Fans of the first edition of Pathfinder are probably at least aware of Starfinder. The science fantasy tabletop RPG borrows much from Pathfinder, from mechanics to core themes. However, the twist in genre allows for some divergent gameplay, unique stories, and a host of other changes sure to intrigue any fan. And good news for fans: the Starfinder 2e playtest is available now.
What is Starfinder 2e?
The default campaign for Pathfinder is Golarion, a vast and highly detailed world for players to explore, whether they are enjoying home games or participating in the organized play of the Pathfinder Society. However, Golarion is only one planet in a vast Galaxy. That’s where Starfinder comes in. Players can experience science fantasy adventure: explore uncharted moons instead of forgotten tombs, do battle in zero gravity with high-tech weapons, and pilot spacecraft through the void.
For players that are familiar with Pathfinder 2e, Starfinder 2e should be very easy to pick up. The new edition is fully compatible with its sister game, sharing the same core rules. However, Starfinder does add a few things that are more applicable to its genre, such as the afore-mentioned zero gravity combat. New skills are also in the mix: Computers and Piloting, bringing the total up to eighteen (plus Lore skills). Of course, there are also new backgrounds, classes, and races to suit the spacefaring nature of the game.
What’s in the Playtest?
This is the exciting part. Paizo has released effectively the entire Starfinder 2e Player Core for free. It’s easier to start with what isn’t in the book. Firstly, there’s not much lore to speak of, outside of what players can glean from some descriptions. This, however, is not surprising, as Pathfinder 2e’s Player Core was similar in nature, sticking to the rules that players need and allowing world-building to be explored in other publications. The other thing that’s lacking are the core rules, aside from what is unique to Starfinder. However, if you already own the Pathfinder 2e Player Core, then you’re all set. Alternatively, you can make due with the rules database that’s completely open to the public.
Ancestries
Outside of the obligatory humans, which do have some additional options when compared to Pathfinder’s humans, there are nine new suitably science fantasy races, one of which isn’t even a humanoid, and two versatile heritages.
Android
Although already introduced in the Pathfinder 2e book Lost Omens: Ancestry Guide, the androids presented in Starfinder have some different options. As would be expected, their feats generally revolve around upgrading their artificial bodies.
Barathu
Perhaps the most interesting of Starfinder’s races, if not the most appealing for all players, these are aberrations described as floating, telepathic jellyfish-like beings. As they gain experience, they’re able to edit their own genetic code in a wide variety of ways to spontaneously evolve, and they’re able to retrain ancestry feats with much less downtime.
Kasatha
Refugees from a doomed world, the primary feature of this race is their four arms. While only two hands are considered active at a time, the ability to hold up to four hands’ worth of items at a time can be a real boon, allowing them to be highly versatile in combat with slightly better action economy when changing between strategies.
Lashunta
These telepathic humanoids are able to manipulate their genetics at puberty, allowing them to become a scholarly damaya, warrior korasha, or neither. Many of their feats revolve around their innate psychic abilities, but there is also a line of feats for pheromones that allow them to more easily manipulate social situations.
Pahtra
If you like cats, this is likely the race for you. They’re six-foot-tall feline humanoids that are highly competitive. They can appreciate activities of culture, such as music and dance, just as much as a good fight. Their feats range from giving them cat-like unarmed attacks to enhancing their whispers to capitalizing on their competitive nature.
Shirren
Players that choose to play Shirren are defectors from a destructive hive mind. These telepathic insect-like humanoids can choose from a variety of heritages and upgrade paths, including eventually getting the ability to fly. However, there are many ways in Starfinder 2e to fly, so this should hardly be the only set of options a player considers.
Skittermander
These are small, furry creatures with six arms and enthusiastic natures. Really all you need to know is that they have a 1st level feat called Hug Master, but there are other, less adorable options. In a way, they are the gnomes of Starfinder 2e, which should make sense if you’re familiar with the lore of gnomes from Pathfinder.
Vesk
Vesk are huge lizard people. With boosts to Strength and Constitution, they are ideal frontline fighters, which seems consistent with the background provided by the playtest document. Indeed, their feat selection also largely supports that.
Ysoki
Ratfolk by another name, they are in fact the same species as the Pathfinder 2e race. The Starfinder playtest document provides a number of new options, but there is definitely some overlap. This does mean, though, that a creative player can take any feats from either setting that they can justify, leaving them with a plethora of options.
Versatile Heritages
If you aren’t familiar with the concept from Pathfinder 2e, versatile heritages can be applied to any ancestry. In Pathfinder, they typically represent some manner of unconventional lineage, while the one’s presented so far in Starfinder 2e seem to be more of something that has happened to your character. For a Borai, their living soul is animating their dead body, making them intelligent undead. Prismeni, on the other hand, have somehow become connected to a hyperspace plane called the Drift. As such, they can access its energies from anywhere in the cosmos.
Classes
The six classes presented in the Starfinder 2e playtest document are all unique and flavorful. The best part, as well, is that these are not simply space-themed versions of Pathfinder classes, something the developers specifically stated they were avoiding. They truly have their own identities that are the furthest thing from being reskins.
Envoy
If you had to draw a parallel, the envoy could be seen as filling a similar role to bard with their ability to inspire their team. However, envoys do not have spells, and their ability to inspire is really tied to the idea of leading by example. In some ways, they’re more similar to the upcoming commander class (currently in playtest as well). That the envoy is Charisma-based makes them an excellent face for the party.
Mystic
Mystics are healers and spellcasters. At character creation, they must pick from one of five connections, which influences a number of their features, including what tradition of magic they have access to, but no matter which they choose, they will always be Wisdom-based. The bulk of their healing comes from their vitality network, which stores a certain number of Hit Points that can be transferred to allies and passively replenishes each round.
Operative
Ostensibly, this is the ranged damage of the bunch. They have the trappings of a specialist class, but don’t get the myriad of skill increases that envoys do. At 1st level, they choose a specialization, two of which are actually melee options. It looks as though they will function as something of a medium between rogue and ranger, but with a slightly different focus. While both of those get ways of getting large damage bonuses, the operative is best at denying opponents the benefits of cover. With Starfinder leaning more towards ranged combat, this is bound to be invaluable.
Solarian
If operatives are the ranged attackers, solarians are the ones bringing it to melee. They fight using powerful manifestations of their attunement with either the photon or graviton aspect. This includes the ability to produce a weapon of solar energy. At character creation, they must choose one of three configurations for their power, which sets their favored attunement and gives them a few other abilities.
Soldier
Soldiers are tanky front-line combatants that specialize in using area-of-effect weapons. They’re particularly useful for inflicting the suppressed status, which slows targets down and makes it harder for them to hit their targets. Soldiers also get feats to further enhance the effects of this status.
Witchwarper
Witchwarpers are spontaneous casters that can either use the arcane or occult spell list, based on which paradox they choose at character creation. However, they do much more than just cast spells; they warp the fabric of reality around them, ripping holes in space-time to cast. Witchwarpers also need an anchor to keep them tethered to reality.
Getting Ready to Launch
Unfortunately, there’s just way too much material to even gloss over all of it here, let alone cover it in depth. The slew of new items and equipment, feats, and spells is absolutely staggering. But, if you’re excited to play Starfinder 2e, there’s no reason to wait. There’s even a one-shot adventure already available for purchase. The Starfinder 2e playtest has everything you need to play from 1st level to 20th, and the basic rules of the Pathfinder 2e system are free for anyone to access. The full launch of Starfinder 2e is expected for Gen Con 2025, with a lore book coming out slightly ahead of the Player Core.
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