Starfinder Primer Part 4

[@Zedrinbot]

Technomancer and mechanic missing is still surprising to me, despite the reasons. The fantasy of playing a drone commander/engineer is so significant in sci fi settings that I'm surprised they didn't try go for it either way. I'm guessing they also wanna avoid some of the stumbles from Alchemist as well for the two classes, since item-focused classes not only need a repertoire of items, but also need a bit more consideration for their personal rules and mechanics.

[@link090909]

Great point, but I will say this: Paizo needs to leave some space in the class designs for future supplements ;)

[@Nionivek]

Yeah, I personally think they are trying to avoid the problems the alchemist had when it was first introduced.

[@connorschutz1]

Can't wait for this to come out, the little bit of starfinder 1 I got to play had me falling in love with Solarian. First chance I get I'm bringing back my celebrity chef awakened bear Solarian and his amazing cooking show bear grills.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

I . . . I hate that I love that.

[@valvadis2360]

I thought the one that interested me the most was gonna be Witchwarper, but i didn't know that Envoy worked like this! That "lead by exemple" thing is such a cool twist to leadership powers that it excites me more than the Commander's Tactics from the recent PF2e playtest.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

It's a fun idea.

[@link090909]

I thought the same thing. Now I have a concept in my brain of a Pathfinder-era envoy

[@kwagmeijer26]

Based on the field test, it looks like they get some decent "free actions" to throw around, like a free move half your speed (or step) or a free seek action.

[@GrimmDichotomy]

Paizo did have a stream on Twitch where they talked a lot more about the Witchwarper, same day as the blogpost =] Here are some bullet points: *Their Paradox is basically their subclass and determines their spell Tradition, either Arcane or Occult. So far we have four names: Analysis, Anomalies, The Gap, and Precog. *Their Quantum Field is an at-will Concentrate ability that can be sustained each turn, and basically creates pockets of altered reality. Anchoring actions let you do something while simultaneously sustaining your Quantum Field. *They showcased a full page of feats! Six were for affecting your Quantum Field, three were for spellcasting (one as a Spellshape), and there was a 1/hour Augury with limited capacity that takes 10 minutes to cast, or 1 minute if you're Legendary in Arcana or Occultism!

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Man, paizo puts out so much stuff, I always miss something!

[@GrimmDichotomy]

​@@PsiPrimeProductions1It's bound to happen! I only knew of the stream because a Mod had commented about it by the time I checked the blog post, so just fortunate timing there

[@LobsterOminous]

Reading through the Envoy field test made me think Paizo made a class specifically for me lol It's everything I want out of a class and more and I'm so hyped to play one!!

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

My favorite Starfinder 1e character was an Envoy. He was a lashunta former child star from the TV show "Ace Kidman-Kid Ace Pilot!" He was a washed up actor now and desperatly trying to restart his career!

[@TheLocalDisasterTourGuide]

I like to compare Solarions to Green Lanterns from the DC comics. I think the aesthetic lines up a bit better than jedi, though again, it's not a perfect translation.

[@Microondah]

Great video! While Evelyn is a cool example for a Witchwarper (and we stan EEAAO in this house), I think Elizabeth from Bioshock is an even better example. Girl literally opens bubbles to other realities to influence the world around her.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Sure, sure. Another good example.

[@KingAm0]

Something I've noticed with the PF and SF classes are that (from what we've seen) they're really not looking super disruptive if included in the other game. SF ancestries having easier flight access makes them dubious inclusions in a PF game, and the whole selection of weapons (maybe just items in general) in either system should probably just stay in their system, but the classes themselves don't immediately seem to have core features that would mess things up in a crossover. Most intrusive thing I see in that regard is Soldier's reliance on area weapons. And there'll probably be feats that wouldn't work in the other system, but that's easy.

[@natanoj16]

Yea. if someone wants to play a PF2e ancestry in SF2e all you have to do is look if they get flying or ranged attacks at a later point and them move them to an earlier level (Or if it is just normal flying: Simply let them get it from level 1)

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

A mystic should especially fit in with Pathfinder.

[@Ditidos]

I mean, two clases relay on tech weapons (soldier and operative) and the envoy's main class feature doesn't stack with off-guard (and is slightly worse than it), so it is quite dependant on people not flanking, which is absurd in a melee-focused meta. The solarian will probably have mobility options that are too good compared to the Pathfinder classes and the spells the casters have will be much longer range (particularly the focus spells, but the witchwarper area effect seem to start at 60 feet and grows more with levels, which is crazy for Pathfinder 2e). I personally won't be allowing classes to cross over but I 100% will be using most Starfinder ancestries in Pathfinder, mostly to use them, as I don't want humanoid animals in my space games (so I will be using the Pathra, Vesk and Ysoki exclusively on Pathfinder, as well as any animalfolk they put out later on, and also probably any humanoids that don't seem based on preexisting alien tropes). We have examples of flying ancestries in Pathfinder 2e, as well as of ranged unarmed attacks, so making the ancestries comply with Pathfinder rules seem like it would be easier. That said, I will be allowing soldiers since I'm stealing area weapons for Pathfinder 2e games, and definetly also leting inventors grab a futuristic weapon without the tech trait in place of their first weapon modification.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

@@Ditidos First of all, you do you in your own games, not trying to tell you what to do. I'd just like to voice that I think a Melee soldier would still work in Pathfinder. And remember that the suppressed condition also reduces speed . . . which isn't the biggest debuff in the world but it is still something. As for operative, there are plenty of firearms in Pathfinder for them to shoot. As for no animal-creatures in your space games. . . . I mean, you do you. I don't want to rain on your parade but . . . there are a LOT of animal-creatures in Science Fiction. Captain Bucky O'Hare, Space Dandy, Doctor Who has several, Farscape, Star Wars has a few. Again, not trying to tell you what to do but, there's a lot of Sci Fi aliens who happen to look like earth animals.

[@Ditidos]

@@PsiPrimeProductions1 Yeah, a melee or even an armor soldier might work in Pathfinder, but I'm unsure on how well it goes and I prefer to be catious until the playtest drops, we have yet to see all the levels of a class. That said, I suspect the operative won't count weapons in the Pathfinder 2e weapon groups as guns. Either that or archaic weapons in general won't be guns. So I do think it's going to be complicated to port to Pathfinder 2e if you don't port futuristic weapons as well in some manner (it could work as a general reflavour as some sort of wandslinger changing the tech trait for the magical one in the weapons). I now there are animalfolk aliens in some scifi stuff, and they break immersion really hard for me when they do appear (so do humanoid aliens, but I can get pass them if they are a result of technical limitations or coming from stablished tropes like venusians or greys). So I don't want to bring them to my games unless they actually are related to terran or golarian animals in some way (like the uplifted bears). If anything, using them in Pathfinder is great, I can now use the vesk fully, which are very cool.

[@chiragasnani3437]

Ooh those are some great examples, really got me hyped for Equilibrium Operative and EEAAO Witchwarpers! I do hope Starfinder Society will let you play pathfinder classes. I secretly hope there will be some mech rules, so I can run Mechageddon in 2e as soon as possible.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

I had the hardest time trying to figure mystic out before I was reminded of Dragon Prince.

[@ErayTarrell]

Can't wait for the playtest, love these intro's!

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Glad I could help.

[@johnharrison2086]

I do like that there is one Class for each ability score!

[@TeutonicViking]

I honestly think they are going to release like a "player core 2" thing for starfinder containing the classes like mechanic, technomancer, biohacker, nanocyte, evolutionist, and vanguard. Cause they have 6 current classes, why not add the six remaining ones in a later book? this also gives them more time to polish them out and prevent overlap with the existing pathfinder classes.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

In a pinch, I think an alchemist could make a decent stand in for a biohacker. They have mutagens, and according tot he new Nonat 1 video, the Chirugeon can throw healing bombs, kinda like how the old biohacker could shoot you with healing goodness with an injection weapon.

[@TeutonicViking]

Thats very true. And im pretty sure theres an alchemical item called a "life shot" which fits the theme The only thing missing is being able to buff allies. Since you can use injury poisons for "debuffs". It was a good while ago I got to experience having a biohacker player though and there really wasnt any combat so I might be missremembering their abilities

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

@@TeutonicViking Pretty sure your allies can drink your mutagens. And things like Antitoxins and Antiplagues buff things like your friends' fort saves against poisons and diseases respectively.

[@TeutonicViking]

hmm, I only have a problem with maintaining the whole thing of the biohacker not needing to be within melee range of you to buff you, nor you need to spend actions to recieve the buffs.*Aka, need mutagens to work with the injection weapon trait, and there needs to be a ranged injection weapon

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

@@TeutonicViking When player core 2 comes out, look at the Chirgeon subclass, you might get a pleasant surprise!

[@besteger]

From what you’ve described, Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite is probably a Witchwarper.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Probably!

[@Zedrinbot]

That was actually my first guess for who was gonna be the pop culture reference.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Evelyn is newer and a bit more mainstream, so I thought more people would get the reference.

[@crapstirrer]

Oh good. Had a goblin soldier that specialized in sonic heavy weapons. Soldier seems to do that by default.

[@RealLordFuture]

I'm definitely looking forward to the Witchwarper. I loved my Witchwarper from SF1e. I'm counting down the days until release.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

I had a fun Film noir Witchwarper. I like them too.

[@kelpiekit4002]

If it comes as a Starfinder player core 2 sort of situation making it tech focused with the technomancer and mechanic then I could see biohacker, evolutionist, and nanocyte fitting in with that really neatly. Probably adding in ancestries like the SRO and the culturally augmented Raxilites to keep the theme. Vanguard wouldn't seem like it would fit that though unless it is the science of the change of energy, but who knows what changes may occur for any of it before a final version is arrived at.

[@samdoorley6101]

Alright, more Starfinder! I've been enjoying your videos. Informative, but not dry. Good on ya, Psi.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Thank you!

[@zantharian57]

Trying to decide if I'm interested in Starfinder or not. I've never played Pathfinder or Starfinder, I generally am against crunchy systems that require expertise to play (I have drop ins and drop out players and run a lot of games with people who are not ttrpg enthusiasts), I also don't like when combat takes an hour. Modern D&D has been terrible for this as well ever since 3e-5e. Old school products like OSR/OSE/etc.. are quick and easy. That being said, I've never run a sci-fi game because I'm not interested in any over done big name like Star Wars, and I want more than merely normal people with no powers like Star Trek. So the Sci-Fantasy setting is appealing.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Up to you. Obviously I'm biased for Starfinder. I will say that the Pathfinder/Starfinder2e system doesn't 'need' system mastery to play (it's one of those games where system mastery is there, but not required). It is cruchy, not going to lie, but if you want to play a simple class, they are out there. I'd suggest seeing if you can find a game or two online and give it a chance. Starfinder 2 playtest will be launching with some short adventures that should only take 1-2 sessions. See if you like it, if you don't that's fine, it's not for everyone.

[@Deathwhisper2]

I'd put solarian closer to Kineticists. But yeah. I can not wait to see what they have cooking for Solarians.

[@davidriggs538]

I like what I've heard about the new Solarian. I'm curious to learn more about the new Witchwarper.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Solarians in first edition were fun. I had a Ysoki (Ratfolk) Shield solarian in first edition who ran around shield bashing people in a suit of power armor. Went up to level 20. Fun Character. In 1st edition, your solarian weapon could look like anything as long as it followed the rules. I hope that's still the case. I saw some people get really creative with their solarian weapons. I should do a video on that. . . .

[@under20over40]

Mechanic was my favorite class, so thats a bit disappointing but I'm still interested in most of these classes in their own right.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Like I said, you could probably get pretty mechanic like with an inventor.

[@charlespickering2726]

@@PsiPrimeProductions1 This is my guess too probably easier to give starfinder options for inventors they are VERY close in play and playstyle. If they did choose to make a separate mechanic class it would almost have to lean more into the exocortex stuff.

[@Iceblade269]

I wonder how Gunslinger will compare to the Operative assuming one allows for both PF and SF classes. I know that Gunslinger is a dubious class in the community, namely because of the skill curve heeded to make it work. And it appears Operative gets the same weapon scaling and skills of a rogue

[@NXPhoenix3]

In a combination of reading between the lines and (honestly moreso) hope I suspect the first big post-core supplement will be the big book of tech, adding in the Mechanic and Technomancer alongside a gratuitous amount of gear. C'mon gear book! I love me a good gear book!

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

I think that to be likely. They might have different names, but one of the big supplement books will probably be a big tech-heavy book.

[@Wikrin]

I have been wanting to play a Bleachling Gnome janitor since Starfinder 1e launched. Buddy was going to run a campaign, I was all set to play a Mechanic, and it fell through. Then a while back someone was going to run one of the 1e adventure paths, I redid the concept as a Nanocyte, then it too fell through. Not sure how I'll build the character when I do eventually get the chance to play 'em. I just know I want to play a perpetually nonplussed Gnome in space. Did a couple drawings last time around, even.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

You could be an envoy? It'd be funny to be super unenthused but still somehow debuff people. "You guys should like, get 'em? If you feel like it y'know."

[@Wikrin]

@@PsiPrimeProductions1 Could be, but I feel like high Charisma wouldn't square well with how I'd play 'em. Thinking either Soldier or Operative would probably fit best, from the classes in the playtest. Will have to see what the specifics are before rolling too many ideas around.

[@charlespickering2726]

A good way to demonstrate graviton solarians is have people look at mass effect adepts. All their powers are basically solarian graviton type powers.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

That's true, though Mass Effect Adepts don't make cool energy weapons . . . which is what most people remember about the class. So yes . . . but also that's not the most memorable thing about Solarions.

[@charlespickering2726]

@@PsiPrimeProductions1 One of the mass effect classes the sentinel Produced basically graviton body armor and the vanguard did all sorts of quick charged knock things around and stab them with their hard light wrist sword thing. They don't do the light based stuff but between the various mass effect powers they cover almost all of the graviton solarian kit. I have showed this off to some people who were not getting the utility of some of what a solarian can do and being able to yeet people out of cover with a signularity effect puts them in the right frame of mind fast.

[@KOkami03]

First off, I am literally counting the days until the playtest is released. Second... Huh. I assumed Mechanic might need some extra tweaking to distinguish it from the Inventor, but I figured Technomancer would just be straight up scraped (because it always felt too much to me like: It's a wizard, but IN SPACE!). Kind of curious about what they'll be like when Paizo gets to making a Starfinder Player Core 2.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

A lot of people thought that. However, they were spontaneous casters (not prepared, like wizards). Secondly, they had those ‘magic hacks,’ kinda like arcanist exploits. So I think there are room for them in SF2.

[@christopherg2347]

I am interested in the Envoy, Operative, Solarion and Mystic the most.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

A lot of people sleep on mystic, but I want to see what they come up with.

[@zcullimore]

My one and only starfinder character was a Vanguard. I'm not exactly dialed in to the game, but it feels weird that no one is talking about that class. Like I hallucinated it or something.

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

You most certainly did not! It was just one of the later classes, not one of the core ones. But yeah, I have a friend who likes Vanguards too.

[@3_14pie]

I hope they release my beloved technomancer soon after 😭😭 (guns and gears in space, maybe? ;_;)

[@szegediadam8793]

For first character I know I'll want a Skittermander... And maybe as an envoy? Or as a Solarian? Oh no... But I'm sure, my first long time character will be an Android, and I'll be what I need to be :) Will there be spell traditions (divine occult arcane primal) in Starfinder? If yes, the before mentioned Pathfinder four or they going to divide magical traditions differently?

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

Seems that spell traditions will all be the same. All the spells previewed work like that, and the mystic field test (pre-playtest) specifically mentions they can be primal or divine.

[@valvadis2360]

​@@PsiPrimeProductions1in the last Paizo Livestream they awnsered questions about the Witchwarper and confirmed it is going to be Arcane or Occult, decided by subclass.

[@trdgpanther4464]

I'll keep my SF II classes separate from PF II's, this is not to be just a reskin of "PF II in spaaaccee" kinda thing, at least they promised us that. we shall see. will you be streaming any of the playtest adventure stuff in live play?

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

I’m not really set up to do that, and a lot of my friends I play with are not into that idea. So, unlikely, but we’ll see.

[@xylemicarious]

🎉🙏🙌🤘

[@strikerdx2]

Honestly i waited for both mechanic and technamancer more than any other classes, so sad.

[@swaggyseal]

im sure you can get part of the mechanic from inventor, maybe we will see someone put out an 'exocortex' innovation for them?

[@PsiPrimeProductions1]

At paizocon, they did say that they planned on including them, so they will probably be among the first expansion classes.

[@waragh]

Dont forget this a playtest so then book comes there will be more classes.

[@Ditidos]

@@swaggyseal An exocortex mechanic can easily be a reflavoured ranger (just make them trained in computers and crafting rather than nature and survival). Hunt Prey works similarly to how the subclass went in 1e. And the inventor is 100% the experimental x prototype subclass, with the option of getting a mechanical animal companion instead.

[@connorschutz1]

I think a good way to keep your spirits up is to keep in mind that the later they come out they cooler they'll be as the devs will have more familiarity with the system. To this day I wonder what bard would look like if it came out now with everything they've learned instead of as a core class.

[@shadestemple]

No starship combat in this Playtest