This page details the steps for creating a character for the Starfinder Society. These steps mirror those in the Starfinder Core Rulebook with a few additional Roleplaying Guild-specific rules and benefits.
Character Sheets
There is no standard character sheet format required. The only requirements are that it must be legible, clear, and reviewable by the GM. Blank analog character sheets for Starfinder can be found at:
- Paizo’s Starfinder page (printable)
- Hero Lab Online (digital)
Resources
Players may use any Paizo published books or supplements they own during character creation, provided the options are permitted by the Character Options document. Players residing in the same household may share owned resources. Options in the Core Sources are considered always available resources regardless of ownership.
Character Creation Guidelines
The following steps elaborate and expand on character creation for Starfinder Society characters (Core Rulebook page 14)
1. Create A Character Concept
Remember, your character is a member of the Starfinder Society first and foremost, and as such, your character should be able to work with any other Starfinder and abide by the Society’s Motto: “Explore, Report, Cooperate”.
2. Choose A Playable Species
Follow the normal rules in the Core Rulebook.
The playable species published in the Core Rulebook are always available, including both the Core (Chapter 3) and Legacy species (Chapter 13).
The following playable species published in Starfinder Alien Archive are also always available, regardless of sourcebook ownership:
- draelik, dragonkin, formian, ikeshti, kalo, maraquoi, nuar, ryphorian, sarcesian, shobhad, skittermander, verthani, and witchwyrd
The following species are always available provided you own a copy of the corresponding source book:
- pahtra and vlaka from Starfinder Alien Archive 2
- ijtikri and izalguun from Starfinder Alien Archive 3
- copaxi from Starfinder Alien Archive 4
Additionally, there are many species that can be accessed by spending AcP. This includes System Traveler boons, which allow a player to spend AcP from one game system to access new species in another. For example, a player could spend Pathfinder Society (2e) AcP to access certain species for Starfinder Society play. See the Boons tab of the My Organized Play page on paizo.com for a complete list.
If you have a Species Admittance boon for a playable species that has since become always available, see the Starfinder Society FAQ for more information on applying the boon.
3. Choose A Theme
All Starfinder Society characters must select a character theme during character creation. Themes can be found starting on page 29 of the Core Rulebook.
4. Choose A Class
All Starfinder Society characters begin at 1st level.
5. Finalize Ability Scores
Starfinder Society characters buy their ability scores as detailed on page 18 of the Core Rulebook. Starfinder Society characters must use the Buying Ability Scores rules and cannot use the optional rules for Character Flaws, Ability Quick Picks, or Rolling Ability Scores.
6. Apply Your Class
The Starfinder Society follows all the standard rules for applying class.
7. Assign Skill Ranks And Choose Feats
The Starfinder Society follows all the standard rules for assigning skill ranks and choosing feats.
Skills: Each time a character invests a skill rank in Culture, they may choose an additional language from the list of always available languages in “Finishing Details” below or from any language listed on one of their Chronicle Sheets.
8. Buy Equipment
All characters begin with 1,000 credits to spend on armor, weapons, and other equipment. Characters can purchase any piece of equipment listed in Chapter 7 of the Core Rulebook with an item level no greater than 2nd. Characters can purchase any piece of equipment authorized by the Character Options page with an item level no greater than 1st.
Characters retain any remaining credits on a personal credstick that can be used for future purchases.
9. Fill In The Finishing Details
The last step to character creation is filling in remaining details as explained on page 16 of the Core Rulebook. Listed below are additional considerations for Starfinder Society characters.
Age: Characters must be between the age of maturity and the maximum age (see Table 3–1 on page 41 of the Core Rulebook or the relevant table in the source where their species appears). When determining the maximum age of a species, you can assume the dice results would be their theoretical maximum. For example, a human would have a maximum age of 120, while a ysoki would have a maximum age of 80.
Alignment: Players may not play evil characters. When choosing an alignment, be sure it satisfies any alignment requirements for your character’s theme (such as the priest theme).
Deities And Philosophies: Characters can worship any deity or philosophy from an approved source on the Starfinder Character Options page, following the normal rules for sourcebook ownership.
Characters can worship any number of deities or philosophies but must choose a single deity or philosophy to gain mechanical benefits from. This choice may be changed later, but a character can never gain mechanical benefits from more than one deity or philosophy at the same time.
Characters with the priest theme must choose a deity or philosophy whose alignment is within one step (on either the good-evil axis or the law-chaos axis) of the character’s alignment.
Home World: This is where your character was raised, and it must be your species' home world, one of the Pact Worlds presented in the Core Rulebook, or a populated world presented in Near Space.
Languages: Characters gain some languages based on their species and home world, but might speak additional languages depending on their Intelligence or class. All Starfinder Society characters are literate and speak Common. A character with a high Intelligence score can select bonus languages from the list on pages 40–41 of the Core Rulebook.
They can also select the following languages from other sources:
- Bolidan, Daimalkan, Embri, Ghoran, Orrian, Osharu, Pahtra, Quorlu, and Vlakan (Spoken, Signed and Tactile) from Starfinder Alien Archive 2
- Accaran, Akan, Brenneri, Dirindi, Dromadan, Espraksi, Hortaa, Iji, Izalguun, Koshorian, Lumos, Morlamaw, Perani, Raxi, Sazaron, Shimreeni, Spathinae and Telian from Starfinder Alien Archive 3
- Copaxi from Starfinder Alien Archive 4
Natural Disabilities: The Starfinder Roleplaying Game allows for characters to be naturally blind or deaf as part of character creation; these character options are allowed as part of the Starfinder Society. The selection must be made at character creation and cannot be reversed. A character can choose to be either naturally blind or naturally deaf; he cannot choose to be both. A blind character gains the tactile version of any language he knows, while a character who begins play deaf automatically knows the signed versions of their known languages.
Starship: The Society provides Starfinders with starships as needed.
See this Guide's Starships page for more information on how starships work in the campaign.
Other Items
The beginning of Starfinder Society games includes character introductions, so consider making a few notes on your character’s appearance, personality, and pronouns to share with other players. The Universe of the Starfinder Society and Chapter 12 of the Core Rulebook both contain information on the campaign setting you can use for this purpose.
The Starfinder Roleplaying Game uses maps with a standard 1-inch grid to determine movement and tactical positioning in combat, so you need a physical representation of your character to use on the grid. Paizo produces a wide range of Starfinder Pawns and also works with Reaper Miniatures and WizKids to offer a wide variety of gaming miniatures, so you can find just the right figure for your character.