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The fine folks at Paizo Inc. recently sent us PDF versions of the Pathfinder Beginner Box and the Starfinder Beginner Box, the first of which featured in a very recent article. Spoiler alert; we loved the Pathfinder Beginner Box……and double-spoiler alert…….we love this one too! So come on and dive in to the Starfinder universe!
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Launch into an exciting universe of science fantasy adventure with the Starfinder Beginner Box! Create and customize your own futuristic hero to play through challenging adventures and action-packed battles against dangerous foes! With streamlined rules, this deluxe boxed set is the ideal introduction to the Starfinder Roleplaying Game, an imaginative tabletop roleplaying game for 2-7 players. Welcome to the best launchpad for a lifetime of pulse-pounding adventure among the stars—the only limit is your imagination!
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The Starfinder Beginner Box has everything you need to get started:
A 96-page Heroes’ Handbook, detailing character creation and general rules for playing the game, plus a short solo adventure.
The inclusion of a brief solo adventure is an inspired touch that teaches you the basic dice mechanics and how a roleplaying game might work as you play, rather than spend hours of potential confusion if you are a complete newbie to the game or to RPG in general. It then describes how to create a character by combining an ancestry (alien species), a theme (high concept), and a class (set of abilities).
The Heroes’ Handbook provides a wealth of information on the setting, including the major factions, worlds, and creatures that populate it, as well as detailed descriptions of the various starships, weapons, and technologies available to the players.
A 96-page Game Master’s Guide containing an adventure, alien adversaries, and advice on how to create your own science fantasy tales.
The nice touch here is the choice of two options for potential Starfinder GM’s; If you want to run an adventure right now with your friends, you can start with the adventure at the beginning of the handbook—it walks you through 10 encounters to help you get the hang of being a GM. If you don’t want to run an adventure right now and would rather read more about being a Game Master, turn to page 16 of the handbook for more detailed support.
A complete set of seven polyhedral dice (not included in the PDF version……obvs)
More than 80 full-colour pawns depicting diverse heroes and aliens
24 plastic pawn bases (not included in the PDF version……obvs)
Six pregenerated character sheets to throw you right into the action
Six blank character sheets to record the abilities of your custom-made hero
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The glorious artwork too is on full display on the covers of the six pre-generated character sheets. This is a decent amount and enough to keep newbies interested. As with the Pathfinder beginner box, the decision to include blank character sheets is inspired. I know that not only do RPG aficionado’s enjoy creating and crafting their own characters – believe me I’m no exception, but also newer visitors to any game feel the same. In fact I have been known to simply do no more some weeks than just sit with a pile of blank D&D character sheets and pass away the hours designing character after a character (often a variation on a Drow. I like Drows, ok?. It’s an obsession) complete with an elaborately detailed back story. And yet many other fine starter sets have been let down by the omission of the chance to cement ones learning of a game by creating their own character.
Six player aid cards for quick rules references
A durable, reusable, double-sided Flip-Mat play surface that works with any kind of marker
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Starfinder combines elements of space opera, cyberpunk, and fantasy genres, creating a rich and immersive universe that is ripe for exploration. This game takes the classic elements of fantasy RPGs and sets them in a richly detailed and engaging science fiction universe, complete with spaceships, advanced technology, and all sorts of alien races.
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One of the standout features of the Starfinder RPG is its world-building. The game is set in a far-future version of our own galaxy, where magic and technology coexist, and the universe is full of strange and wonderful things. The game mechanics themselves are also very well-designed. The rules system is based on the popular Pathfinder RPG, but with a few key tweaks and additions to make it more suitable for science fiction. The system is flexible and allows for a wide range of character builds, from stealthy rogue-like characters to powerful spellcasters and high-tech soldiers.
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The game mechanics of Starfinder are based on the d20 system, which is easy to learn and offers a lot of flexibility for creating unique characters. Players can choose from a variety of different races and classes, each with their own abilities and strengths. The game also includes a wide range of weapons, armor, and equipment, allowing players to customize their characters to fit their playstyle.
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As with the Pathfinder Beginner set, the artwork in the set is stunning, with detailed illustrations of characters, equipment, and locations that really bring the game to life. The quality of the production is also excellent, with high-quality books and accessories that are built to last. The books are beautifully designed – the covers are stunning and the artwork throughout is powerful and downright gorgeous. Throughout the book, the artwork not only supports and exemplifies the basics of Starfinder , but also looks beautiful as a separate entity on its own with an impressive attention to lore and narrative detail that clearly shows as a labour of love from the game’s writers. The feel for the authentic nature of the mythos is rarely seen to this level of quality.
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In addition to this beginner set, there are also a number of supplements available for the Starfinder RPG, including adventure paths, sourcebooks, and bestiaries. These supplements expand on the setting and provide players with even more options for customizing their characters and exploring the universe.
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Love Pathfinder – might have to give this a go!
I picked this up at the beginning of Covid just hours before my gaming shop was shut down for months. I loved that it had everything I needed to walk my kids through an introductory campaign. The included map (which thoughtfully included a blank grid on the back for additional adventures) and tokens in bases really helped as I introduced my children, which ranged from middle elementary up to late middle school.
We had fun overall and I really enjoy having this scenario handy for introducing players to the system, usually after they play 5e. It intentionally walks the party through a series of encounters that test various types of abilities and problem solving.
The one minor complaint is that the provided character sheets are simplified from the proper game. So when I tried to use them to prepare for Dead Suns, I had to go get the Core Rulebook and identify the differences to play a ‘full’ game.
Cheers, SirEdge
In retrospect I have to agree with you about the character sheets and found myself regularly going to the Core Rulebook for clarification. Nonetheless, the starter set achieved its purpose and made a genuine convert to the Starfinder stable in me.
Stuart
5d-blog.com