I had to leave due to family circumstances and the other fell apart after someone else in the group had to leave. Having been on both sides of it I'd love to avoid that again although I obviously get that it happens. I've loved pathfinder but my friends who I use to play in person with for the last 6 years are all spread out now and we rarely get together. Id love to have a chance to try out Starfinder with a group here.

Crunch:
Manas Barsar
Mechanic 1 Verthani Scholar
NG Medium Male Humanoid (verthani)
Init +6; Senses: Low-Light Vision; Perception +7
------------------------------
DEFENSE
------------------------------
EAC 13
KAC 14
AC vs Combat Maneuvers 22 [8+KAC]
Stamina 7
Hit Points 10
Resolve Points 5
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0
------------------------------
OFFENSE
------------------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Unarmed; -1 to Hit; 1d3-1 Non-lethal
Ranged Needler Rifle; +2 to Hit [+3 with Combat Tracking]; 1d6 P 60’ crit +2 Injection; 12 Darts; Analog, Injection

------------------------------
STATISTICS
------------------------------
Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Height: 7’2” Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 29
Base Atk +0 [+1 with Combat Tracking]
Feats: Improved Initiative; Skill Focus [Life Sciences], Skill Focus [Perception]
Skills (8 skill points) ACP −0
Athletics* -1 (0+3-1)
Computers +9 (1+3+4+1)
Engineering +9 (1+3+4+1)
Life Science +11 (1+3+4+3)
Medicine +8 (1+3+4)
Perception +7 (1+3+0+3)
Physical Science +8 (1+3+4)
Piloting* +6 (1+3+2)
Profession (Bio-Augment Researcher) +8 (1+3+4)
*ACP applies to these skills
Languages: Common, Vercite, Akitonian, Castrovelian, Brethedan, Ysoki
Equipment: Second Skin Armor, Needler Rifle, Datajack Augment
Credit Stick: 15
------------------------------
RACIAL FEATURES
------------------------------
Verthani [+2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Str | 4 HP]
Easily Augmented: A verthani can install an additional cybernetic augmentation into one system that already has one [currently unused].
Low-Light Vision: Can see twice as far as humans in dim-light.
Skill Focus: Gains Skill Focus as a bonus feat [Life Sciences].
------------------------------
CLASS FEATURES
------------------------------
Key Stat: Intelligence
Armor Proficiency: Light & Heavy Armor
Weapon Proficiency: Basic Melee Weapons, Small Arms, Longarms, Grenades
Artificial Intelligence: Exocortex
------------------------------
EXOCORTEX FEATURES
------------------------------
Combat Tracking: Proficiency in Heavy Armor and Longarms, at 3rd level grants Weapon Specialization as well. As a move action designate foe to Track. Treats BAB as Mech Level against that target.
Memory Module: Once per day while not in combat reroll a failed skill check to recall knowledge. Also grants Skill Focus [Perception] that can be switched out upon gaining a new Mechanic level. Memory Module cannot function while Combat Tracking is active.
------------------------------
THEME FEATURES
------------------------------
Theme Knowledge: Expert in the Bioengineering field of Life Sciences, gaining Life Science as a class skill. DC on skill checks related to bioengineering is reduced by 5. +1 Intelligence.

Background:
Born on tidally locked Verces, from a very young age Manas was obsessed with the Augmented. Both the ancient caste of his people and the newer political movement. His father was a worshiper of Oras, the Agent of Change, and this helped to solidify Manas’ early interest. Not as widely popular on Verces, Oras had been better known on Bretheda where his father had worked for years. The idea that evolution could become a product not of random happenstance, but actual conscientious effort was fascinating to him. Both of his parents were driven, intelligent people, and they encouraged Manas to work hard and pursue his interests if they made him happy. In school Manas showed an aptitude with the sciences and received good marks in all his classes. Always eager to learn something new and with a special focus on the meeting point of mechanics and biology he was accepted into a respectable university and studied biological augmentation. After an accelerated two-year graduate program, he was accepted into one of the most well-known research organizations in the Pact Worlds, the Everlife Adaptation Corporation.

He would work happily at Everlife for the next four years. His work was fascinating, and he got to see it be used to help people. His work with adaptive biochains was especially interesting to Manas, it was so curious how some people would turn down life-saving mechanical augmentation but readily accept a biological solution in the form of a living biochain. He himself underwent several technological and biological augments including the installation of a custom rig in the form of a datajack to his brain. He designed the tech himself, it would allow him to access any computer traditionally accessible via datajack and also functioned as an mk 1 comm unit. But the truly impressive addition was the data housing for a complex bit of coding that had taken Manas several years of work. His very own AI, Saachi, installed via Exocortex to interface directly with his central nervous system. The downside to all of this was that after he finished Saachi and had recovered from his augmentations he began to feel as though he was stagnating. His accomplishments thus far had been impressive enough but Oras’ teachings believe that only by exploring new horizons, seeking chance and unknown stimulus can one continue to evolve. So Manas did his research and a month later formally submitted his leave of absence from Everlife Adaptation Corporation. He agreed to still submit some research to them on an independent basis but cited that new opportunities would not allow him to remain with the company. The very next day he set out on a shuttle for Absalom Station to begin his training as a Starfinder.

Sample:
“Adapt, evolve and overcome,” he muttered to himself as he lifted the rifle from the bench. He still took comfort from the old Oras saying. He nodded to the small crowd of Ysoki that had been watching him work on the rifle for the past few minutes and thanked them again in their tongue. He couldn’t leave the Ysoki home until he had shared a rather pleasant if loud and chaotic meal with them but that was fine. He wasn’t scheduled to be at the Lorespire Complex until that afternoon. Combat training had been awkward up to that point, Manas having never really learned to use any kind of weapon. But he had extensive knowledge of serum injectors and when he’d heard of a weaponized version he decided that working with something more familiar would make learning easier. Thus, his decision to seek out someone to let him use a workstation to create his own needler rifle.

As he moved down the street he queued up his mk 1 com unit directly through the custom built datajack in his brain and sent a friendly challenge to a fellow Starfinder trainee, “I’m not going to lose to you two days in a row. Get ready to buy the drinks after combat sim tomorrow.”


Peet thank you for your insight and comments.

Regarding the skills, I made Kivipra at the same time as an operative and must have been thinking about the operative class feature “Specialization” which which gives a free skill rank to certain skills. I adjusted her skills ranks so that she only has seven.

In Pathfinder, I rarely play spell casters. I thought I’d try to something new in Starfinder. Regarding Kivipra’s 1st level spells I took Hold Portal because I thought it would be useful. I wasn’t thinking of strategy other than using it to seal a door as the group ran away from something more powerful. I changed her 1st level spells to be more appropriate for the new job given in her background.

Hopefully my background isn’t bland anymore. I added and changed details as well as explained some things better.

Spoiler:

Kivipra
Technomancer 1 Lashunta Damaya Spacefarer
NG Medium Female Humanoid (lashunta)
Init +1; Senses Perception +0
------------------------------
DEFENSE
------------------------------
EAC 12
KAC 13
AC vs Combat Maneuvers 21 [8+KAC]
Stamina 5
Hit Points 9
Resolve Points 4
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +2
------------------------------
OFFENSE
------------------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Unarmed 1d3 nonlethal
Melee Knife, survival 1d4
Ranged Laser pistol, azimuth 1d4F 80’ crit 1d4 burn; 20 charges
Thrown
------------------------------
STATISTICS
------------------------------
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 12
Height 5’6” Weight 147 lbs.
Age 26
Base Atk +0
Feats Skill Synergy (Athletics, Survival)
Skills (7 skill points) ACP −0
Athletics* +6 (1+3+0+2)
Computers +7 (1+3+3)
Engineering +7 (1+3+3)
Mysticism +4 (1+3+0)
Perception +3 (1+0+0+2)
Physical Science +7 (1+3+3)
Survival +4 (1+3+0)

*ACP applies to these skills
Languages Common, Castrovelian, Elven, Vesk, Kasatha
Equipment Second Skin armor, azimuth laser pistol, battery pack, survival knife, engineering tool kit, hacking tool kit, comm unit, flashlight, and tier-1 computer (average secure data, miniaturization).
Credits: 132
------------------------------
RACIAL FEATURES
------------------------------
Dimorphic Damaya
Lashunta Magic At will: Daze, Psychokinetic hand. 1/day: Detect thoughts.
Limited Telepathy Can mentally communicate with any creature within 30 feet with whom they share a language.
Student +2 racial bonus to any two skills. Perception and Athletics.
------------------------------
CLASS FEATURES
------------------------------
Key Stat Intelligence
Armor Proficiencies Light armor
Weapon Proficiencies Basic melee weapons, small arms
Spells 0th level: Detect Magic, Energy Ray, Mending, Transfer Charge. 1st level: Identity, Detect Tech.
------------------------------
THEME FEATURES
------------------------------
Knowledge Physical science skill
------------------------------
BACKGROUND
------------------------------
Kivipra’s mother Jolifis is a mechanic. Her father Vundabee is a priest-archaeologist for the Blessed Niaryas Temple; a sect on Castrovel dedicated to an avatar of Weydan that revealed herself before the Gap. Her parents led a three-member crew of Weydan worshippers exploring the galaxy in a much overhauled explorer built sometime in the waning years of the Gap (at least according to Jolifis). As a child, Kivipra visited numerous planets in Near space and the Vast, including some worlds on the edge of the Veskarium. It was always exciting from the appearance of the plane to the sensation of a new gravity and the odor of the world to the discovery of long forgotten devices buried in ruins.

When it was time for her lashunta transformation she moved to Castrovel and lived with her mother’s sister, Pranisupa. In time Kivipra became a damaya. Rather than rejoining her parents she stayed on Castrovel to finish her education and remain with her friends.

At the age of twenty, Kivipra entered The New Sovris Mystickal University. It is a space station orbiting Castrovel with a well-regarded technomancy program. After she graduated she was hired by QaroMC Zedrio, a business exploring the galaxy. Instead of being in a starship, she was assigned to Absalom Station. Her job was to inspect devices from the survey missions other people were doing. After seven months with her desk job, Kivipra missed the sense of wonder and excitement of new planetfalls. Her job was not boring or unfulfilling in any way. She wanted to be cruising through the Drift. She wanted to discover new places filled with fascinating machines, to learn how other cultures and beings designed their technology to fit their lives. Not only as a follower of Weydan, but simply as a reflection of who she is.


Jace Nailo wrote:
So, why does a Dragonkin character need to have another character as a partner bond? Why can they not simply have no partner they are bonded with?

Three reasons.

1. It's good roleplaying, and it shows that you are good working with other players.
2. The Partner Bond is a fundamental part of the Dragonkin psyche. They were literally created to work as part of a pair with a humanoid rider.
3. The Dragonkin abilities make them a bit more powerful than most races. It's not game-breaking, but if a player wants more power for his character than normal I prefer to make him earn it on the RP side.

Liberty's Edge

Peet wrote:
Jace Nailo wrote:
So, why does a Dragonkin character need to have another character as a partner bond? Why can they not simply have no partner they are bonded with?

Three reasons.

1. It's good roleplaying, and it shows that you are good working with other players.
2. The Partner Bond is a fundamental part of the Dragonkin psyche. They were literally created to work as part of a pair with a humanoid rider.
3. The Dragonkin abilities make them a bit more powerful than most races. It's not game-breaking, but if a player wants more power for his character than normal I prefer to make him earn it on the RP side.

Ok, just thought to ask. Still have not seen anyone who would wish to pair up with a Dragonkin, however.


Hmmm... the idea of a Vesk bonded with a Dragonkin is tickling my "This is an unusual situation that could be interesting to role-play" sense. :D PM me if interested.


Dotting, thinking of a nuar mechanic, maybe a contemplative technomancer with the phrenic adept archetype.


Minas Dyrendal wrote:
So I am going to submit Manas Barsar the Verthani Mechanic....

Okay, let's have a look at Manas.

Crunch:

Overall crunch looks fine. My one minor gripe is you don't list your Custom Rig among your class abilities. As a result it took me ages to figure out where the "Mk 1 Comm unit" in your story was coming from.

For the record the phrase "Mk 1" is a typo and it should be "Level 1" which is the Personal Comm Unit. This is comparable to a modern smartphone. There is actually no such thing as a "Mk 1 Comm Unit."

I notice you spent most of your starting money on your datajack. That's fine. The needle rifle isn't very good but it makes sense based on your story, and you can't really afford much better. You can probably pick up something else fairly soon. You might want to look at some of the smaller items on page 219 and page 231.

Fluff:

Another "used to work in a desk job" story. :)

Since Manas was a scientist it makes sense that he was an ordinary corporate worker, but it still seems a little dull.

Here's a few questions that might flesh things out a bit better for you:
* Where is Everlife Adaptation Corporation located? Verces? Bretheda? Absalom Station? Was it a public facility, or secret? How sensitive was the research being done there, and how tight was security?
* Was any part of your job dangerous? You mention that you knew how to use dart guns. Was this from 'safari' missions where you had to capture specimens of some kind?
* Did you make any enemies while working there? Either within the company or without?
* How did you you appease the Corporation into letting you go amicably? Or didn't you? You would probably be privy to information the company would consider proprietary, and if you designed Saachi on "company time," the corporation would probably expect that it is company property and keep it when you left.
* You say you will still submit research independently for Everlife while working for the Starfinders. What form will that take? Do you expect the Starfinders will be happy that you are sharing research done for them with Everlife? Do you see yourself as planning to spy on the Starfinders for Everlife?

Worth thinking about these things.

Peet


tomtesserae wrote:
Peet thank you for your insight and comments. ...

Okay, let's have a look at the new & improved Kivipra.

Fluff:

I like the angle that your family were explorers out of religious devotion to Weydan.

It's still unclear why you left your family's ship to return to Castrovel to go through puberty. The kind of facilities needed to choose which Lashunta clade you would develop into are not dramatic and it could be done on your family's ship.

Also still not very clear what you were doing at QaroMC Zedrio. You still seem rather overqualified.

Crunch:

Overall you seem to have fixed most of the issues.

Identify is actually a very good spell in Starfinder (as opposed to Pathfinder) because you can use it to assist in getting passwords out of a computer, which makes it really useful for a "computer hacker" type. Technomancers are really good at that.

Detect tech... is a little weak. Unless you are in a big hurry you can just search the area with perception checks.

I would make sure that at least one of your 1st level spells is good in combat. The 1st level combat spells are mostly:
* grease - decent debuff, especially if there are melee guys in the party
* jolting surge - dependent on an attack roll but you can touch an electrical device the target has for a +2 to hit. Doesn't provoke an AoO when you cast it.
* magic missile - automatic damage. You can throw 3 missiles as a full action.
* overheat - the only AoE damage spell at 1st level
* supercharge weapon - good if you have a friend who is a good shot with an energy weapon.


When is the recruitment closing. I have crunch done and the back story is just a bunch of ideas right now. Hope to put that together tonight.


Dotting for interest.

I have Ghl'Tekk'Qarr - Shirren Soldier (will nail down specialism) I'd like to submit.

Will fire up his pitch tonight/tomorrow.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Ashley “Ash” Carter
Homeworld Akiton

Summary:
Ash is from Akiton and has an interested in anthropology and archaeology having previously been mentored by a missing mentor. He’s a human operative and built with being a broadly skilled explorer.

I’ve put in a few plot hooks like his MIA mentor and his interest in the red skinned humans of Akiton which can be ignored or used as needed. The red skinned humans on Akiton are there in present day Pathfinder but not a word about them in Starfinder, I assume so as not to confuse people in and out of world about where the human’s ‘homeworld’ is but can open up some great plot fodder.

As for ships role, he’s kind of a wildcard. He’d be very good as a pilot, engineer or science officer and could even make a decent choice for captain. Which makes him handy as he can be flexible with the situation and switch positions if needed.

RPG Experience:

I have been playing RPGs for about eighteen years, usually as the GM. I’ve got about eight years of experience with Pathfinder. I have GMed a session of Starfinder (just waiting to get the group back together) and am playing in two Starfinder based PBPs.

I have a lot of experience playing and running all of the various 40k RPG (particularly Dark Heresy (1st & 2nd Ed), Rogue Trader and Deathwatch) and WHFRP 1st and 2nd Edition. I’ve played and run various d20 games including 3.0, 3.5 and 4th Edition but fantasy game wise Pathfinder is the sweet spot. I’ve played and run a few World of Darkness games but my favourite is Hunter the Reckoning.

Background:

Ash grew up on Akiton and probably would have stayed there if it wasn’t for signing on as a hired hand for a Starfinder Expedition in better times for the organisation. Ash was enthralled by the discoveries the Half Elf Starfinder Rumos Talos. The elf discovered human ruins many thousands of years olds, certainly far before any level of spacefaring was common. The human’s depicted in the mosaics were red skinned but clearly human. This set Ash’s imagination ablaze, what secrets lay hidden beneath the soil of various planets in the Pact Worlds and beyond.

Ash became started going above and beyond what he was employed for to help the expedition and this caught Rumos’ attention. Some theorised the race merely resembled humans, some that they were a failed Azlanti colony and yet others that some other group of humans possibly in service to a powerful spellcaster had been established here. Ash’s diligence led Rumos to extend an offer.

Rumos was willing to nominate Ash to begin trainning at the Starfinder Societies Headquarters in Absallom, it would take a few years but if Ash applyed himself then Rumos would bring him on future expeditions to uncover the secrets of the past. Jumping at the chance Ash left Akiton for the first time.

Ash applied himself to his studies and picked up a broad base of skills hoping to make sure he was competent in any situation. He set about learning a variety of common languages from various species as well as Azlanti.

Unfortunately Rumos is MIA alongside so many others in the Starfinder Society after the Scoured Stars incident which as Ash comes to the end of his training means that he is left having to forge his own path in the Society.

Writing Sample, likely not cannon:

Ash looked at his watch, he didn’t have too much time left. Though he was a citizen of Akiton and the Pact worlds he wasn’t officially here. He was just dropping off a form but had ‘accidentally’ wandered off the directed route into the embassy’s library. It wasn’t a forbidden section or anything but he doubted they’d let him wander around here for hours.

...especially not pay him so little attention as to give him the time to bypass the door’s lock and get into the restricted section. He found the book he was looking for and started taking pictures as he turned pages. There wasn’t enough time to hastily copy the whole book without putting himself at risk but it was a golden opportunity.

The watch vibrated and he turned it off, with a sigh closing the book and carefully placing it back he finished up his legitimate business here and headed to the office to drop off his form. His visit had taken longer than perhaps it should have but not so long as to attract the attention of security and before long he was headed out of the embassy.

A few hours later he was performing the tedious task of reviewing the data he had acquired. Most of it was extremely dry but he found references to the subject he was looking for and leaned in speaking aloud hoping he was pronouncing it right having never seen the name before. ”The Free City of Arl.”

Character Sheet:

Human Spacefarer Operative (Explorer), NG
Hair: Black, Eyes: Blue, Build: Athletic, Height: 5’4’’
Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 10
HP: 10, Stamina Points: 8, Resolve: 4, Fort: +1, Ref: +5, Will:+2, KAC: 16, EAC: 15

Feats: Skill Synergy (Diplomacy, Life Sciences), Toughness
Explorer: Associated Skill (Culture and Survival), Ever Vigilant, Operatives Edge
Languages: Akitonian, Common, Azlanti, Ysoki, Vesk

Acrobatics 8=1+3+3+1, Athletics 5=1+0+3+1, Bluff, Computers 7=1+2+3+1, Culture 9=X+2+3+3, Diplomacy 5=1+0+3+1, Disguise, Engineering 7=1+2+3+1, Intimidate, Life Sciences 7=1+2+3+1, Medicine, Perception 5=1+0+3+1, Physical Sciences 7=1+2+3+1, Piloting 8=1+3+3+1, Profession, Sense Motive 5=1+0+3+1, Sleight of Hand, Stealth 8=1+3+3+1, Survival 7=X+0+3+3

Freebooter Armor 1 (L), Survival Knife (L), Needler Pistol (L), Darts 25 (L), Flashlight (L), Industrial Backpack (1), Mass Produced Tent (1), Hygiene Kit (1), 1 Credit


Hey GM,

Please consider Twitch, male ysoki mechanic (mechanic for starship role as well), for inclusion in your game.

His crunch should be finished in his alias and his fluff is spoilered below.

I'm waiting for new images to select a better 'avatar' but this one will have to do until then.

As for me, I have been RPing since the 80’s and currently GM three games on this site (two PF and one SF). I enjoy the story and character development aspect that PBPs promote.

Let me know if you have any questions/comments.

Thanks for hosting.

Game on!

fluff:

BACKGROUND

Born and raised on the red sandy roads of Akiton’s wasteland deserts, Twitch never had time to set down roots anywhere. He is, however, fiercely proud of being from Akiton as he likes to remind everyone. The ysoki belonged to an extended family of ysokis that traveled the wastelands and traded with small villages, mining towns, and big cities alike (well whatever was left of the big cities).

Life just wasn’t the same now that thasteron was no longer in demand as the old timers would say. But that was over 300 years ago, and this wasteland planet is all that Twitch has ever known.

Twitch excelled from a young age at that which almost every ysoki excels at, being a mechanic. And the traveling caravan was the perfect teacher; there was plenty to do in maintaining the old hovertankers, dirt bikes, solar sailing vessels, and everything else the ysoki managed to get a hold off. It was paradise for someone driven to learn how everything works and who had an idea on how to make anything better.

Twitch was said to be able to out tinker a space goblin and that was no easy feat. There were a couple of sayings in the caravan, “If something can’t be fixed, Twitch will fix it.” And he usually did. The other saying was “If Twitch can’t fix it then throw it out.” And that was not true as Twitch always reminded people, “If I can’t fix it now is because I don’t have the right parts but I will get them so don’t throw anything out!” And he didn’t.

DESCRIPTION

The ysoki usually wore an old flightsuit with many pockets where he had a little bit of everything (from old batteries to half-eaten crackers to tools).

Now past his prime, the ysoki’s fur was greasy in places and non-existent in others where old burn marks were present. Part of pink ear was missing and he was never too far from Big Bertha, his laser rifle that was almost as long as he was tall.

Part of Twitch’s secret were two things. One was the metal sheath that covered his left forearm. From there sprung all sorts of tools and cables as if by magic. The ysoki always had the right tool for the job. The other was partially hidden in his head, a piece of technology that had been installed from his father who inherited it from his father. This processor did everything from bringing up blueprints for any machinery to physically pinpointing the right part to replace in a hovertanker.

PERSONALITY
Twitch is constantly moving his whiskers and nose and smelling everything. He’s been told that he talks quickly but he dismisses that alleging that he has too many things to do. He has little patience and gets right to the action once a decision has been made
He’s never bored and sitting still is very much a challenge for him. He, of course, loves to take things apart and always find something to salvage.

A certain wanderlust has him staring at the stars with a certain longing. For the past three months, he has been preparing his niece to take over his job and told everyone in his family that he was leaving. It took him some time to talk to all 103 nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, etc. and he thinks that one of his sister gave birth again before he was through.

With his mind made up, he booked passage for Absalom Station to seek employment with the Starfinder Society.


Okay since they're allowed, but require a well-done proposal to acknowledge, I present to you my character concept.

His name is Phaneron.
At his base, Phaneron is a Contemplative (Scholar) Technomancer. But this is merely a descriptor of his race and skillset. As a Contemplative of Akiton, he was born with a staggering intellect. Like most of his kind, he has moved away from violent pursuits and developed their own personal subject of focus. For him, it was the larger concept of a functional galactic civilization.

Phaneron developed a theory that the Starfinder Society is necessary for the continued stability of galactic civilization, and though he could just continue to argue his theory in the Halls of Reason, he has decided that the most expeditious way to prove it correct would be to go out and collect the data personally. This divergence from theory to execution is about as brash as a Contemplative could get, though to be fair he is fairly young for his kind.

His psychic abilities focus on the manipulation of technology. While strange looking, Phaneron puts effort into interacting pleasantly with others. Analytical, he has learned that being polite and having a positive demeanor is all the emotional feedback that most sentients require.

Phaneron is intentionally oblivious of any strange looks he receives due to his appearance, and treats all sentients the same; he will give everyone respect even if they perform some kind of hostility towards him. It's merely his nature.

-----

I have a stat block built for him, but I didn't want to bother you with it until I got the character concept approved.

Wayfinders

Peet wrote:

Stell Z-Lin

Stell Z-Lin wrote:

Dotting for interest. The profile with this character is a 1st level SFS character which I will flesh out with background details. I'll get back with a post once I've tweaked the design a bit and worked up the other submission requirements. If you notice anything about the character as she exists now, let me know.

She is a human Icon Envoy.

OK, looking at your sheet now.

Looks like the intended combat strategy for this character is to use the clever feint improvisation to give her teammates a bonus to hit a specific enemy. Nothing wrong with that.

For the record, Improved Feint doesn't apply to Clever Feint, in case you didn't know. That doesn't mean it's a bad choice though.

I notice that you have a bow, even though you are not proficient. Using a bow requires the Special Weapon Proficiency feat, and I don't see that on your sheet. Or did I miss it? Unless you were planning on using grenade arrows (which are not very good anyway), I don't think it's worth spending a feat to be able to use bows. Their performance is about the same as a tactical pistol and they take 2 hands and weigh more.

Your operative weapons use DEX to hit so they should be at +1 to hit, not +0.

Second Skin is okay but at your DEX I would probably want something better. If you juggle things around you can probably afford Kasatha Microcord. You probably don't need two melee weapons, considering you probably never want to actually be in melee. For the record, if you only plan to use harrying fire and covering fire to help allies, the Needler Pistol is the weapon you want.

You have 12 skills listed, but you should have 11 skill ranks total, including your bonus rank for being human. You haven't shown how your skill totals work so I can't tell if any of the ones listed are untrained.

To be honest though, as an Envoy and a human, you get tons of skills. I personally wouldn't bother having INT so high. I might be inclined to shave a point or two...

Thank you for the suggestions. This was a first draft that I put together a while back. Over the weekend, I went back over the build and actually caught a number of the errors you pointed out and changed them before I read your critique. I had also changed some of the ability scores in the direction you suggested, so we're on the same wavelength. I've made the changes to the stat block and am still considering some small changes.

I've got a detailed background narrative in the profile now and I'm working on the other submission requests. I'll have things ready for official consideration by the weekend.

I'll probably keep the bow, even though as you rightly point out it's not the optimal choice in a number of small ways. But Stell's more about style than being ruthlessly efficient. She learned to use the bow as part of her acting roles (see background for the full story) and likes the retro coolness of using the bow. If there is a feat that would really enhance her envoy strengths, I would consider it but since she's not going for combat effectiveness and she gets lots of buffs to her skills every level, there are not many feats that she really needs at this point. Sometimes I prefer the sub-optimal choice if it matches some aspect of the character's personality or history, so long as it's not going to be a fatal shortcoming. I've played enough Pathfinder to know that the choices you make as you role play are much more important to staying alive than small sub-optimal build features.

As for the armor, I'm hoping she can make do with the second skin until the first infusion of cash, at which point, she'll definitely invest in better armor. But I'll see if there are ways I could conserve enough cash to make the armor you suggest. Starting with just 1000 cash really limits your gear.


Peet wrote:
*SNIP*

So I made a couple of edits to the profile I wrote up for this character. Not posing with the alias so that I can reuse it if Im not picked. But I tried to clarify the Custom Rig and fixed the mention of MK1 Comms on the profile sheet itself though I cant edit my older submission with that listed. I suppose I could spend a few credits on a backpack to carry things in and some lab workers professional clothing. But most of the remaining credits were actually probably going to be as UPB for crafting.

As for his past I dont like to write too much because it builds investment in a character that most of the time wont end up getting picked, simply because of the number of other great submissions. But I was sort of plotting out this involvement with some shadier parts of the Augmented political movement in his past that tie in with his decisions to leave Everlife. Basically his current background is one that he would give a stranger. If he built up some trust with his companions he might expand and clarify on a few points.

Spoiler For Questions:
* Where is Everlife Adaptation Corporation located? Verces? Bretheda? Absalom Station? Was it a public facility, or secret? How sensitive was the research being done there, and how tight was security?
Everlife Adaptation Corporation is simply listed as one of the largest donators to the Augmented factions various projects and political movements. I used that as my tie in. Since the Augmented primarily are based on Verces my idea was that he was working with a Verces branch of the company. The work being done there was probably relatively secretive but largely just to keep trade secrets from getting out before the release of various products. The way I was billing it was that he mainly worked in bioengineering to create ways to extend peoples lives and better their physical health. So he wasn't working on like military grade bio-weapons or anything, but a big company wouldn't really want the details of its newest vaccine or skin grafts to be released to the market before they were ready either.

* Was any part of your job dangerous? You mention that you knew how to use dart guns. Was this from 'safari' missions where you had to capture specimens of some kind?
The hand-held needler pistols are mentioned as being incredibly useful to battlefield medics. Since he worked R&D with a number of restorative treatments and chemicals I basically imagined that he would have gained at least limited exposure to the hand held injectors during testing phases. As you said, its really not a great weapon, but it makes way more sense for him to go for something at least a little familiar than straight up just buy a laser pistol first thing when he gets to Absalom Station. Now out of necessity he will likely learn over time to use other kinds of weapons but it was a cheap, interesting and thematic segway towards that I felt.

* Did you make any enemies while working there? Either within the company or without?
Yes, definitely inside and outside the company. The inside the company bit I dont want to go into too much detail about because it'd be a waste if Im not picked. But as for outside the company, there are still groups who look down on various bio-engineering projects as unethical and destructive to what makes someone a sentient being. Various groups are fiercely opposed to that kind of research and Manas is incredibly, even religiously, outspoken in favor of using the latest and greatest methods to poke, prod, bend and extend the definitions of evolution.

* How did you you appease the Corporation into letting you go amicably? Or didn't you? You would probably be privy to information the company would consider proprietary, and if you designed Saachi on "company time," the corporation would probably expect that it is company property and keep it when you left.
Saachi was a personal project. At the time he started it I think he was already becoming disillusioned with working at the same place for years on end. So he created that as a side project to interest him for a time. It was a way to pursue further evolution down a not so biological track, since bio-engineering is what he really did for the company. He likely shared some of his research on Saachi with the company or possibly just other scientists there but it was not strictly a company project. As for letting him go, again that is something that I dont want to spin out of control talking about. But basically my intention was to eventually reveal that he did not part on such great terms from Everlife. Some corporate espionage and some less than savory dealing went into his decisions to part with the company and to leave for Pathfinder training so quickly.

* You say you will still submit research independently for Everlife while working for the Starfinders. What form will that take? Do you expect the Starfinders will be happy that you are sharing research done for them with Everlife? Do you see yourself as planning to spy on the Starfinders for Everlife?
This will be essentially tied into the whole aspect of him leaving under somewhat questionable circumstances if it comes up. But no it wouldn't necessarily be fair to say he's spying on the Pathfinders.
More he would be using his status as a Pathfinder to explore the galaxy and see things that were outside his previous experience.
Hopefully he'd be able to funnel some of that knowledge and experience into new scientific developments. If he was then he would happily pass some of that information along to Everlife for all that they'd done for him in the past. But as I mentioned before corporate espionage and spying would probably hit a little close to home since it does play a part in Manas' past that may or may not come up over time. As much as I love writing huge in depth backgrounds for characters I've been politely rejected from enough games that I try not to go overboard before being accepted. But I do have some ideas in that vein.


I changed detect tech to overheat based upon your suggestion. I’m also revising her background to remove Castrovel from her damaya transformation. As far as working for the company QaroMC Zedrio, I think she will be assigned to an exploratory vessel, but not enjoy the experience as much as she expected. She thinks joining the Starfinders will not be as profit-driven.

I'll post more tomorrow after I get my notes and new ideas written.


Minas Dyrendal wrote:
...though I cant edit my older submission with that listed.

What I would recommend would be to create a profile on your main alias. You can use that profile as a "notepad" that you can edit and copy/paste. Then when it is time to create a real alias for the character you can just copy everything over. You could even have multiple characters on your main alias; just spoiler them to keep them separate.

Minas Dyrendal wrote:
As for his past I dont like to write too much because it builds investment in a character that most of the time wont end up getting picked, ...

I understand your feeling.

I have some characters that I created for AP recruitments that did not get picked. I refuse to delete them because of how much work I put into the backgrounds.

Shakaro Jun, created for a Skull and Shackles game.
Hryvnas Raszamy, created for a Hell's Rebels game.
Yzgar The Runt, created for an "evil kingmaker" game. He did actually get picked but the campaign died during the first combat encounter.

When recruitments come up that these characters might be a good fit for, I generally reapply with them. I would really like to play them, and who knows... they may make it into a game at some point.

However, I will say two things:

1. Creating good backgrounds for characters is good practice. If you don't get picked in recruitment A, then you have learned a few things for when you apply for recruitment B.

Minas Dyrendal wrote:
... Basically his current background is one that he would give a stranger.

2. The other thing is that background you write up at character creation is mainly for the GM. For other players it is OOC knowledge and they only know what you tell them in-character. But one of the things I am looking for will be: how easy is it for me to tailor encounters to the party? There will be bad guys. But instead of fighting some random undead guy, wouldn't it be cooler if it turned out it was your evil uncle Jethro who when he found he had a terminal disease went to Eox to become a lich instead of dying? Giving me hooks I can hang plot on makes it more likely that you will be selected.


Back story done. Will have writing sample done and everything posted later today


Edward Sobel wrote:
When is the recruitment closing. I have crunch done and the back story is just a bunch of ideas right now. Hope to put that together tonight.

BTW See the bottom of the original post.


Presenting Iolas, nuar mechanic, junkracer, and heavy-weapons expert!

Summary:

Iolas is a mechanic with a exocortex, focusing on using heavy weapons in combat. In terms of starship roles, he is equally adept at piloting or engineering, although with the bonuses towards engineering he gets from being a mechanic he would be better at engineering.

Stats:

Iolas
Chaotic Good Male Nuar mechanic
Init +3 Senses: Perception +8, darkvision 60’
____________________________________
Defense
____________________________________
EAC 14 KAC 15
SP 6 HP 10 RP 2
Fort +2 Ref +5 Will +0
____________________________________
Offense
____________________________________
Melee: Survival Knife +1 (1d4)
Ranged: Azimuth Artillery Laser +3 (1d10)
____________________________________
Statistics
____________________________________
Str 12 Dex 16 Con 10 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 10
Base Attk: +0
Feats: Heavy Weapon Proficiency, Skill Focus: Engineering (Bonus Feat)
Theme: Ace Pilot
Skills
ACROBATICS* (DEX) +3
¨ ATHLETICS* (STR) +5
¨ BLUFF (CHA) +0
¨ COMPUTERS (INT) +7
¨ CULTURE (INT) +0
¨ DIPLOMACY (CHA) +0
¨ DISGUISE (CHA) +0
¨ ENGINEERING (INT) +10
¨ INTIMIDATE (CHA) +0
¨ LIFE SCIENCE (INT) +0
¨ MEDICINE (INT) +0
¨ MYSTICISM (WIS) +0
¨ PERCEPTION (WIS) +4
¨ PHYSICAL SCIENCE (INT) +6
¨ PILOTING (DEX) +10
¨ PROFESSION
(CHA, INT, OR WIS) +0
¨ PROFESSION
(CHA, INT, OR WIS) +0
¨ SENSE MOTIVE (WIS) +0
¨ SLEIGHT OF HAND* (DEX) +0
¨ STEALTH* (DEX) +3
¨ SURVIVAL (WIS) +0
Languages: Common, Akitonian
Gear
Azimuth Laser Artillery
Second Skin (L)
Survival Knife(L)
Battery x2 (-)
Personal Comms Unit (1)
Hygeine Kit (1)
Backpack (1)
Bypass (EX) 1ST Level (+1)
You are skilled at getting inside computer systems and electronic devices. At 1st level, you gain a +1 insight bonus to Computers and Engineering skill checks. At 5th level, every 4 levels thereafter, and at 20th level, this bonus increases by 1.

Artificial Intelligence: Exocortex

Combat Tracking (Ex) 1st Level

Your exocortex provides you with enhanced combat ability, granting you proficiency with heavy armor and longarms. At 3rd level, you gain weapon specialization in longarms just as if your class granted proficiency. As a move action during combat, you can designate a foe for your exocortex to track. As long as that target is in sight, the exocortex feeds you telemetry, vulnerabilities, and combat tactics, allowing you to make attacks against that target as if your base attack bonus from your mechanic levels were equal to your mechanic level. Designating another target causes you to immediately lose this bonus against the previous target.

Memory Module (Ex) 1st Level

You can use your exocortex’s memory module to enhance your own knowledge. Once per day, as a reaction while not in combat, you can reroll a failed skill check to recall knowledge. In addition, your exocortex grants you the Skill Focus feat as a bonus feat. You can’t use your exocortex’s memory module while combat tracking is activated. Every time you gain a mechanic level, you can rebuild your exocortex’s memory module, replacing the exocortex’s bonus Skill Focus feat with Skill Focus in a different skill.

Darkvision

Nuars have darkvision out to 60 feet.

Gore

A nuar can charge without taking the normal charge penalties to the attack roll or its AC. If the nuar has another ability that allows it to charge without taking these penalties (such as the charge attack ability from the soldier’s blitz attack fighting style), the nuar also gains the ability to charge through difficult terrain.

Maze Mind

Nuars have a naturally strong sense of direction and an instinctive understanding of complex patterns. As a result, they very rarely get lost. A nuar can attempt a special level-based Wisdom check (1d20 + (CR or level + Wisdom bonus) instead of using his total bonus in the Piloting skill to navigate or his total bonus in the Survival skill for orienteering.

In addition, a nuar with 1 or more ranks in Piloting or Survival also gains a +2 racial bonus to checks with that skill.

Natural Weapons

Nuars are always considered armed. They can deal 1d3 lethal piercing damage with unarmed strikes and the attack doesn’t count as archaic. Nuars gain a unique weapon specialization with their natural weapons at 3rd level, allowing them to add 1-1/2 × their character level to their damage rolls with their natural weapons (instead of just adding their character level, as usual).

Swift

Nuars have a base speed of 40 feet.

Background and Appearance:

Iolas, better known as Skid to those that don’t know him well, comes from the twisted corridors of Pipetown, home of many lower class nuar. From a young age, he was enamored by the junk-racers of Botscrap, the fame it brought them called to him but most importantly the thrill of racing and the challenge of building a racer. When he came of age, he became a racer under the alias of Skid, and rose quickly in the leagues. With fame though, came danger that he was unprepared to deal with. A prominent street gang saw profit to be gained from him, and pressured him into throwing matches, sacrificing his integrity for money. It tore at him, and he constantly looked for ways to escape their demands. His opportunity came when he was slated to race, and lose, against the son of the crime boss. The son was an aspiring racer, like Iolas was, but cruel and a terrible racer. Iolas decided to leave the business with a bang by defeating the bosses son. The race day came, and he pulled ahead of the boss’s son, which other racers saw as their chance to beat the upstart. The son ended up in second-to-last place, utterly humiliated. The gang was after him and out for blood, and so Iolas went to the Starfinder society for help and protection. While training with them, he developed an exocortex and took a liking to heavy weapons, the satisfying kick of the recoil and the unique challenges of keeping them maintained.

Iolas is a tall male nuar, with two large horns jutting out of his forehead, intricately carved with circuit-like designs in traditional nuar style. He wears a set of second skin armor over engineer’s overalls. The most apparent feature is massive artillery laser he carries on his back. Metal hexagons run along his spine, interfacing his nervous system to the exocortex implanted in his brain, allowing him to visualise the combat tracking that his exocortex gives him as a HUD that only he can see.

Writing Sample:

”Skid, get out here!” Iolas slid out from under his junkracer. His latest iteration was a Ringworks Wanderer cockpit propelled by several enercycle engines held together by scrap metal, ion tape, and a whole lot of hope. ”Hey, cowface! Boss wants to talk to you ‘bout the race.” Iolas knew what was coming when he went to the boss. The boss would have him whacked, and he'd end up dead, part of another statistic some stuck-up politician would use to justify purging the Spike. Iolas thought for a moment, considering his options. He could let them take him, which would certainly end in his demise. He could try to attack the gangster, and end up dead as well. No, neither of those would work. But Iolas had a plan. He could reroute the power on his junkracer, turning the engines that were conveniently pointed at the gangster into a makeshift but high-powered plasma-thrower. That would hopefully work. ”Um, yeah, one minute. Gotta...uh...turn off the racer. Yeah, that.” He slid back under racer, cutting and soldering cables, adjusting fuel supplies, and tweaking a bewildering amount of knobs and switches before standing up to get in the cockpit. For the first time, he saw the gangster clearly, a very large vesk carrying an equally large doshko. Iolas jumped into the cockpit, adjusting the power supply on the makeshift LED display. He flicked the power switch, and waited. For a few agonising seconds, nothing happened. Silence. More silence. Kaboom. The engine roared to life, blasting the thug with superheated plasma. Iolas heard a pained yelp and a heavy thud before finally, silence.

System Knowledge:

I’d say I’m fairly experienced. I’ve played Pathfinder for about 6 or 7 years at this point, and played Starfinder since it came out. Rules wise, I’m still getting the finer points of Starfinder down but I’m familiar enough that it’s not too much of a problem.


Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Fully completed submissions so far.
Name-Race-Theme-Class-Ship Role-Player
Rising Dawn-Android-Priest-Mystic (Saranrae)-Science Officer- Brainiac
Kivipra-Lashunta Damaya-Spacefarer-Technomancer- ???-Tomteserae
Manas Barsar-Verthani-Scholar-Mechanic-???-Minas Dyrendal
Ashley "Ash" Carter-Human-Spacefarer-Operative (Explorer)-Wildcard-Kevin O'Rourke
Twitch-Ysoki-???-Mechanic-Spacefarer-Engineer-Fabian Benavente
Iolas-Nuar-Mechanic-Pilot or Engineer-Simeon

Plenty more in the works.

Races: Android (1), Lashunta (1), Verthani (1), Human (1), Ysoki (1), Nuar (1)
Classes: Mystic (1), Technomancer (1), Mechanic (3), Operative (1)
Themes: Priest (1), Spacefarer (3), Scholar (1)

Liberty's Edge

Dotting. need to make a character, but highly interested.

Wayfinders

For your consideration: Stell Z-Lin - Human - Icon - Envoy - Face
Stell is a human female who, prior to becoming a member of the Starfinder Society, had a successful career as a movie actor and musician. After a while, she got jaded with that lifestyle and wanted to trade her career of pretend action and adventure for the real thing. She gave away her wealth to charity so other Starfinders will not think she bought her way into the society or that she is relying on expensive gear instead of innate ability. Her expected starship role is to be the Face of the mission, handling tasks that require diplomacy, intimidation, and acting ability.

Stat Block: See Profile.

Description and Background: See profile spoilers at the top.

Writing Sample:
Stell is going to be using three skills/class features more than any others: Diplomacy, Bluff, and Clever Feint. Here are examples of how I might role play each.

Situation: The starship has encountered a pirate ship in the Diaspora. The ship has sent a transmission ordering the PCs’ ship to stop and be boarded by the pirates.

Stell checks her hair in the reflection of the bridge’s window. Then she says, “Let me try something. Put me on the comm channel viewer. After her image appears on the monitor, showing what the pirate captain was receiving, Stell smiles and says, “Message received and understood. Here’s the thing. We could let you board, but right now were on our way to find something valuable, so if you steal all our gear, which is nothing special, you’ll get little of value and we’ll have to turn around and abandon our mission, that is, if you let us live and keep our ship.

"Or we could fight you and maybe you’d win but you’ll risk destroying what you want to claim. Or maybe we’ll win, which won’t be what you want either.

"But there is a third option: let us go on our way, follow us if you want so you can watch for our return. Then we can talk and maybe we’ll give you some of the loot we found so we both profit without having to risk our lives or our ships. What do you say?”

Stell gave her award winning smile again and leaned forward a bit. She sneaked a glance at the gunner to see if he was ready with defenses and attacks should this fail. She studied the image the pirate projected, looking for signs of whether he was sincerely considering the offer.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Sense Motive, skill expertise: 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 4 + (5) = 23

Situation: The PCs have infiltrated a warehouse, located the office computer, linked in and downloaded some incriminating documents. All they have to do is get back out to the dark back alleys of Absalom station’s Pipetown district. Then a Ysoki security officer and his hover drone spot them and insists they identify themselves. The hacker of the group already made sure the individual members of the team had ID badges for just this situation, but the guard checked them and still looked suspicious.

Stell read the Ysoki’s ID badge and said, ”Well done, officer ... Kipper; we’re working for your your boss, Dr. Darkminster. He was worried that security was too lax and thought a well-organized team could get in and get out without being noticed or challenged. You’ve proved that hypothesis false. I’ll see that the report identifies you as being suitably alert.”

Stell holds up her personal comm unit and starts its video record feature. ”State your name and ID number so I’m sure to get it correct.”
Bluff, Skill Expertise: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 7 + (1) = 26
In case he's not buying it, Sense Motive to spot a hostile reaction is forming.
Sense Motive, skill expertise: 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 4 + (5) = 23

Situation: The team has been attacked and are taking fire from several goons of Dr. Darkminster.

Stell puts an arrow to her bow and locks eyes with the one with the laser pistol. She aims her bow at him, winks, and then points the bow at one of his allies. "You're too cute to puncture," she says. But just as she is about to fire, she returns her aim to him and lets the arrow fly.

Let's say the target has a Sense Motive of +0 and a CR of 1; the DC of the clever feint is 11
Bluff to perform Clever Feint: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 7 + (4) = 22
Bow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Stell got startled by the sound of a grenade going off and her shot sailed high and skittered off the ceiling.

Even though Stell's arrow missed badly, her target is flat-footed against everyone else until the end of Stell's turn.

Role Playing Abilities:
I have been role playing about as long as the D&D game has been sold, getting started back in my freshman year of college (1973). Since then, I've played the various editions of D&D (up though 3.5), GURPS, Shadowrun, and Savage Worlds, and a smattering of others. I've even come up with my own role playing system, although I doubt I will ever try to publish it. I've played Pathfinder since it came out and I've been playing on the Paizo play-by-post boards since 2013. I am currently GM for two PF Adventure Paths, Wrath of the Righteous and Reign of Winter. Look at some posts for my characters Shasta and Benson to see examples of my posting style and look at the AP campaigns to see my GM style (Wrath of Righteous would be best, as I assumed the GM duties of the Reign of Winter after someone else got the game started).

As for Starfinder, I picked up the core rule book pretty close to when it was published and have made first level characters for all the classes except soldier and all the races except Kasatha and Shirren. I think I have grasped the unique differences from Pathfinder. I've played one game in SFS.

I encourage you to check my posting record in the various campaigns I've been in as a player and the ones I am GM for. I'm married but with no kids, nearing retirement, with a job that allows nearly daily posting. I've never dropped out of a game without serving notice. My life situation is stable. I've noted that college students and young adults are prone to dropping out of PBP games when their studies get too intense or when they get married, move, take a new job, or have children. None of those things are going to happen to me.

I have also done a lot of writing and I think at this point, my writing is definitely above average (IMHO). I pride myself on proofreading my work and catching spelling and grammar errors. I also have learned the concept of always leaving a post with a hook that someone else can build on or respond to. I also avoid characters who are anti-social or who don't work and play well with others. I'm not particularly fond of evil character concepts and don't enjoy playing with other players who are running evil characters.

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