Cortosis

[Belabras]

This week we look to The Acolyte for inspiration and steal some Cortosis for Starfinder.

https://solorunstudio.com/2024/07/20/starfinder-cortosis/

[Metaphysician]

Instead of making it a random chance, I'd suggest turning the shutdown effect into a saving through. Otherwise, it'd serve as a comparatively cheap way to cripple even extremely high CR opponents.

[Goth Guru]

A throwing weapon made of that would have a chance of taking down a wall of force.

[Belabras]

Metaphysician wrote:

Instead of making it a random chance, I'd suggest turning the shutdown effect into a saving through. Otherwise, it'd serve as a comparatively cheap way to cripple even extremely high CR opponents.

I'm of two minds on this. On the one hand, crippling even extremely high CR opponents is the whole point of Cortosis. On the other hand, a save (Reflex save calculated the same as Critical effects would be best) is a good idea. I'd say use whichever makes the most sense in your game.

[Metaphysician]

The issue is that, fundamentally, Starfinder is a system where you *shouldn't* ever be able to ignore the level curve. Circumstance bonus are fine, but also are by definition *circumstantial*. If you are carrying the ability to defeat foes far higher than your level with you, its not a circumstance bonus anymore.

Or, to put it another way around: Star Wars is a setting where there are different power tiers ( essentially "Force User" or "Not" ), that are fundamentally separate; and where special resources might exist to allow someone in the lower tier to challenge someone in the higher. Starfinder, by contrast, does not. Everyone exists on the same power curve.

[Belabras]

I get what you're saying, and I don't disagree. The only counterpoint I'd offer is that different tables run differently. There may be a game out there where the swing between 'murder machine' and 'kitten when my advanced weapon doesn't work' is actually a way to balance that encounter.

The point of these blogs is offer options that people find fun. I don't expect folks to necessarily run stuff the way I write it (though I'm happy if they do!) Certainly going with a save in place of or in addition to the random chance is a more balanced option. If you'd rather just run it with the random chance, that's not wrong either. GMs are going to know their table better than I do.