The StarfinderRoleplaying Game is a science-fiction/science fantasy role-playing game published by Paizo Publishing. It is built on Paizo's previous game, the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, both in its game mechanics and universe, but adapted to a more futuristic style than its fantasy predecessor; game content is intended to be easily convertible between the two systems. Like its predecessor, the Starfinder RPG supports adventure paths and other material written by Paizo and third party publishers.
Background
Starfinder draws inspiration from many other science-fiction and space opera franchises, including Star Wars, Alien, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Warhammer 40,000. Paizo first released a science-fiction product in 2012, with the Distant Worlds supplement to Pathfinder. After the success of Distant Worlds, Paizo decided to create the new system, using it as a base. The Starfinder RPG was announced in May 2016 on Paizo's website and officially released at Gen Con in August 2017.
Design
Starfinder is based on Paizo's previous game, Pathfinder, and like its predecessor uses the d20 system created by Wizards of the Coast for Dungeons & Dragons. Similar to Pathfinder, the gamefeaturespersonal combat using weapons and magic, though these systems have been simplified and adjusted to the futuristic setting. In addition, Starfinder also has rules regarding starships, space combat, and faster-than-light travel. Starfinder retains the traditional fantasy races as choices for players, but offers a different set of races as the standard, including the reptilian vesk and rat-like ysoki, while also offering several non-traditional choices such as a "seven-armed starfish". Starfinder also introduces a new array of 7 character classes for players to choose from, which can be further customized, and body augmentations which can give different abilities. Starfinder is designed so that content from Pathfinder can be easily converted to Starfinder and vice versa; the game has guidelines on converting characters and monsters between the two systems. In addition to game mechanics, Starfinder also shares its setting with Pathfinder. Starfinder is set far in the future, after the planet that Pathfinder is set on, Golarion, has mysteriously disappeared in an event called "The Gap". The history of the planet during the disappearance is lost, preventing players from returning and interfering with previous events in the Pathfinder timeline, while also acting as the foundation of Starfinder's own timeline.
Reception
Early reviews praised Starfinder for its streamlined rules and expansive, flexible setting. The new starship combat rules also received praise, though some criticism was pointed at its repetitiveness and lack of options. Starfinder won the 2018 Origins Award for Fan Favorite Role-Playing Game.
Supplementary material and related products
Paizo and audio app developer Syrinscape partnered to create an official set of sound effects for Starfinder, and Paizo licensed design studioNinja Division to create plastic miniatures. These were released alongside the general launch of the game in August 2017.
