Creating a character for Starfinder Society play follows the same steps as in the Starfinder Core Rulebook (page 14 ) with a few additional Society-specific rules and benefits.
Character Sheets
There is no standard character sheet format required. Character sheets must be legible, clear, and reviewable by the GM. Blank character sheets for Starfinder can be found at:
- Paizo.com (printable)
- Hero Lab Online (digital)
Character Creation Guidelines
1. Create A Character Concept
Your character is a member of the Starfinder Society, so they 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 and the additional rules below.
Players have Access to the playable species published in the Core Rulebook, including both the Core (Chapter 3 ) and Legacy species (Chapter 13 ) as well as the following species in Starfinder Alien Archive :
- draelik, dragonkin*, formian*, ikeshti, kalo*, maraquoi*, nuar*, ryphorian*, sarcesian, shobhad, skittermander, verthani, and witchwyrd
The following species are also available provided you own a copy of the corresponding source book:
- orc, pahtra*, quorlu*, and vlaka* from Starfinder Alien Archive 2
- hanakan*, ijtikri, izalguun, raxilite*, and shimreen* from Starfinder Alien Archive 3
- copaxi and kiirinta* from Starfinder Alien Archive 4
- gnoll from Starfinder Alien Character Deck
- thyr from Starfinder Ports of Call
* Species marked with an asterisk (*) are also profiled in Starfinder Interstellar Species . You may use a copy of the original source or of Interstellar Species to satisfy source ownership requirements.
Additionally, there are many species that can be accessed via a Species Admittance Boon. 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 the effects of that Boon.
3. Choose A Theme
All Starfinder Society characters must select a character theme during character creation.
4. Choose A Class
Starfinder Society characters begin play at level 1.
5. Finalize Ability Scores
Starfinder Society characters must use the Buying Ability Scores rules . They cannot use the optional rules for Character Flaws, Ability Quick Picks, or Rolling Ability Scores.
6. Apply Your Class
Follow the normal rules in the Core Rulebook.
7. Assign Skill Ranks And Choose Feats
Follow the normal rules in the Core Rulebook and the additional rule below.
Skills: Each time your character invests a skill rank in Culture , choose an additional language from the list of languages in “9. Fill In The Finishing Details” below or from any language they otherwise gain Access to.
8. Buy Equipment
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.
9. Fill In The Finishing Details
Follow the normal rules in the Core Rulebook and the additional rules below.
Age: Characters must be between the age of maturity and the maximum age for their species. When determining the maximum age of a species, assume maximum dice results. For example, human maximum age is 120, while ysoki maximum age is 80.
Alignment: Player Characters may not be evil-aligned. 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 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 planets presented in the Core Rulebook, or a populated world presented in the Near Space sourcebook.
Introduction Notes: The beginning of a Starfinder Society game includes character introductions, so consider making a few notes on your character’s appearance, backstory, personality, and pronouns to share with other players. "In the Aftermath of the Gap" on the Society homepage and Chapter 12 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook both contain information on the campaign setting you can use for this purpose.
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.
Registration: Make sure to register your character at paizo.com so you can earn credit for playing!
Starship: The Society provides Starfinders with starships as needed. See this Guide's Starships section for more information on how starships work in the campaign.
Pawns
During combat, each PC is represented by a pawn. Each other creature controlled by a PC whose location outside their PC’s square affects combat is also represented by a pawn. No PC can place more than 2 pawns per adventure including their own. Temporary creatures who last no more than an encounter or two do not count toward this limit. Creatures who stay in their controller’s square during combat do not require pawns.
For in person games 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.
For digital play, use a digital image. Ask your GM for their preferred image format and size.