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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ixal" data-source="post: 8253428" data-attributes="member: 7030132">Because Starfinder isn't really Science Fiction but fantasy with neon lights. But that can apply to most SciFi RPG settings. The only reason they call themselves SciFi are the textures (it looks technological) and the presence of spaceships. But other than that nothing in the setting is SciFi. The societies look and behave like from a pure fantasy setting and all the technological possibilities a SciFi setting would give you (and in many cases possibilities which already exist in real life) are not used because they would be a hindrance to adventurers or make things more complicated.As an example in Starfinders Signal of Screams campaign book 2:[spoiler]The PCs have found out that a evil corporations wants to send a mind controlling/horror signal through its mobil app. Think Kingsman. In order to find out more they need to infiltrate the HQ on the cyberpunk planet of the setting.The HQ is in the middle of the city, but has been quietly abandoned as the corporation moved to its evil lair. When the PCs enter the building they are hit by a lethal trap on the front door. Because that is not suspicious at all and it can in no way happen that some civilian wants to enter the HQ of a corporation which is about to launch a heavily advertised app.Then the PCs have to fight through security robots and zombified workers to have a boss fight with a bigger robot in the server room where they can get more information.Do any alarms go off or other people notice that there is a shooting, possibly with heavy explosive weapons in the middle of the city? Does the police or other emergency services arrive at the scene? Are the workers that have been zombified missed by someone prompting an inverstigation? No.And later in the book after the raid the PCs are attacked multiple times on the open street by snipers, guys with grenades and also receive mail bombs in the place they stay. Does anyone find it suspicious that the PCs are involved in so many incidence within just a few days? Are they brought in for questioning and put under surveillance? No. The need for adventure trumps the setting.[/spoiler]Just imagine how society can look like in SciFi setting. Or even a modern one. Weapon laws which are at least nominally tracked (the way the US handles it is a exception, not the rule), camera surveillance coupled with other means of identifications ranging from futuristic like DNA scanner to simple ones like social security numbers and licenses.Then there are other things like health care and insurance which might benefit the player characters in a modern or futuristic setting which are also ignored a lot. Or even worse, all those possibilities exist and are used from time to time as background flavor, but never when they matter or affect the PCs.Some settings are better than others. Shadowrun features most of the things mentioned but things like Star Wars of Starfinder ignore those completely in favour for a fantasy setting pretending to be SciFi.I guess the big question is "How much science (correct or wrong) must be in something to be considered science fiction"?</blockquote>

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