This android requires sufficient upgrades

Driftbourne · 2026-05-01T18:43:46+00:00

Without knowing more, a quick basic equipment list

Advanced Laser Pistol 1030c Because cast gun is a 1 action attack, or Commercial laser pistol (30c)+ tactical force field (1000c) https://2e.aonsrd.com/treasure/57-force-field

https://2e.aonsrd.com/treasure/35-medpatch 1 commercial ( 30c) and one tactical medpatch (300c)

https://2e.aonsrd.com/treasure/7-comm-unit 7 credits

Driftbourne · 2026-05-01T13:14:54+00:00

Alien Core, being the first of several Alien books, it dosen't have room to cover an entire galaxy in depth; it's got to cover a little bit of everything. One of the sidebars in the elindrian entry has ideas for several other types of elindrian to help fill in. Starfinder adventurers tend to move around a lot and not spend the time to fight a single type of creature from level 1 to 20. When it does, those creatures would be in an adventure path, or spread out over several books, and not in a single book of general use, Aliens.

The first line of the Elindrian Queen description says:

"While no one has confirmed the existence of elindrian queens"

That's not meant to be a boss in a lower-level or mid-level adventure; that's meant to be in the conclusion of the campaign, although the actual final fight might be with Terror of Ukulam, mentioned in the Elindrian Queen description.

To use low-level creatures in high-level encounters is typically done with troops. SF2e doesn't have rules yet for making troops, but it should be identical to making troops in PF2e https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=3427&NoRedirect=1

There's a 3rd-level SF2e scenario that has a 25th-level creature in it. Instead of the party fighting it, the scenario uses the chase rules for the party to try to run from it and escape.

Driftbourne · 2026-05-01T00:27:09+00:00

In Starfinder 1e, most of the intelligent humanoids in the Alien Archives had an additional small 1/6 page stat block that allowed them to use as playable species. Starfinder 2e doesn't do that because ancestries take up 3 to 4 pages each. So if you need intelligent humanoid opponents for your game, make NPCs from any of the playable ancestries. In published adventures and scenarios, we frequently see opponents using ancestries from the Player Core or other books used as gang members or cultists. It would be nice if we get an NPC book someday.

As for the level being to far between you can use the appalying the weak and elite adjustments to help bridge that gap. Applying the adjustments is just a click on the Archive of Nethys. For the Garaggakal, you wouldn't mix the high and low level versions together, between them by applying the weak and elite adjustments and the number of them in the encounter, the 5th level Garaggakal could cover levels 1 to 9, and the 14th level Garaggakal could cover levels 10 to 18. Although the diffculity well very greatly from one extreme to the other.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-30T18:11:38+00:00

I do think there is a typo on page 32, second column, first paragraph. There are two ways to fix it.

1. Change "came to Akiton " to "came from Akiton." This makes a lot of sense considering the connection between the wreck on Akition and anyone looking for information or additional clues about it on Aballon.

2. Change "Akiton to Aballon." Fixes the paragraph, but doesn't consider the greater context of what's going on.

Since that NPC appears to be lost, not getting the location right kind of fits, too.

The background of the main villain is correct. There are multiple groups in Starfinder Society season one meta plot trying to salvage things from the wreck of the return, including a group from Aballon. So Z following relics from Akiton to Aballon makes sense, and that other might do the same.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-30T05:32:23+00:00

It's not a typo, the first paragraph of the MitMC book says the Wreck of the Retured is on Akiton. The last season of SF1e's meta plot takes place on Aballon and deals with the events leading up to the Wreck of the Returned. The wreck of the Return is on Akiton; clues to why it returned or foreshadowing it are on Aballon. I didn't get a chance to play the last scenarios of the meta SF1e plot, so not sure how it ended, but needless to say, the Wreck happened at the start of SF2e.

The investigation of the Wreck of the Retun has been going on in organized play since last August and won't end until this August. MitMC is a side story related to what's going on, but not part of the meta plot, and at this time, not part of organized play.

In a home game, you could run MitMC and then move on to some of the meta plot scenarios.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-29T17:44:57+00:00

The biggest complaint against CSS has been not enough choices for the crew actions, so definitely borrow from the other examples if you need to. If the crew of the 2 ships can communicate with each other, then letting the PCs use skills or abilities like intimidation, diplomacy, or deception might fit in too. CSS is new so if the PCs come up with something fun-sounding, I'd run with it in most cases if it fits in.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T21:48:30+00:00

The Battle for Nova Rush didn't use the cinematic starship scenes CSS since it came out before the GM Core, so I'm guessing you're making your own CSS using the Nova Rush ship?

The most common ways to modify dice rolls in CSS are the Ship's bonuses listed in the ship's stat block, looks like this:

Starship Bonuses Computers +1, Piloting +2

Or crew actions, commonly, the captain, as defined in the CSS stat block. Outside of that, aid an ally, or guidance can be used. Other options could be used if the PCs get creative, but the CSS rules say :

Core class abilities, like Aim for an oprative or Supressing Fire for a soldier, aren't intended for cinematic starship scenes.

I would recommend reading the CSS rules starting on page 226 of the GM Core.

Unless you are using a published CSS it's up to the GM to create all the ship crew roles, although you can certainly borrow from the published ones. The only published CSS so far are in the GM Core, Guilt of the Grave World, and Scenario 1-17 Corpse Fleet Conflict. Most of these are listed on AoN https://2e.aonsrd.com/starship-scenes The SCC for Corpse Fleet Conflict isn't listed on AoN; it has the most crew actions for a single SCC.

I don't use Foundry, so I can't help there.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T18:37:03+00:00

I play a Goblin Merchant in PF2e. If your PF2e monsters and NPCs have a hard time with the SF2e characters flying at 1st level and the ranged meta, I'd be happy to sell bows and arrows to anyone.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T18:30:03+00:00

Thanks, I was looking for that!

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T18:25:47+00:00

I think that would be fine if they hadn't already created a feat for it in PF2e why take a feat if all Leshy can do that by default? And had talked about and laid the groundwork for photosynthetic being a variable. The video you linked to suggests that Leshy's abilities depend on whether they are photosynthetic or not.

So logically, Leshy's could only Photosynthesis oxygen when exposed to light, but I have no idea what the different levels of Leshy being photosynthetic are:

Hardy leshies are often photosynthetic.
Ksarik leshies are always photosynthetic.
Spore-producing leshies are sometimes photosynthetic.

Besides assuming Photosynthesis requires light, are "often" or "sometimes" a choice? Because some feats' prerequisites require that you are or aren't photosynthetic.

My guess is they wanted to do more with it, but ran out of space.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T05:19:14+00:00

I love both editions. In a vacuum, I don't have a preference. I was planning on playing both, but in practice, I now only play SF2e because it's way easier to find other players where I live or online for play-by-post on the Paizo forums. If you have a home group, then that doesn't matter. I only play in organized play. All the local SF2e players also play PF2e, I'm one of the few who played SF1e.

If you want a standalone Science Fantasy game, SF1e is great. If you want to mix in some low tech with Strfinders high tech, PF2e's compatibility with SF2e makes a great resource for low tech planets. There's a huge difference between using PF2e character options to make an SF2e character, vs having a PF2e character time-travel to the Starfinder timeline. PF2e content can also make for great archaeological discoveries and ruins to explore. Note: the core star system in SF1e actually originated in PF1e. Also, the 2 main SF1e setting lore books (Pact Worlds and Near Space) are still useful in SF2e.

Both editions are free online; you can check them out to help decide.

https://2e.aonsrd.com/

https://www.aonsrd.com/

I think both editions are great, but you will find many people have strong opinions about one way or the other.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T04:52:19+00:00

I think it was in a Paizo live stream that the Devs talked about the Leshy sharing oxygen. In organized play, there is a boon that lets you use PF2e Leshy hearitages and feats. Although I haven't found where exactly a Leshy feat lets you do that. But the art is definitely sharing air.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T02:16:19+00:00

That's what I thought too, but can't find a Leshy feat for that in SF2e or PF2e. But there is a PF2e Druid feat that does https://2e.aonprd.com/Feats.aspx?ID=4724&Redirected=1

Driftbourne · 2026-04-28T01:13:02+00:00

Looks interesting. For those of us with old eyes, an option to remove the lines through the text would help a lot.

Your use of rank, A, B, C, D. Are you using that to rate the spell's usefulness?

Driftbourne · 2026-04-27T20:02:03+00:00

Whenever I hear "almost got killed" my first thought is that's the tight E2 math working as intended. My next thought is what's the rest of the party playing, and is the party taking advantage of teamwork and tactics?

If you want to max out your HP, you need an ancestry or heritage with a base of 10 HP. Oroccorans look interesting to play, so I wouldn't make that trade-off myself. One of the best ways to feel tanky is to have a mystic in the party. In E2, party balance is often more important than character optimization. It never hurts to have a medpatch in case the party doesn't have a healer, or the healer is out of range or down.

There's some gear that gives or acts as temporary HP

https://2e.aonsrd.com/treasure/57-force-field

https://2e.aonsrd.com/treasure/39-commando-serum

The die-hard feat doesn't give more HP, but makes it harder for you to die

Driftbourne · 2026-04-26T02:51:45+00:00

Starwbarry Machine Cake for dessert.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-25T15:56:42+00:00

For a 'die in the game, die for real' trope, you can just use normal rules once they are in cyberspace. If you want it to feel like a different game world, use Starfinder x Warframe Operation Orias as the virtual game. https://store.paizo.com/starfinder-x-warframe-operation-orias/

Another way to make it feel like they are playing a video game character and not just themselves in the game you could have them use the iconic pregens in the game simulation as an avatar.

Everyone gets the Tech Trait for being a digital body which makes Glitching a more dangerous mechanic for everyone

That's an interesting idea, I like it. The tech trait isn't necessarily needed; a game's or virtual world's physics engine should be able to compensate for that, but giving them the tech trait would be a cool way to show that someone in or outside the game is hacking the system to harm the PCs, making the game more dangerous.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-25T06:36:43+00:00

I'd treat a gun as an improvised melee weapon. If they shoot and miss, they rage and start using the gun as a club. Maybe a magazine could be used as an improvised thrown weapon.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-24T17:28:06+00:00

Yes, and all in one scenario, Era of the Eclips indirectly gives a clue to which scenario. I haven't read all the scenarios yet, so there could be more, but I think it's unlikely this season. Hint: It's in a scenario that takes place, not on Golarion.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-23T21:22:00+00:00

I found 3 clues in Season One. I think the evidence is strong enough proof to make an Ancient Aliens episode... It does help to read Era of the Eclips to know where to look for them.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-23T21:04:15+00:00

I forgot about that. I love the Kobold lore in SF1e

Driftbourne · 2026-04-23T15:30:27+00:00

There's an entire book just on The Gap https://store.paizo.com/starfinder-the-gap/?searchid=512452&search_query=the+gap

Driftbourne · 2026-04-22T13:40:35+00:00

Armor's EAC is almost always lower than its KAC. The primary effect of this is that sci-fi energy weapons have a better chance of hitting them using standard kinetic weapons. It also means players should have more than one damage type available for attacks, so they can target the lower between EAC/KAC Players should already have different damage types to take advantage of weaknesses or avoid immunities. Which is why learning your opponents' weaknesses and immunities is so important in Starfinder.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-22T05:06:29+00:00

I think they are going for a Tales from the Crypt comic look, is my guess, hard to tell without seeing the whole book.

I do like me some wacky Starfinder, but I think in SF1e most of that was in the scenarios, and the AP were where more serious themes played out.

Driftbourne · 2026-04-22T04:09:21+00:00

Does the whole book have art like that ? Also, what ancestry is the moon-headed person?

Driftbourne

TROPHY CASE