I’m running a game that’s expected to end between February and April of next year. I’m hoping to run a Starfinder Adventure Path with a new group after that, most likely Signal of Screams or Dawn of Flame.
BEFORE THAT, HOWEVER, I’d like to run a 5-10 session homebrew mini-series with any interested players to ensure it’s the kind of group I’m looking for. Running an AP is a big commitment, after all, and I want to ensure everyone meshes well before diving in.
So while I’m finishing off my current game, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHICH OF THESE CONCEPTS SOUND THE MOST INTERESTING, EVEN IF YOU AREN’T INTENDING ON JOINING IN! Every bit of feedback will help me decide which ideas I should focus on and develop… and may even give me some ideas for whichever AP I run after!
<1: PANDORA LOST>
The arc-ship Pandora sets out for a multi-generational journey to explore the far, far away system known as the Elysium Sector. Mysteriously, the vessel almost immediately ends up completely off course and directly in the path of an all-consuming robot empire.
Since even the formidable fighters aboard the Pandora alone may not be enough to take down the empire, the crew must seek out greater, more powerful means of taking down their new foes. What few whispers the PCs hear tell of ancient forces, reborn machines, and even gods.
With the robotic empire always on the move, will the PCs be able to find the means to destroy them… or will they be consumed like all others that ended up in the empire’s path?
Character Level: 20th
Tags: Action, High-Level
<2: POINT ZERO>
The mysteries about what lurks in the center of the universe have remained undiscovered for millions of years. The dark space surrounding the universe’s origin point was simply too vast to safely explore.
However, the PCs have (one way or another) gotten an experimental new Drift engine that will supposedly allow them to breach the dark recesses of the universe’s origin point. There, they will quickly begin to discover all kinds of breathtaking, dangerous, and truly alien sights hidden from the rest of the universe.
If the PCs survive the journey, they shall behold whatever awaits them… at Point Zero.
Character Level: 3 or 15? It’ll be left up to the players
Tags: Exploration, Mystery
<3: THE LAST SONG OF THE FRONTIER>
Khan Xhin wants the PCs dead, and he won’t rest until he achieves that goal.
The man was once a hero, almost single-handedly battling back the galaxy-spanning Swarm… but during that time, he found a means of psychically controlling a vast army of clones made in his image. Xhin’s legion turned their weapons towards their former allies, and he has since effectively conquered the galaxy.
Although all hope seems to be lost for the heroes, an unexpected ally comes to their rescue during a critical moment, providing not only an opportunity to keep their own lives… but a chance to save countless others…
Character Level: Somewhere between 1-5? It’ll be left up to the players
Tags: Melancholy, Space Western
<4: PREY>
Hydra Station, a gigantic research ship, studies some of the most dangerous creatures in the entire galaxy. When the PCs were sent to investigate a distress call sent from the vessel, they knew something horrible must have happened…
But what they’d find would be far worse than some escaped monsters. Something is after PCs. Most of the staff on the station are alive, yet forever changed. Something is after the PCs. No one needs to die. Something is after the PCs. Everything is malfunctioning.
Something has found the PCs.
Character Level: Somewhere between 3-10? It’ll be left up to the players
Tags: Horror, Survival
Somehow I find myself the first to reply. That's weird.
So take this with as many grains of salt as you want; I've never been blessed with a regular gaming group, I'm totally new to Starfinder, I'm interested in sci-fi more than sci-fantasy, and I'm far more interested in roleplaying character interaction and sandboxy stuff than large amounts of combat.
Lastly, I play SFS so I wouldn't/couldn't join a homebrew adventure with my current PC.
So here are my reactions to your pitches.
<1: PANDORA LOST>
Aw, why does the robot society have to be cliched monolithic bad guys? The galaxy is already awash in evil empires and similar things: Jinsul, Swarm, Vesk, and especially the Azlanti. Does it really need another Evil Empire that will doom another sector to grinding oppression? That would be a bummer. What would be more fun is trying to make contact with a civilization that has been misunderstood or mischaracterized by organics who fear replicating robots, but while the robots are truly alien the PCs (especially if some are androids or SROs) have a chance to forge positive relations with this strange nomadic robot society. Robots can get their resources and a comfortable living in solar systems that are too irradiated or barren for organics to inhabit, and a Galaxy is gigantihugemungous. They don't have to conflict with us just because they're different.
<2: POINT ZERO>
The infinite universe/multiverse has no center, of course.
But seriously, this looks like loads of fun and I would play if I had the PC level, time, etc. to play it. This looks like the sort of gaming that excites me a lot. To infinity and beyond! I already want to know WHAT is in there (besides the expected supermassive black hole) and why nobody has gone there yet.
<3: THE LAST SONG OF THE FRONTIER>
It's like the robot empire, but much more dark and I can't imagine it turning out to be a harmless misunderstanding. Not my style of game.
<4: PREY>
Horror isn't my preferred genre. Horror could potentially exacerbate my current mental health challenges, or result in unpleasant experiences at the table.
So take this with as many grains of salt as you want; I've never been blessed with a regular gaming group, I'm totally new to Starfinder, I'm interested in sci-fi more than sci-fantasy, and I'm far more interested in roleplaying character interaction and sandboxy stuff than large amounts of combat.
Lastly, I play SFS so I wouldn't/couldn't join a homebrew adventure with my current PC.
Hey, don't worry about not being able to join; it'd be a while before I could run these anyway, and I'm more interested in just figuring out what people find interesting. So your reply is a HUGE help!
I'll be honest, I mostly made Pandora Lost as an excuse for doing lots of big fights against high-level stuff if that party happened to be into that. Though your concept sounds more like the kind of thing I'd do in my regular game, haha. I also tend to prefer character-focused stuff myself, so I totally get where you're coming from.
I'm actually kind of surprised by how much interest Point Zero is getting! Elsewhere, everyone who replied mentions being interested in it, and that's awesome to me! I was expecting lots more people to be in for big fights and stuff, but it's nice knowing there are a lot of folks more interested in the exploration/character side of things.
Thanks again!