[Silly Question] What are the Must Haves?

[Lord Fyre]

Heroes of Absalom Station,

With FREE RPG coming up, I have to ask what are the essential books for someone breaking into Starfinder 2e?

I'm thinking I can get by with just Player Core & GM Core until I get more free cash. (Relying on Archives of Nethys until then.)

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

P.S.: Also looking to help Paizo in their time of need.

[Perpdepog]

Honestly the books you're scoping are pretty much it, yeah. You could also pick up Alien Archive if you want a bunch of pre-made critters to use, but pretty much everything you need to make a campaign is contained in those first two books you mentioned.

[Squark]

Those are the two big ones. Of the other books...

Invasion's Edge Player's Guide: A free PDF with 2 ancestries, backgrounds themed around this year's Starfinder Society metaplot, and backgrounds themed around the Playtest adventure. Get it here

Alien Core: It's a great book, but Monster Compendiums tend to be easier to use via a database via AoN. A physical copy or PDF is most useful for browsing (which, granted, is a great way to while away the afternoon as I know many of us grognards did decades ago)

Galaxy Guide: A setting book organized by campaign theme. Also includes a ton of backgrounds, six ancestries, and most of the non-multiclass Archetypes currently available.

Galactic Ancestries: A bunch of Ancestries, Two Versatile Heritages, and a bunch of feats and heritages for the core ancestries of Pathfinder and Starfinder. Also a ton of fun to browse.

Murder in Metal City: A 1st level boxed adventure. Includes one Ancestry, although unfortunately Khizar aren't as fleshed out as other ancestries. I've heard mixed reviews of the adventure

Guilt of the Graveworld: 1-5 Adventure. Looks fun, but if you or your players don't like Zo!, this adventure is not for you. Contains an Ancestry, a Versatile Heritage, plus some spells and items. A number of items desperately need errata, and there are a few overpowered ancestry feats.

Tales from the Vast: The first and so far only Starfinder book not to have an ancestry in it. 4 two level adventures set in the far flung reaches of the Starfinder universe. Leans into Starfinder's weird side.

[Maya Coleman]

Moved this question to Advice where it may be better suited! Also I personally recommend Player Core and Murder in Metal City!

[Perpdepog]

Oh, and while it's not out yet I'd highly recommend Tech Core when it comes out. It's also going to have some ancestries in it, the Mechanic and Technomancer classes, and lots and lots of technological goodies.

[Squark]

Oh, yes, I fully expect Tech Core to be a must have. The Player Core is very... cramped, and the additional tech items will be a huge help. Sentient Robotic Organisms and the Tech classes are also a keenly felt absence at the moment.