You may want to think twice about including a Large race, because it can make logistics difficult in some of the tight quarters that the PCs will have to fight in.
Mechanically, though, I wouldn't worry about it much. They're all pretty well balanced.
Large races have a bit of a problem squeezing through corridors and giving enemies lots of cover, but that's the players issue to deal with.
Let them pick anything they want, why restrict their creativity? If it's a mistake, the character will either get killed or retire and the player rolls a new one.
Large races have a bit of a problem squeezing through corridors and giving enemies lots of cover, but that's the players issue to deal with.
Let them pick anything they want, why restrict their creativity? If it's a mistake, the character will either get killed or retire and the player rolls a new one.
Wouldn't it be better to help your player make a character that would fit the setting and adventure rather than let them make a character you know won't be good for it, and then just hope that character that the player spent time making just dies, or that the player eventually get fed up with it and retires it?
If my GM did that kind of thing, I'd rather not play with that GM. "Stifling creativity" is one thing. But that is a whole new level.
*blink* Why would a large race give enemies disproportionately more cover than allies?
Because they are large and occupy more space?
Unless every fight takes place in a single narrow corridor, the other PCs can spread out. . .
So, having a large melee PC requires the party to adapt their tactics due to the cover he provides to enemies? Sounds like what I said.
and even then, they could gather up around the Large PCs and use him as cover, instead.
Sure, if the enemy ignores the melee large PC to attack the other characters behind him. Never said he doesn't provide cover to both sides.
Wouldn't it be better to help your player make a character that would fit the setting and adventure rather than let them make a character you know won't be good for it, and then just hope that character that the player spent time making just dies, or that the player eventually get fed up with it and retires it?
I'd rather let the player choose whatever he wants instead of pushing him to where I think he should go.
If he asks for advice, it's another matter. But I fail to see how restricting content from AA1 or PW would make for a better experience.
If my GM did that kind of thing, I'd rather not play with that GM.
Must be nice having GMs all over the place, being able to pick and choose. Most groups I know have to adapt.
"Stifling creativity" is one thing. But that is a whole new level.
Yeah, a GM that let's you play anything you want sounds like a nightmare.
I don't see how you could think that letting a player play a character that would either die quickly or that makes the player so upset with his character that he just retires it is preferable to saying, "Hey, just to let you know in advance, these races and these types of characters would be a bad fit for this campaign."
But sure, continue to be a passive-aggressive child all you wish.
I don't see how you could think that letting a player play a character that would either die quickly or that makes the player so upset with his character that he just retires it is preferable to saying, "Hey, just to let you know in advance, these races and these types of characters would be a bad fit for this campaign."
I wouldn't demand that much from the player to retire his character - a simple "this is boring", "I'd rather contribute more in combat" is enough.
And the OP asked if he should restrict content from AA1 and PW, that is not the same as giving advice on character creation.
I wouldn't restrict content nor give advice, unless specifically asked for.
But sure, continue to be a passive-aggressive child all you wish.
/shotsfired
The OP asked if he should, and I'm saying he should if those races don't fit into the theme and type of game he's wanting to run.
On the one hand: I really, really hate limiting races and classes in my games. But on the other? I'd be tempted to limit what was allowed (at least, in terms of starter characters) on the grounds that some of the Alien Archive races are too big, too inconvenient (different atmospheric requirements and so on), or too spoileriffic (draelik, grays, reptoids, and witchwyrds spring to mind).
Honestly, I have no problem limiting my PCs in what races they can pick from. I'm not willing to the the gymnastics to make your Trox Paladin of Shelyn fit into my Carrion Crown campaign. In Starfinder, there are still complicated species like the Greys and Reptoids, but as far as restricting a race due to size, I think that's a little overboard. If they want to play their large sized species, they should expect to get used to the squeeze rules.
Starfinder is built around having a plethora of weird aliens available - it is one of its main features. Cutting off entire books is just wasting resources.
Placing oddballs like the gray into an Adventure Path is up to the players - the only restriction Dead Sun has is: your character wants to join the Starfinders. If they want to play an over the top outsider, they'll just have to come up with a reasonable explanation.
Or if they are lazy, claim the character was raised by humans.
Mechanically, I see no huge obstacles - fluff wise, it's more of a problem for the player than the GM.
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I think having an open borders type of character creation makes for a nice start to a campaign.
But if you don't mind having a ton of restrictions, or don't have a choice in the matter, at least make the best of it. Just draw the line on restricting class features... restricting gear is nasty, but blocking abilities or spells is just disappointing.
A big part of it is that the game is still relatively new, and I wouldn't be surprised if I were to get a bunch of first-time players. And don't get me wrong; it'd be more like "I'll consider letting you play a barathu or urog if your first character dies and you reroll" than "no, you can't play a kalo; stop asking about it."
Hell, my husband is thinking of running something in the near future; and I may have to talk him into allowing anything even as outré as maraquoi or skittermanders. (Although the good news is that quite a few of our potential players have seen the characters from Skitter Shot and seemed taken with the adorabadassery.) And I am definitely looking forward to the dirindi, sazarons, and some of the other races that have been mentioned but not statted out yet.