Starfinder

Ratman_tf · March 10, 2018, 09:14:19 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1028663The question is does it offer anything as a game that other sci-fi or sci-fantasy RPGs don't have?

The same thing that Rifts offers that other post-apoc kitchen sink settings don't. A lot of setting specific material for GMs to build their adventures on.

Votan · March 10, 2018, 08:25:16 PM

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;1028432It's sci-fi. That's all you need to know why it isn't that popular.

Sad, but probably true

JeremyR · March 10, 2018, 10:28:51 PM

Quote from: James Gillen;1028667The ability to play sci-fi in the Pathfinder universe. I guess that matters to fans.

jg

The core premise of Starfinder that the Pathfinder world is missing, though. It's a Sci-Fi game where the PF world is gone, and where the rules are different enough to be incompatible with PF...so I guess the core audience is people who are Paizo fans.

RPGPundit · March 12, 2018, 06:58:49 AM

Quote from: Ratman_tf;1028685The same thing that Rifts offers that other post-apoc kitchen sink settings don't. A lot of setting specific material for GMs to build their adventures on.

Well, fair enough, but RIFTS has been around for decades. I think that these days, for a game to work, it's got to either do something really really well (system or setting-wise), or offer something new that will make it different from other games/settings, or both.

fearsomepirate · March 12, 2018, 09:05:50 AM

It's a relatively competently executed d20-based science-fantasy game, so for anyone whose main or even only RPG experience is D&D (i.e. most gamers), it's not too hard to get into. Plus it's probably a little easier to convince people to play it.

RPGPundit · March 14, 2018, 02:16:39 AM

Quote from: fearsomepirate;1028901It's a relatively competently executed d20-based science-fantasy game, so for anyone whose main or even only RPG experience is D&D (i.e. most gamers), it's not too hard to get into. Plus it's probably a little easier to convince people to play it.

Will it do stuff that playing Star Wars D20 wouldn't?

S'mon · March 14, 2018, 05:21:39 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1029256Will it do stuff that playing Star Wars D20 wouldn't?

I get the impression it seems to lean more to a Marvel/Guardians of the Galaxy type feel?

fearsomepirate · March 14, 2018, 07:59:21 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;1029256Will it do stuff that playing Star Wars D20 wouldn't?

Best things about it:

1. Is actively published and supported.
2. Much less of a giant pain in the ass to set up a character.
3. Overall is decently balanced, except for ship combat. (SW d20 has all the issues 3.5 does.)
4. Isn't Star Wars.

Robyo · March 14, 2018, 09:06:52 AM

Not being Star Wars is a huge plus. It can be reskinned pretty easily for Star Wars though. Same for Guardians of the Galaxy style, but it's really not that high-powered. Our first level characters are hardly superheroes.

The Starfinder game is very kitchen sink. I'm not a huge fan of some of the setting conceits (no human homeworld, centered on just one solar system), but the worlds are all interesting places to adventure.

Ulairi · March 14, 2018, 09:14:11 AM

Quote from: S'mon;1029274I get the impression it seems to lean more to a Marvel/Guardians of the Galaxy type feel?

That's what it looks like from the book.

My d20 scifi game of choice is White Star. But with how much the Starfinder CRB is being discounted I might pick it up.

Ratman_tf · March 14, 2018, 11:24:36 AM

Quote from: S'mon;1029274I get the impression it seems to lean more to a Marvel/Guardians of the Galaxy type feel?

Art and fluff wise, yeah.
Mechanically it's Pathfinder 1.5, and still has a lot of 3rd edition DNA floating around.

Hmm. Has anyone run Starfinder in a homebrew setting? I'm wondering how much of the lore is baked into the game. The Vesk and Kasatha, for instance, would have to be re-written somewhat.