I've already searched through the available threads, and can't find an answer, so I'll just ask flat-out:
I recognize that PC Barathu (probably) don't get the amorphous or slam of standard Early Stage Barathu, but do they get the standard changes for their type, which is Aberration? To be specific, darkvision and +2 to Will saves?
To clarify, the amorphous ability and slam are not in the racial traits sidebar for PCs, but the aberration part is.
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I'll respond for visability, my initially thought was no to both questions but then there is this line from the Woiokos entry,
"Amphibious: Deepborn woiokos can breathe underwater (thanks to the aquatic subtype), but they can also breathe air and survive on land."
So apparently whoever designed the Woiokos thought that PC versions got the traits of the subtype, which are "Traits: Swim speed, water breathing, Athletics as a master or good skill; if it can breathe air, it also gains the amphibious special ability."
So my new thought is that they do in fact gain darkvision, as that is listed as ta trait of the aberration type, although there is some wiggle room as the phrase for traits says, "Traits: The listed traits are usually innate to all creatures of the type, so it is recommended that a creature with this type gain them" but since NPC barathu get this trait, I think its fair that PC barathu get it as well.
Now as far as the +2 saves, I would say no and that is because of this line for adjustments in Alien Archive,
"If you want to give an NPC a class graft (see Step 4), you should use only the adjustments entry for the creature type graft or the adjustments entry for the class graft, not both—decide whether the adjustments from its class or the adjustments from its creature type are more important and apply only those."
So I would argue that since all PC barathu have classes they get their class saving throws and not those granted by the aberration type adjustment.
My big problem is that I want to play this character, and soon. So I need to know one way or the other. The darkvision isn't that big of a deal -- I can use an augmentation to add that if necessary, or add it to the armor, but I'd prefer not too since it might interfere with other augmentations I'm considering.
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So it tells you what they get on page 21 (the next page)
RACIAL TRAITS
Ability Adjustments: +2 Con, +2 Wis, –2 Dex
Hit Points: 6
Size and Type: Early stage barathus are Medium
aberrations.
Early Stage Adaptation: See above.
Floaters: Early stage barathus have a base speed of 0 feet and an extraordinary fly speed of 30 feet with average maneuverability.
Limited Telepathy: Early stage barathus can communicate telepathically with any creatures within 30 feet with whom they share a language in common.
Strange Anatomy: Early stage barathus gain a +1 racial bonus to Fortitude saving throws
And then it defines the "Early Stage Adaptation" on page 20.
Early Stage Adaptation (Ex) An early stage barathu’s body is mutable and can adapt to many different situations. Once every 1d4 rounds as a swift action, an early stage barathu can reshape its body and adjust its chemistry to gain one of the following qualities. The adaptation lasts until the beginning of the early stage barathu’s next turn. Unlike more mature barathus, early stage barathus are not generally capable of more complex adaptations.
Upper limb refinements enable the barathu to add an
additional amount of damage to melee attacks equal to
its Strength modifier.
A toughened dermal layer grants its a +1 racial bonus
to AC.
Developed lower limbs grant it a base speed of 15 feet.
Molecular-level modifications grant it resistance 2
against a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity, fire,
or sonic).
Elongated limbs extend its reach to 10 feet.
So that's what you get as a PC. I wouldn't assume PC Barathu's get anything else until clarified. You already get quite a lot.
The part of Alien Archive that says abberations get darkvision and +2 to will saves is part for designing NPCs, which follow different rules PCs (this has been stated numerous times).
Also, as you say, given that darkvision can be fabricated in Starfinder with an armor attachment, it's not really a problem anyway. I'd flavor it as "your darkvision is still developing" because you're early-stage.
Starfinder Society Developer
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There are certainly some confusion points here. I've raised the issue up the flag pole to some of the Starfinder design folks, as I don't want to make a unilateral ruling without checking what the intent is. That being said, I don't have an immediate answer, but will provide what I can when I get a response.
Thanks for your ongoing patience!
They ought to have Darkvision regardless as all NPC early stage and mature barathu have darkvision.
All NPC barathu also have a slam attack and the amorphous ability, which I'm fairly certain PC versions don't get. It says they do get the Early Stage Adaptation and refers to the NPC section, which would seem to exclude it, along with Along for the Ride, which is listed in the same part of the stat block for the NPC version.
My point is that the PC section specifically does NOT mention that (the slam and amorphous), but DOES specifically say that it is an aberration without any further qualification. The question then becomes 'okay, what does Aberration mean?' Since there is no definition, I think it defaults to what it is defined as in the book, but I want to know for sure because I don't want to feel like I was cheating.
I've raised the issue up the flag pole to some of the Starfinder design folks, as I don't want to make a unilateral ruling without checking what the intent is.
Thanks, Thurston! I appreciate it, and I'm guessing others playing Barathu (and any other race that might suffer from similar issues) will appreciate it too.
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That was 'ought' as in advice: Hey, development team, you missed something.
Not 'ought' as in probably.
I agree that until errata or FAQ changes anything, you get what is in the box. The creature type defines your interaction with the rules like 'Native Outsider' means Charm Person doesn't work on you in PF, but you still don't get d10 hit dice and 6+ skill points per level.
I get that space was limited, but racial rules should have everything specifically called out without any assumptions, especially in Organized Play, else every added race is going to be a rules question.
So, my Barathu is now a legal character (by which I mean that I hit section 12 on the Alien Archive boon tonight). I will be playing him for the first time the day after tomorrow, on the 31st.
So I'm hoping I might be able to get some answers by then?
Have you heard back from the guys in design, Thurston?
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Starfinder Society Developer
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So, my Barathu is now a legal character (by which I mean that I hit section 12 on the Alien Archive boon tonight). I will be playing him for the first time the day after tomorrow, on the 31st.
So I'm hoping I might be able to get some answers by then?
Have you heard back from the guys in design, Thurston?
An official FAQ is still in the works, and will go in the Starfinder FAQ portion of the website when it's ready. That being said... it is the holiday season. Here's a temporary ruling, to be superseded when a more official Alien Archive FAQ/Errata goes live.
Barathu Clarifications: A barathu does NOT gain any additional abilities from its matching creature type graft (aberration.) The barathu only gets the racial traits listed in the sidebar, and nothing else, regardless of what abilities appear in the playable race sidebar.
Barathu Errata: Playable barathu gain darkvision 60 ft.
Happy Holidays!
-Thursty
For those who might still be watching this thread, this is now covered in the FAQ.