The Five Best Playable Races in the Starfinder Alien Archive

The Starfinder Alien Archive is finally out and man, is it impressive! I've read some complaints on the interwebs about the book not being substantial enough for the price but that's not what I do here. I like to keep things positive! Real positive! 

No, what I want to do is focus on the new playable races presented in the Archive. Here are my five best playable races. 

5.  Space Goblin: I’m not going to lie, this selection is based solely on the art work presented in the Archive. I love everything about the look of these creatures, from the cracked Wally Wood style space helmet to the cobbled together junk laser. I would love to play one of these little dudes like Joe Pecsi from “Casino.”

4. Kalo: If it has wings like a bat it must be a bat, right? Nope. The Kalo use there “wings” like fins, allowing these creatures to race through the oceans and seas of their homeland. That’s right! The Kalo live in underwater vent cities. The role-playing possibilities of an underwater kingdom like Antlantis are too cool to pass up. I’d say the only drawback would be the Kalo’s starting with a measly two HP.

3. Maraquoi: Dude, space monkeys. Need I say more?

2. Reptoid: Every good gaming system needs a good shape-shifter and Starfinder is no exception. This sneaky bunch feature awesome spell like abilities (1/day charm and command and at-will daze and telepathic command) that would prove beneficial to an operative.  I also dig the 1d3 lethal slashing damage with unarmed strikes.

1.Nuar: SUPER SMART SPACE MINOTUARS! That’s right! The Nuar get a +2 racial mod to intelligence. My absurd dream of playing a minotaur wizard may finally be realized. However this situation is waaay better because I get to play a SPACE WIZARD MINOTUAR IN SPACE!!!

There you have it. My list. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

What are You Playing this Weekend?

Tell me all about your upcoming adventures. Is there a big boss fight? Think you will finally find your way out of what seems to be a never ending dungeon? Will you roll that ever so high Will save?

This Saturday, the Heavy Gigs crew return to Sea Side City. Things get a little hairy for the gang as the adventure has landed them right smack dab in the middle of a werewolf gang rumble. The most unexpected and off the wall events are always popping off in Seaside City.

If you've missed any of the adventures and enjoy a good play through podcasts, make sure to give "Heavy Gigs in Seaside City" a listen.

You're My Inspiration

Once a month or so I head to my local used book store. I love a good used book store.  They are great place to find old gaming manuals. Also the selection of fantasy and sci-fi novels are always solid. A few of my better scores include Conan, Tarzan and Princess of Mars novels.  

On my last trip, I came across an old mass market Elrick paperback novel. I hadn’t read any Moorcock but his work has come highly recommended so I figured what the hell.  The cover art was dope and the description seemed solid enough, so I bought it. Boy, am I glad I did. The book entitled “The Stormbringer,” is a collection of short stories of Elrick’s adventures.  If you aren’t familiar, Elrick is an albino elf that wields an evil runesword. Man, it’s soooooooo good.  

 I gotta tell ya, nothing gets my role playing engine running like reading great sword and sorcery.  My dicehand starts shaking and my mind begins to race. How my character would react to the situations presented in the stories? I ponder the stats of Elrick’s companions as well as the evil do-ers.  Man, I gotta play!!!

    

Where does it come from for you as a GM or as a player while creating a new PC?  Maybe you’re favorite film character, a novel perhaps? Share your inspiration here with us! 

Starfinder Campaign: The Defector part 2

The ship fights off the space goblin threat and continues uninterrupted to the rendezvous point. Another ship appears out of a nebula. This new ship is a light freighter and hails the PC’s ship. The two ships dock and the exchange is made. Willian orders his crew to the cargo hold. Once here we meet Obiang, the Vesk General and his entourage* (as well as any Vesk PC’s in the party. These PC’s are loyal to the general.)  Willain informs the PCs they are to accompany Obiang safely to the Station where he will brief the core world’s leaders and military personal on the info he knows regarding the Vesk supply chain, troop movements and other info.

Our ship is back underway heading toward the Station. While the vessel is navigating through the Diaspora , it is discovered by a Vesk battle cruiser. The Vesk ship hails the freighter and demands the ship’s manifest. Willian isn’t on the bridge ATM, so the PC captain will be forced to roll DC checks, which will fail, it’s just a matter of how bad. If the DC rolls are awful, the Vesk ship will open fire on the freighter. If the rolls go better, the Vesk will demand to send over an away team to inspect the vessel.    

No matter the outcome, be it inspection or a quick fire fight, Willian orders the PC’s to get Obiang on board an escape pod to avoid capture by the Vesk. As the escape pod drifts into the Diaspora, the freighter explodes, destroyed by the Vesk cruiser.     

My Starfinder Campaign: The Defector part 1

I thought this would be a cool place to brainstorm my Starfinder campaign. If you guys and gals dig it feel free to use the idea for your game. If you have questions or recommendations for the events feel free to use the comments section.

This campaign takes place during the Vesk invasion outlined in the players guide. The jist of the campaign is:  A Vesk general is defecting and it the PC’s job to deliver the defector safely to the station. (If  a member of your party that is playing a Vesk, no worries. I’ve got that covered.)

The opening setting is a freighter speeding through the galaxy. The PC’s are serving as the bride crew of a freighter commanded by Captian Willian. (I am not going to assign a race/class/theme for this or any of the NPC’s here on the blog. My thinking here is I would leave those decisions up to the individual GMs.)  The crew is aware they are on a mission that is militarist in nature though none are aware of the particulars. Willian orders the pilot to a heading for a rendezvous with another vessel.

During their travels to the rendezvous point, the ship is attacked by Space Goblins junkships.

This seems like a good place to end. Next week I will continue on with the campaign as well as providing stats for your freighter and the junkships.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts and subscribe.