Starfinder 2nd Edition announced, and it'll be FULLY COMPATIBLE with Pathfinder! (Rules Lawyer)

I'm thrilled! Here's me reacting to the press release and sharing my thoughts!
DON'T MISS THE 2-HOUR LIVESTREAM where SwingRipper and I dissect the Starfinder 2E Field Test!
kzbin.info...
LINK TO STARFINDER 2E FIELD TEST: paizo.com/star...
=============================
LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! I'm a lawyer who teaches and runs tabletop RPGs (Pathfinder, D&D, Starfinder) for kids, teens, and adults, and making videos related to TTRPGs and board games.
JOIN MY DISCORD to chat with our community and/or try the Pathfinder Beginner Box or our drop-in PF2e play system! / discord
SUPPORT MY PATREON for early access to many of my videos and access to exclusive content, and to support me! I do unpaid public-interest legal work and rely on the Patreon and private GMing.
/ theruleslawyer
For actual plays, SUBSCRIBE to my other channel, "RULES LAWYER DISCORD COMMUNITY CHANNEL":
/ @theruleslawyerliveplay
Follow me on TWITTER at: / theruleslawyer1
Pick up your Pathfinder 2e book on Amazon using my affiliate links below. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases which helps me continue doing what I love!
Pathfinder 2e Core Rulebook: amzn.to/3BiFCSj
Pathfinder 2e Beginner Box: amzn.to/3eVsUBB

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

DON'T MISS THE 2-HOUR LIVESTREAM where SwingRipper and I dissect the Starfinder 2E Field Test! kzbin.infohxwwHc3RsvE?feature=share

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

The only thing I do not like about Starfinder 2nd Edition is its logo. It kinda remind me of cleaning products instead of a grand adventure set in a Sci-Fi universe.

[@Laufbursche4u]

If they are really compatible I hope they are making a foundry version where I can using both and make an easy crossover.

[@ThatVia]

Or at least an addon module for either

[@Cyd_Goblin]

Seems like pf2e on foundry has been doing good, so hopefully it will get the same treatment!

[@TeutonicViking]

If it is like I've heard, then you might be able to run starfinder on the pathfinder foundry system? although I think it would be neat to see a fresh coat of paint of the sheets and whatnot with the starfinder style.

[@TheTrueCampor]

The peeps behind the PF2e Foundry module are already on it!

[@Ezekieru]

They've already added a module to let you do the first Field Test in the PF2E system, just a head's up!

[@ADirtyEwok]

I am so goddamn excited for this. I think we all have had the experience of wanting to try a new system with our group, but the group isn't interested in learning a whole new set of rules. Now they already know almost all of the rules for the "new system!" I can't wait to explore space!

[@Wyrmshield]

Be careful! Having this mindset will get people calling you problematic for not being willing to learn different games despite the comfort level of your group

[@flaminyawn]

In my experience with Starfinder, the only one who had fun with spaceship combat in my group was the pilot. I hope that a 2nd edition can rework that element of the game to make everybody's roles feel more impactful than "I roll a skill check every 15-20 minutes".

[@donalddouds6033]

That seems like a table issue. A science officer getting the success to jam an enemy ship making it harder to be hit while the mechanic is able to boost the thrusters for that extra speed to disengage while the envoy acting as captain “inspires” the pilot to get the extra bonus to dodge through the blockade while the soldier mans a gun battery and picks off the pesky interceptor that could follow them through the blockade can be quite suspenseful

[@rickcarson591]

@@donalddouds6033 it was also an 'open play' issue: (1) if you don't have at least four players, you're screwed (2) if any of the players (who might not have even met each other or even played starfinder previously) neglected to take one of four skills (which aren't highlighted in any way as being (effectively) mandatory ...), you're screwed (3) if any two players (who I remind you might never have met before) happened to double up on the same skill, you're screwed (4) if any of the above apply (and they will) you might still win the encounter, but it will turn a 30 minute encounter into a 3+ hour slogfest - and your entire session for that module might be booked to a timeslot of 4 hours (or less) It might not happen all the time, and it might not happen for your group (lucky you), but it's potentially a complete nightmare which will scar/scare people away not just from starship encounters (all the modules I've seen have them so ... yeah), but Starfinder itself.

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

I saw a lot of cool ideas, but it did seem it could've used more work. My students were able to win at starship creation, and the actual combat was a bust for my group even though I think I'd studied all the rules and ran it efficiently.

[@flaminyawn]

@@donalddouds6033 You're not wrong, but that's why I'm only speaking to my own experience. I had a decent time as the pilot, but it was tedious for everybody else, so we're looking for ways to make it less crunchy and more immersive before we get into another spaceship fight.

[@donalddouds6033]

@@flaminyawn it is definitely a GM issue for sure and some are good at it and some aren’t that good at it. Being able to blend the die rolls into a narrative and add suspense is a delicate balancing act and not every GM is good at it. In my campaign where the party was part of an exploration team and each piloted their own star fighter as they encountered a rogue AI with an army of drone like automatons chasing them and their fleet I had a few instances where I checked out but others were pretty intense. And yes I was basically running Battlestar Galactics LOL

[@evrypixelcounts]

I will not be sad to see the hold overs from pathfinder 1e, that themselves were hold overs from 3.5 be removed from the system. Can't wait to try the playtest!

[@philopharynx7910]

When I saw the title, I immediately thought of Numeria. In PF1, the tech elements often felt wonky, and in SF1 the magic often felt wonky. By making the two on the same engine it looks like it will be the best of all worlds.

[@soninhodev7851]

this idea of combining starfinder with normal lore reminds me of final fantasy 4, where it was a normal fantasy setting with paladins, wizards, summoners, monks, bards, etc... until... there is a plot twist where the protagonist was an alien from the moon, and so was the bad guy... it then doesnt take long for you to be fighting a giant sci-fi robot of death and destruction, with the summoner and her dragon eidolon on your side... =O

[@michaeltwilling6299]

What a reveal! I can't wait to go back to space in SF2E. I really like the fieldtest so far! Glitching and suppressing fire is awesome. If this is the early stuff I'm excited to see what it looks like in 2 years after a full playtest.

[@JorgeGonzalez-kp9fp]

One of the things I'm also excited about is that if the systems are compatible with each other, so should content such as the Bestiary monsters. It means GMs will have a lot of usable content pretty much on release, and that's amazing!

[@starfinderenjoyer]

ayo starfinder second edition baby!!!! I do like the huge variety in guns and weapons and it always felt good to buy a new weapon. I personally hope they keep that to some extent. I also hope that while they use the PF2e engine, Starfinder remains unique and weird and doesn't become indistinguishable from PF2e just in a Sci-Fi coat of paint. I have confidence in Paizo though!

[@philopharynx7910]

I hated always having to replace everything. Especially because you always need 2-3 weapons to avoid resistance and immunity. Usually the newest one would be your primary and the others were all very sub-par.

[@CC-gy7el]

It looks like they’re gonna go for a happy medium with the weapons, where they have the variety and ability to buy the new stuff but also there’ll be a way to upgrade your weapons

[@LordRenegrade]

One of my friends commented that there hadn't been much major activity on Starfinder recently...and I guess we know why now! I'm so glad this is coming - I've come to loathe and hate anything 3.5-ish since the release of PF2e...but my players only seem to want to play Starfinder.

[@Quetzelkoa]

This is fantastic, I never had interest in Starfinder (new system and I like fantasy > scifi) but now I already know how to basically play SF2E and any content releases for either game would flesh out the other one? Amazing!! And how fun would it be to have some ancient Numerian dungeon in a pathfinder game full of laser wolves or weird SF items? Maybe you could even use Starfinder ship mechanics on a naval pirateship battle in Pathfinder? So many cool possibilities!

[@joseph6889]

I am beyond hype for SF2e!!!! The cross over with PF2e already has so many ideas flowing in my head

[@mastertenshi]

I had been hoping and waiting for something like this! Ever since my group and I picked up P2e we had thought about using the system for a Shadowrun-style setting, which would require a lot of homebrew. I hope this will provide enough tools that I won't have to homebrew much at all and still be able to capture that cyberpunk-plus-magic feel!

[@ren_dhark]

That's excellent news. I abstained from playing Starfinder because I don't wanted to get confused learning the PF2e rules. But now I will give it try!

[@Shadowkunakari]

I am so excited for this! I have had so many people interested in this system only to turn it down because of the systems age and relation to 3.5/pf1e Cant wait to adventure in the stars!

[@kelpiekit4002]

I've been expecting this and it sounds great. Compatibility makes sense and opens up playing that Pathfinder period on some of their other planets, giving your games more potential history to interact with.

[@BakerLegate-zh6bh]

I've been trying to figure out how to convert Starfinder to P2E's 3 action system and following a full-conversion Discord someone made to attempt to concept it. I'm so happy to see this. I may just wait to run the scifi campaign until next year.

[@Iceblade269]

Gunslinger is gonna eat so well! They just got a shit ton more firearms

[@ryanruttan7480]

When my group started playing Starfinder, it was before we tried PF2. While we disliked some things about SF (hate the Stamina, Resolve, and economy rules) we did like many of the other things about the game at the time. But PF2 just blew it out of the water and almost immediatly we started talking about how the SF game would benefit from a 2E. While we wrapped up the Fly Free or Die AP it was a struggle. Yet now that SF2 is looming on the horizon, some of my players are already looking forward to jumping back into the game.

[@thebitterfig9903]

Excited for this. Bought the Starfinder "digest" version, thinking it was mostly like 2e, but it's the old and IMHO overly complicated set of core rules.

[@Dmitriy_8791]

Привет! "Starfinder" и "Stargrave" наверно тоже возможно совместить: 1) в каждом отряде есть лидер, его помощник, солдаты первой линии, поддержка, хакер; 2) в обоих системах есть поиск всяких артефактов, деталей, рун, сокровищ и т.п.; 3) во обоих - есть инопланетяне, чужие, пейзажи иных планет, роботы, брошенные звездолёты. Было бы здорово заимствовать что-то у "Звёздной могилы" (кстати, миниатюры - из неё вполне сгодятсч, ведь в "Звёздном следопыте" их нет, только картонные картинки). Успехов!

[@zolgathor]

Cant wait for the middleground: GPSfinder. The modern setting of Golarion!

[@SkyrekGaming]

Definitely exciting news and something I've been wondering if they were going to be doing with the remaster coming for PF2E. I wanted to like StarFinder 1st, but knew it wasn't going to work for us so never got to give a go.

[@kwagmeijer26]

I liked PF1e ship to ship combat, but one thing it doesn't do well is the concept of boarding others during combat. I hope we get a good system that can support that.

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

I wonder how they'll do that! Ship combat turns are abstracted and don't have a real timescale. Maybe they'll go on the same timescale now!? Seems hard to implement. Besides, I'm not sure I'd want an abstracted boarding system that doesn't take advantage of the 3 action economy and characters' kewl powerz.

[@Alex-cq1zr]

@@TheRulesLawyerRPG I think it's best to do abstract ship battles, but, should boarding happen, switch to regular battle with maybe some abstract elements. Say, one ship turn per x people turns. Idk

[@rfc1526]

Love the idea and if they could streamline ship combat that would be awesome.

[@tristanmitchell1242]

Excuse me while I play a living set of Power Armor that happens to be a kineticist. Maybe homebrew some rules where a person can "wear" the power armor character for some benefit. Maybe ability to use Blasts and non-overcharged Infusions while the aura is up?

[@Awoken_Remmuz]

As someone who enjoyed the setting of Starfinder but couldn't push into enjoying it's systems a 2e version modelled after PF2e seems right up my alley. It's also quite a omen there first material for the edition has my favourite style of rpg class, the warrior like class (this case the soldier) and the stats for a rotary weapon.

[@Youdotty]

RIP my Starfinder book collection. I only ever got to run the one AP. Still hopefully it means more people will be willing to play the system.

[@donalddouds6033]

Right there with you but I also have a shelf filled with Legend of the Five Rings books as well that collect dust and get dusted off once a year for an annual Tekko convention in Pittsburgh where I run a game.

[@Youdotty]

@@donalddouds6033 I'm hoping I can convert the APs over fairly easily.

[@lorenzovaletti4951]

YEEEEES FINALLY!! I'm so happy to hear of this I can bearly contain myself! :D

[@MrVideo540]

Two words perfectly sum up my hype: SPACE BARBARIAN

[@shadieeryaqati4514]

I'm curious about it, ngl... I'm excited for those who are pumped for it! But I admit I will probably sit out of Starfinder stuff, personally. I didn't like what they did to magic in Starfinder (because apparently 'wirelessly accessing a computer' is considered a magic spell?), so I weirdly dread what they intend for it in a second edition.

[@powercore2000]

I actually learned pathfinder existed through starfinder, super excited to see and give it a try!

[@bragunetzki]

One thing I fear is that the complete pf2 compatibility might set unnecessary restrictions and bounds on the new system

[@tinear4]

Listened to this last year and completely forgot the dates, thank you. I need to reset my brain to expect availability next year, and stop searching for pocket editions of the sf2 books when the full size books don't even exist yet...

[@Ilandria.]

I am seriously hoping "fully compatible" means exactly what it sounds like. A merger of sci-fi and fantasy TTRPG would be so cool. I'd love to give my players the option to tell me they're from some off-world place.

[@kwagmeijer26]

I'm holding my breath. I currently like Starfinder more than PF2E, but some of that is transferable. There is room to bring a lot of what sets starfinder apart into the PF2e base ruleset, and we can see some of that already with the playtest material, but we'll see how far they go with it. Starfinder has had a very experimental approach that I hope stays. There is some stuff I prefer that won't transfer over (two AC types, skill point system rather than proficiency system, regular multi-classing) but things like the 3 action economy and better encounter balancing (though Starfinders were already pretty good) are an improvement, so we'll see how those balance out.

[@Argumedies]

I am excited to see this. Although I have never played Starfinder, (and relatively new to Pathfinder) I was well versed (and quite disappointed) with Spelljammer (both new and old versions) Now that Starfinder will be canon to Pathfinder I'm wondering if this will bring about a new age to Galorian? Even here in the real world we went from the middle age to the industrial age to the space age in less then 500 years (mostly in the last 150 years). I can imagine whole clans of Kobalds cruising the cosmos, cybernetics Orks and technowizards raining magic and death from deep space (kinda of a pseudo warhammer 40k) But what i cant see, is that if this new technology is brought to Galorian its feudalistic society thousands of years old could remain. Their will be wars unlike anything before (not that its inhabitants are not used to it) but those who do not adapt will become extinct. And im curious as to who would come out on top. Im am already makes plans in my homebrew for this event and we shall see how this plays out.

[@erikbuchanan4648]

I would love to see Starfinder get a Savage World's version similiar to what they did with Pathfinder.

[@thewerewizard6721]

Stealth buff for gunslinger

[@donalddouds6033]

Especially looking at a lot of the crit effects on SF weapons LOL

[@cydthemagi]

With the compatibility of PF2, with a reskin GMs can run spelljammer stories

[@Avintrue]

Hey loving the chanel and you are helping me in my start of exploring the scifi rpg world! I'm curious are you using Starfinder Enhanced? Or were you using the first print of the first edition? Also do you use/recommend the Starfinder Armory? Thanks for any info you can give! Hoping to see more Starfinder videos!

[@l4rgo911]

I've always wanted to do a campaign about the Brother's War from Magic the Gathering, and keep thinking about using Starfinder. MtG is a WotC property, but there is already a large mix of magic and tech options for most classes, that it makes more sense than running the same game in 5e. A Starfinder 2e just with just classes and weapon rules, compatible with ALL Pathfinder content, would be even better!

[@analog_caveman]

You should do a battle test with Thristy. I know he's wanting to talk to creators and I think it could be good stuff.

[@JustinBania]

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of learning Starfinder to introduce my players to that playspace as I think they would really dig it but the system is really complex and in some cases convoluted and it was really turning me off. I was bummed because Paizo had said before that SF2E was not on the horizon and I thought it would be ages. Wake up this morning (noon, don't judge me) and see the announcement. It actually made my day. Just a super positive news story right out the gate, before I even left my bed.

[@robfrydryck127]

So excited forbStarfinder 2e!

[@Vallinen92]

Honestly, after I moved away from pf1e, i played a bunch of dnd5e. I THOUGHT that SF was using 2e mechanics already. When I went back to SF after coming into 2e I was disappointed... This announcement made me FUCKING exited.

[@CristianzenV]

Pf2 is so popular that even though i like SF more, it never crossed my mind that SF was also affected by the hasbrinquisition. I only considered PF2 to be affected.

[@donalddouds6033]

Yeah my primary concern was the OGL issue and the fact that a lot of my games involved the ENTIRE PLANET OF DROW ELVES hahahahaha As soon as I saw that OGL nonsense I was like oh well. Time to wrap this up

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

Yeah, and it's even moreso, since it is much closer to the 3.5 SRD than PF2e ever was

[@ShoehorndelBosque]

Given SF1 Themes are feature packages we call archetypes now I expext SF2, and potentially, by extension PF2 to have default Free Archetypes.

[@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj]

Based on the field test they are abandoning the mechanics of starfinder to turn it basically into pathfinder 2e space edition. I wanted to see starfinder improved, but not all the mechanics dropped. I got into starfinder before pathfinder, and the way it was designed made it easier to get into pathfinder for people who suffer from choice paralysis.

[@jchunick]

The one time I played Starfinder, first ed., I was trying to create a sci-fi medic but all I could create was a mystic style medic who used magic. If there was a way to make a medic who used science to heal and such I couldn't find it or figure it out. I hope that the 2nd ed. allows for some more science-based classes like a medic.

[@Dmitriy_8791]

Самое известное заклинание в далёкой-далёкой галактике: "Да пребудет с тобой Сила!" 🤓

[@user-eq8ww1gr6v]

That's what I'm taking about!

[@kendiamond7852]

Starfinder is an awesome game. Looking forward to 2E.

[@JJGYET]

I suspect that following the 2023-2024 Starfinder Society season wraps up: they will pause SFS until 2e comes out, basically using the First Seeker election as a changing of the guard kind of thing for the edition and the society. While I think they will have time to do a 2024-2025 season if they wanted too; but I think it would be more effective to draw in players to say "Following the election of a New First Seeker, a (big thing) has occurred and we urgently need all Starfinder Society member to join us in (dealing with big thing)" and have this epic thing be the start of SFS 2e, rather than (as PFS 2e did) the big thing being the last thing before the change over.

[@peikonpoika83]

that game is basically sourcebook for numeria :D

[@CobaltContrast]

Starfinder ship combat is like startrek. I love it.

[@meatbeefindustries862]

I literally just bought the Starfinder core rulebook yesterday.

[@totallynottoby]

This sure kicks the hell out of that terrible Spelljammer book that WotC barfed out. This sounds awesome!!

[@briankool1]

solarian is a paladin that gets its powers from stars and black wholes

[@punkdigerati]

Could recreate the Phaze and Proton concept from Apprentice Adept by Piers Anthony. Might lead to some fun stuff.

[@Grangolus]

I see this as an absolute win

[@jasondolph2785]

Woo, I can finally lift the plot of Vay and have mechanics support it.

[@Etropalker]

I just really hope there will be some sort of Numeria tie in book

[@donalddouds6033]

Most likely not. In the “current” SF system the entire planet Golarion is missing. Like just “POOF” gone and no one remembers why it when it happened “The Gap”. The only remnant of the planet is the massive space station Absalom Station. That was the way of differentiating the two.

[@Lantalia]

Honestly? I'm looking forward to integrated Starfinder/Pathfinder video games

[@queenannsrevenge100]

One thing I did not like about SF1 was the equipment level system - I hope it works a bit better this time around. I also did a double-take when Thurston Hellman talked about the god “Xon-Shelyn” - I really hope to get more about that one 😂 Also, the Laser Wolf is Metal as **** 🤘🎸

[@BlueSapphyre]

The next adventure path is about a divine war. Leading to Zon-Kuthon and Shelyn merging.

[@Wyrmshield]

Hm, if the core system is just 2nd edition, why would it take so long to come out? All they have to do is work out classes ancestries items etc. The hard part is already done

[@donalddouds6033]

While true there is also balancing while maintaining the core of the first edition system. You are now talking adding level to AC (which lets face it was how the Tech Level advancement worked to begin with) and a host of other things. Eliminating the “Optional PF2e stamina system” as the basic core model of HP in Star Finder (or making the PF2 HP system an option in SF2 and maintaining the current system) adding focus spells and abilities to the core etc etc. while you are correct the basic structure is there but that is like saying a supermodel’s skeleton is good enough to be on the cover of SI’s Swimsuit edition.

[@richardmenz3257]

That is really cool

[@mkmasterthreesixfive]

Paizo 2E

[@odinborrson]

Great news! Can't wait!

[@johnharrison2086]

Interesting. A new edition of Starfinder to go with the new edition of Pathfinder 🤔 (The remastered PF2 is a new edition whether Paizo want to admit it or not.)

[@kailenmitchell8571]

Conceptually I love Starfinder, in practice I do not like a lot of it. The memory gap is way to vague and does not make sense any way you slice it. Magic items and leveled equipment is really weird. I ran 3 sessions and stopped.

[@Просто_Иван]

I need pvp between Pathfinder and Starfinder

[@PreistofGHAZpork]

Man I just bought all the starfinder books

[@Groundlord]

I just hope they don't have a repeat of the issue of ship-based skill checks getting exponentially harder as you get to higher levels... It made no sense that you could pass a check with a 10+ on the die at level 1 with only your character's base stats, only for that same check at level 20 to still require an 18+ if you all of the best ship upgrades.

[@rhenkualkato]

I mean there's gonna be something on that with Starfinder Enhanced, and you can use the computers to pad that out too

[@Cyd_Goblin]

Can't wait!🎉

[@jeffreyw4099]

So excited for SF2!!!!

[@JamesTillmanjimthegray]

so freeakin excited

[@tripp4130]

Mixing these settings together, like Spell Jammer?

[@donalddouds6033]

Kind of but not in a wholesale way unless they plan on massively altering the SF lore. Golarion is gone in SF only thing left is the massive space station Absalom Station.

[@user-fp9hu6xk8x]

So Starfinder Enhanced book is still happening? I'm so confused with this announcement.

[@Awoken_Remmuz]

Yes it's still happening. According to Paizo enhanced will act as kind of last hurra for 1e and inject that last spurt to keep folks busy as they work on 2e

[@PyroMancer2k]

Fully Compatible?? The Multi-Classing Options ;)

[@draggo69]

Nice!

[@heroman2937]

"Future theoretical audience.". Yes, like we are not refreshing your page waiting for content xD

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

The only thing I do not like about Starfinder 2nd Edition is its logo. It kinda remind me of cleaning products instead of a grand adventure set in a Sci-Fi universe.

[@MattSH06]

Take my money.

[@Bug_Berry]

Here is hoping the weakest mobs are not 100x stronger than PCs like in 1st ed. I loved the setting, but the game just felt so unfair ALL THE TIME.

[@natanoj16]

What? I have run a bunch of 2 player one-shots and I have never experienced the minions being stronger than players?

[@Bug_Berry]

@@natanoj16 One of my first games took place on castrovel. It was an adventure path that had an encounter full of baboons. They had a significantly higher attack modifier then all of us. Every adventure I play in I always feel like the opposite of a hero. The last and final time we played we did an experiment. The GM let us stay 1 lv ahead of the AP. It felt.... Right which is crazy. I think I have played 4-5 games and each time I always felt so weak.

[@Classic_DM]

As in Pathfinder remaster?

[@tbruce8187]

Sweet!

[@jeffersonromao4999]

Starfinder 2e

[@po747oEXE]

Make witch warpers great again

[@xdragoonzero0]

You're setting yourself up for disappointment if you think Mystic or Technomancer will be like the Kineticist. At this point in Starfinder there's 4 casters and they can, for the most part, line up with Pf2e's 4 traditions of magic. They're not going to split that up, and even if there fine with that, it'd be the Witchwarper getting the Kineticist treatment.

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

I saw the stream and you're probably right - they talked about 10 levels of spells for Starfinder classes. The Witchwarper would be really cool to see however!

[@xdragoonzero0]

@@TheRulesLawyerRPG I just realized this was a different video from the stream. I thought I had clicked back onto the same video lol. Forgot that Videos and Streams are on separate tabs now. Also, I hope the Witchwarper does get something good going for it. I could see them getting some kind of Focus Spell equivalent to Infinite Worlds.

[@Shoop400]

The biggest question will be if starship combat is good or not. Because 1e's was really boring and every ship was a damage sponge.

[@donalddouds6033]

Ship combat is always going to be a slog. The only way to make it engaging is to hype the elements that make up its components. Instead of okay science officer what are you going to do “Uh….I’ll roll my computer check and jam the enemy sensors” and when they succeed you just move along. Narrating the scene the effect the roll has “you hit the console and level an ECM burst at the target. You see several of the gun batteries in the blockading vessel stutter for a second and then rotate off target wildly” Starship combat is more a scene and setting that the PCs have agency in the effect.

[@Shoop400]

@@donalddouds6033 That's all fine and dandy until you have sit through an entire session of ship combat and everyone does maybe one or two things over and over again because everything is a damage sponge and the GM ends the combat to save everyone's sanity.

[@donalddouds6033]

@@Shoop400so what you just described was the complete antithesis of what I said

[@Shoop400]

@@donalddouds6033 And that was the experience.

[@daved.8483]

The magic system in pf2 is way too convoluted. I'm not too excited about it.

[@donalddouds6033]

“Vancian” casting is a bit of a pain to be honest but once you get used to it and play it while forgetting that the ridiculously overpowered options 5e presented for casters exists it semi levels the playing field for the martial/spell caster divide. It makes spell casters actually think about their selection and eventually allows options via feats to be able to alter those decisions on the fly via a 10 minute rest to replace some of those spells. It also means that the exploration and social pillar becomes a bit more useful so the casters can have a better idea of what to bring to the encounter instead of well I have these 4 spells and can cast any of them I want at anytime as long as it is only 4

[@TheRulesLawyerRPG]

I actually am gonna theorize that they will do the Kineticist route for the "magic classes" in SF2, since there's no tradition of Vancian casting behind them. We'll see.

[@donalddouds6033]

@@TheRulesLawyerRPG I could see the Kineticst approach for the Solarion class more so than the spell casters they have in SF1

[@johnp.2267]

Never have been a fan of Starfinder. The weapon upgrade system feels like a 16-bit 2D RPG video game mechanic, and there's little to no love for the techies. They're relegated to backup combatants and ship band-aids.

[@donalddouds6033]

Sounds like a lack of imagination at the table mate. No insult intended. Our mechanic has sabotaged equipment to allow the operative to make their “sneak attack” in different ways. Shit down a rampaging mech and rewired a cargo loader (like in Aliens2) to smash open a blast sealed door for us to escape. It’s all about immersion and having a GM that can adjudicate abilities in different and unique ways within the context of the characters skills and concept.

[@johnp.2267]

@@donalddouds6033 I find most GMs and game systems seem to have issues with allowing techies time to shine, aside from being a ship band-aid, electronic lock picker, or hacker. Creating technological items takes time that most GMs refuse to allow, since they want the focus to be on action. Co-opting droids or bots requires either point expenditure or a specific ability to have one as a "companion" or "sidekick" in most systems. From my experience playing *many* game systems, techies are nerfed to the point where their jobs could be done by an NPC AI drone, which is supremely frustrating.

[@donalddouds6033]

@@johnp.2267 yeah that’s definitely a GM problem for sure. As a Starfinder GM I am more in line with “Okay mechanic, what do you want to do” kind of GM then adjudicate based on what they want to attempt and balance that against are they trying to do something they should have taken a feat for or is there something a bit lesser if an effect they can have. It’s a tough job GMing and even I screw it up :) But I try and let my players do cool things that their characters should be able to do.

[@johnp.2267]

@@donalddouds6033 I had an epiphany about techies and how to allow for co-opting tech devices in multiple systems without going insane: Techies have to roll their skill check to bypass the normal operating system of the tech they want to co-opt. If they succeed at all, they can use the device temporarily. If they succeed by a large margin, they have the device for good. Of course, the number they have to reach would have to be high, just to keep them from owning everything they come across, but this method seems the most fair, to me. I used to GM a bunch of different games, many moons ago, but got burned out by certain types of players. Haven't picked up a GM guide, since.

[@Jian13]

Hopefully they won't have the leveled weapons. Also, give us Qi Adept from the start. EDIT: Looked at it, sadly no Qi Adept but this is just a small samples so doesn't mean it won't be in the full release. Unfortunately, it looks like they're still going to do leveled weapons and hopefully it'll still be unpopular and Paizo will realize they shouldn't.

[@xdragoonzero0]

The leveled weapons are exactly the same as PF2e's Fundamental Runes.

[@Jian13]

@@xdragoonzero0 Yes, which means we don't need 10 different versions of the exact same gun.

[@CouchDrake]

I sincerely doubt they’ll be compatible, the remaster isn’t even compatible with base 2e.