So I haven't seen this posted anywhere else, so here goes; for purposes of augmentations, how does an astrozoan determine how many limbs are affected by the all x determination of some augmentations, such as hands, feet, etc.? They have seven limbs in their natural form, but none of them are differentiated as legs or arms, though the rule that states they 'count as' having two arms for manipulating items since they are not explicitly stated as having more in their racial rules certainly applies. But how many should be considered as what for installing augmentations? Thoughts? Does this deserve a FAQ?
Unless a creature has an ability called "no legs" or "no heart" or "no brain" they have the same platonic slots for augmentations as a human.
Huh. You can put an armor upgrade slot on an arm. You specifically can stick six of these on a skittermander.
Does that seem nuts to anyone else? One of the big lures of higher level armor is 1 extra slot, skittermnders can walk around with more armor mods naked than a tank in powered armor can fit in their rig....
Unless a creature has an ability called "no legs" or "no heart" or "no brain" they have the same platonic slots for augmentations as a human.
So I'm pretty certain that the rule you are referencing is in regard to the number of items that a character can have readied/use in their hands, not an absolute for all limbs ever, but I have been unable to find said rule to check after an hour of searching. Any chance you have the reference available?
I know I have read someone that the unusual anatomy races basically count as humanoid for limb count, baring racial specifics (Multi Limb, No eyes, No Nose) but for the life of me I can't find it. I found an Errata about creatures counting as having 2 hands for dealing with equipment unless otherwise stated...
"Regardless of the system, you can have only one upgrade slot graft installed."
Oh DOH. Thank you!
I know I have read someone that the unusual anatomy races basically count as humanoid for limb count, baring racial specifics (Multi Limb, No eyes, No Nose) but for the life of me I can't find it. I found an Errata about creatures counting as having 2 hands for dealing with equipment unless otherwise stated...
All playable races are considered to have two hands for the purposes of holding and wielding weapons and other equipment (unless otherwise noted).
Of course the question is weird so i can't topy paste that...
I know I have read someone that the unusual anatomy races basically count as humanoid for limb count, baring racial specifics (Multi Limb, No eyes, No Nose) but for the life of me I can't find it. I found an Errata about creatures counting as having 2 hands for dealing with equipment unless otherwise stated...All playable races are considered to have two hands for the purposes of holding and wielding weapons and other equipment (unless otherwise noted).
Of course the question is weird so i can't topy paste that...
Yeah, that's what I thought, the rule is for how many 'hands' the race has for wielding/using items. It still leaves a gap for other limbs that is undefined. In this case, since an astrozoan could mimic a kasatha or other such race, it would seem to make sense to allow for more limb slots, but only those acting as given limbs could be active as appropriate for the form being mimicked.
I go with the rule of thumb that, unless specified otherwise in their racial traits, PCs races are assumed to have one head/brain, two arms, and two legs for the purposes of "platonic" system slots, as BigNorseWolf put it.
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From the armory
While Starfinder has a preponderance of nonhumanoid aliens
with strange morphology, any playable alien race can purchase
and use the equipment in this book. A betentacled barathu
(Starfinder Alien Archive 20) soldier can wield a hydra cannon
and make use of hoverskates just as easily as a kasathan soldier
This indicates you're supposed to resolve what can i wear as if the thing were a human unless a specific rule says their anatomy is particularly weird. Its not a direct, rules layer proof statement but i think it the best way to do it.
In probably every other case, I would agree whole heartedly. The Astrozoan was a case that really came to the attention of our table a few weeks ago, and the question has a lot to do with their Change Form ability that allows them to perfectly mimic any medium aberration or humanoid. This means they could take on the form of a Kasathan with four arms, or a Cephalume with one leg/foot, etc. That is the source of the question. In order to get the benefit of an augmentation that calls for all arms, would an Astrozoan need to have four of their limbs implanted while in the form of a Kasathan? Could they get away with implanting only one limb as a leg if they intended to routinely mimic Cephalumes? This is the source of the question, as the question of augmentations for new characters just came up a few days ago.
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An astrazoan can assume the form of a kasatha, as an example; but when they do, they don't gain the four-armed racial trait. It's that racial trait, in the framework of the rules, that lets a kasatha PC wield four hands' worth of held gear.
As for augmentation slots, a huge amount of Starfinder only works conceptually if you accept a gamist perspective: Unless otherwise noted (in their racial traits), all PCs have the equivalent of two hands, a standard allotment of augmentation systems, etc.
Acquiring an augmentation that takes the "All Legs" system, for example, means that the astrazoan can't have any other augmentations that use a leg system. They would still have two slots open for "Arm" augmentations. Which of an astrazoa's seven specific limbs these augmentations occupy is purely cosmetic and doesn't really matter.
"Wait what's the seventh limb slot?
"We do NOT speak of that. There are no augmentations for that.
"Why no..OH"
Sorry I've been away so long, life's gotten a bit busy. Having read over the stuff of the creator brought up in a related thread (how does one create links in this forum method anyway), and talked things over, yeah the method that makes the most sense is the simplest as counting for two limbs of each. I am proposing to my group a feat that lets someone with the ability to change their shape (either astrazoan, polymorph spell, reptoid, etc) gain one (additional, for polymorph) racial feature that is purely physical in nature, such as a climb speed, or four arms, that works only for the race that they have practiced extensively, not all races with that feature. Even then, for lack of headaches, I think the 'counts as' is still the way to go, with whatever morphing ability allowing the augmentation to 'stretch' or 'shrink,' as it were.