Starfinder Should I pick up Starfinder if I hate Pathfinder

daddystabz · Dec 28, 2018

I hate Pathfinder. I am not a fan of 3.5 at all. Starfinder looks intriguing to me though. I like the idea of fantasy races and aliens, etc. in a sci-fantasy setting. However, I HATE how bogged down in rules minutia Pathfinder is. I read once that Starfinder is a bit more rules-lite than Pathfinder. Is this true?

Should I give it a try if I hate Pathfinder and want a lighter game than Pathfinder?

Shasarak · Dec 28, 2018

daddystabz said:
I hate Pathfinder. I am not a fan of 3.5 at all. Starfinder looks intriguing to me though. I like the idea of fantasy races and aliens, etc. in a sci-fantasy setting. However, I HATE how bogged down in rules minutia Pathfinder is. I read once that Starfinder is a bit more rules-lite than Pathfinder. Is this true?

Should I give it a try if I hate Pathfinder and want a lighter game than Pathfinder?

Stafinder is more rules light then Pathfinder but it is not rules light.

I like it because it is very similar to d20 rules, its got a good bit of crunch and on the other hand they have done their best to make sure everything is pretty balanced against each other.

daddystabz · Dec 28, 2018

What other game would you compare the crunch level to so I can get an idea of the complexity?

Shasarak · Dec 28, 2018

Well character creation is pretty crunchie, you have lots of options to choose from, with new options at pretty much every level.

If you are into Weapon Porn then Starfinder has what you need: Ice guns, Fire Guns, Disintegration Guns, Negative Energy Guns, mmmm all the guns.

If you want to play as an Alien then Starfinder has many options especially if you pick up the Alien Archive.

They split Hit points into Hit points and Stamina Points (that can be healed up between combats) so you can play any combination of classes.

Once you get through character creation then the game play is pretty smooth and there are also two adventure paths available.

76512390ag12 · Dec 28, 2018

daddystabz said:
I hate Pathfinder. I am not a fan of 3.5 at all. Starfinder looks intriguing to me though. I like the idea of fantasy races and aliens, etc. in a sci-fantasy setting. However, I HATE how bogged down in rules minutia Pathfinder is. I read once that Starfinder is a bit more rules-lite than Pathfinder. Is this true?

Should I give it a try if I hate Pathfinder and want a lighter game than Pathfinder?

Don't get it.
Have you played Savage Worlds? Get that and the SF Companion instead
That's half as complex as PF but with lots of aliens and sci-opera

daddystabz · Dec 28, 2018

76512390ag12 said:
Don't get it.
Have you played Savage Worlds? Get that and the SF Companion instead
That's half as complex as PF but with lots of aliens and sci-opera

I am very familiar with Savage Worlds. The big issue with doing something like that is I need a pre-made sci-fantasy or sci-fi setting to jump into with aliens, tech, etc. already built. I do not have the time to create it all.

daddystabz · Dec 28, 2018

How does Coriolos compare to Starfinder? Which is crunchier? Which has the cooler setting? Would you choose something like Frontierspace by DWD Studios instead?

76512390ag12 · Dec 29, 2018

daddystabz said:
I am very familiar with Savage Worlds. The big issue with doing something like that is I need a pre-made sci-fantasy or sci-fi setting to jump into with aliens, tech, etc. already built. I do not have the time to create it all.

I hear you.
Then Savage, SF Companion, and one of the Last Parsec setting books:

I recommend Leviathan or Eris Beta V

I'd get the Last Parsec primer.

That could keep you going for a full year of gaming.

Imaculata · Dec 29, 2018

Starfinder is basically Pathfinder in space, so if you don't like the 3.5 rules system, you'll hate this.

Robyo · Dec 29, 2018

Starfinder is only slightly less crunchy than Pathfinder, and they add in all the chase and starship rules on top, so you really don't get out of rules overload.

However, it's my favorite system right now, mainly because it IS fairly compatible with PF and other d20 systems.

If you want a chunky, yet rules light Sci-Fi game (and one that is similar to D&D), check out Stars Without Number: Revised. So much winning!