| Introduction | Core Guide | Player Options | GM Options | Starships | Supplemental Materials |
My Organized Play
Every registered organized play participant has a record on paizo.com. You can access this information by direct link or by visiting paizo.com , hovering/clicking on the My Account at the top right of the screen, then selecting Organized Play. There are several tabs on your account page:
- Summary: A list of your GM rankings, all registered characters, and character Reputation totals. You can create new characters by selecting the desired type at the bottom of the screen.
- Sessions: A chronological list of all games you participated in, which may be sorted using the criteria on the left.
- GM/Event Coordinator: A list of earned points such as AcP and GM credits, as well as a list of all events you are coordinating and a button to create new events.
- Boons: A list of all currently available boons in each program. See the Player Rewards section for rules on Boons.
If you find an error in your session list, send an email to pfsreportingerrors@paizo.com with the error and any supporting documentation you have for the correct data.
Player Rewards
In addition to adventure rewards, players can also choose to use Boons, Factions, and the Retail Incentive Program.
Boons
Boons are small in-game rewards distributed for a variety of reasons, including playing certain adventures, attending events, and supporting charities. Boons must be stored or recorded alongside your adventure Chronicles and presented to GMs on request.
Achievement Point, Chronicle, and Game Reward Boons can be found on the Boons tab of your My Organized Play page. A list of purchased Boons appears at the bottom of the page, where each boon has a link to download a PDF copy with the text of the Boon.
The supplemental materials to this Guide include a list of Achievement Point Boons and Retired Boons.
Types of boons include:
- Achievement Point Boons: Players earn Achievement Points (AcP) by participating in and reporting Starfinder Society games. AcP can be used online to purchase Boons.
- Chronicle Boons: Some adventures award an additional Boon. Once the game has been reported on paizo.com, players and GMs can download the Boon from the Boons tab of your My Organized Play page and apply it to the character that received credit for the adventure.
- Convention Boons: A player can acquire a convention Boon from participating in a convention supported by Paizo. You can’t assign multiple copies of a convention Boon to the same character. If the only difference in the Chronicle Sheet is the title of the convention or event listed at the top, it is the same Boon.
- Discount Boons: Some Boons provide a discount on purchases. Unless otherwise noted, only one Boon that provides any discount can be applied to any one purchase. This prevents multiple discounts from reducing the cost by an unreasonable amount.
- Fame Boons: Fame was a currency earned during Years 1-3 which has since been replaced with Achievement Points (AcP). Boons can no longer be purchased with Fame, but boons purchased with Fame before January 1, 2022, remain valid. A small number of Boons were retired instead of being converted to AcP boons; they are reproduced in Retired Rewards for reference.
- Game Reward Boons: Certain in game accomplishments (such as reaching a certain level of Reputation with a Faction) grant a reward. Games must be reported on Paizo’s website to meet these requirements. Once a character has met the requirement, the Boon can be assigned and downloaded from the player’s Boons tab.
- Species Access Boons: There are many species in Starfinder that can be accessed via special boons. Many of these boons can be earned 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.
- Welcome Boon: A player may apply the Welcome to Starfinder Boon to their first character (XXXX–701). This Boon is available for download from this Guide.
Boon Slots
To ease player record-keeping burdens, the Starfinder Society uses the Boon slot system. Each Boon slot represents an available space in which a player can place one of their earned Boons; A PC can apply only one of their Boons per Boon slot.
if you’ve slotted a Boon, it’s active for that adventure, and if you didn’t slot one of your Boons, it’s dormant. Every Starfinder Society character has five Boon slots, each of which corresponds to a different type of Boon.
Most Boons include a corresponding Boon type, so you can slot a Social Boon into your Social Boon slot, but not into your Ally Boon slot. This means that aside from slotless Boons, you will handle only up to five Boons during a session—and do not need to sort through stacks of paper in the middle of the game.
Shortly after beginning a scenario, the GM will call for the players to slot their Boons. This typically occurs following the mission briefing, giving the players some information about which Boons might be relevant to the Scenario. In some cases, the GM will actively advise the players of pertinent Boons they may have earned from Chronicle Sheets on previous Scenarios.
Slotless boons don’t take up any of your character’s slots; they are always active. There is no limit on how many slotless Boons you can have active.
Some slotless Boons are tagged as “limited-use.” These Boons grant a benefit a limited number of times, either once per Boon or a limited number of uses indicated by a series of checkboxes. In most cases, you do not need to continue keeping track of a limited-use Boon once it has been expended. Rarely, a limited-use Boon may include additional or altered rules in the description of the individual Boon.
A pregenerated character has Boon slots, though such characters rarely have Boons to use in these slots. If a pregenerated character does have Boons, such as Promotional Boons or temporary Boons granted by the adventure, they can slot them as normal.
Boon Slot List
Ally: These Boons typically represent an ally actively assisting the PC. This could be a hired ammo loader, a dodgy hacker, or a knightly squire from the Hellknights or Knights of Golarion.
Personal: Personal Boons represent a wide variety of special Boons available in the campaign. Uncommon playable species, typically those found outside the Starfinder Core Rulebook, are often accessed by Boons that occupy this slot. The Personal slot often requires associated Boons (such as new species options) to be permanently slotted, so that the slotted boon does not change on a scenario-by-scenario basis.
Promotional: Promotional Boons are unique in that they often represent out-of-game acquisitions that promote Starfinder or Starfinder Society and translate to in-game benefits. For a complete list of current Promotional Boons and associated requirements, see the Paizo Organized Play Perks page.
Social: These Boons often encompass agreements or alliances with in-game organizations or NPCs. The benefits of these arrangements often come in the form of a Boon granted as part of a Chronicle Sheet.
Starship: Starfinder Society Scenarios call out the inclusion of starship combat with the Starship Scenario tag. Starship Boons are most relevant to these Scenarios, allowing for the customization of the standard ships offered by the Starfinder Society organization. See the Starships section for more information on these Boons and customizing ships.
New Character Boons
Some Boons must be applied to new characters. Such Boons must be assigned to a particular character when received but may be held and applied later during character building or rebuilding.
Such Boons are applied in the following order:
- Any Boon that specifies it must be the first Boon applied.
If you can apply multiple such Boons, you can choose the order in which they are applied, provided that all such Boons are applied before any other Boons. - Any Boon that specifies it must be applied to a character with 0 XP.
If you can apply multiple such Boons, you can choose the order in which they are applied, provided that all such Boons are applied before the character gains any XP. - Other Boons are then applied as normal.
You may use the normal level 1 character rebuild rules with the rules above.
Boons That Unlock Over Time
Some Boons allow players to unlock access to character options over time by checking boxes after meeting the criteria. The following additional rules apply to such Boons:
- Adventure Completion Boons: These are Boons that allow you to check one or more boxes after completing any adventure. After completing a given adventure, you can check off the relevant number of boxes on any one of these boons. Note the boon affected on the Chronicle for the adventure.
- Adventure-specific Boons: These are Boons which allow you to check off a box after completing a specific adventure. These boxes can always be checked when that adventure is completed, even if using that adventure completion to check off boxes on other Boons.
- Income-donation Boons: These Boons require the PC to donate a portion of their income. After completing an adventure, you can check off boxes on any number of Boons that require you to donate a portion of your income, provided you can afford to donate that amount. Any Boons that require a percentage donated are calculated as a percentage of total income (including Day Job, if any), not as a percentage of what remains after earlier donations.
- Downtime-donation Boons: These Boons require the PC to give up their downtime or their Day Job roll. PCs can check boxes on only one of these Boons per adventure.
For the purpose of checking off boxes on the Boons above, 64-page adventures are treated as if they were Adventure Path volumes.
Factions and Reputation
Factions
Factions have existed within the Starfinder Society since the organization’s inception. Each Faction supports its agents working within the Starfinder Society. All Society agents know that their allegiance is first to the Starfinder Society, followed by any Faction allegiances they maintain. In fact, most Factions within the Starfinder Society actively cooperate despite their differing goals.
Note: Each Faction's name below links to a page with additional details, including current faction leader and goals.
Acquisitives: "Fame, glory, and money. We want it all."
Members of the Acquisitives seek to increase their personal fame and fortune through working with the Starfinder Society. As the Society’s newest faction, the Acquisitives build their reputation by increasing the prestige of the Starfinder Society.
Advocates: "We're here for you!"
The Advocates aim to heal the widening rifts between factions, unite the squabbling Starfinder agents into an accepting, loving, and supportive community, and encourage the Starfinder Society to do good throughout the Pact Worlds and beyond.
Cognates: "Diversity in knowledge, unity in purpose."
The Cognates aim to reduce the Starfinder Society’s dangerous over-reliance on technology, including Guidance, and refocus instead on magical and natural innovations, along with analog and other low-tech solutions.
Dataphiles: "Knowledge is power."
If information is power, the Dataphiles seek to become the most powerful faction within the Starfinder Society. The Dataphiles believe in curating all data (both digital and physical) and that they alone are worthy of deciding what is fit for public consumption.
Exo-Guardians: "The sword that seeks the darkness."
The Exo-Guardians are dedicated to protecting the Pact Worlds from external threats. Their members campaign in Near Space and the Vast to amass equipment, knowledge, and magic believed to be essential in protecting the Pact Worlds.
Manifold Host: "We who welcome all."
Functioning as recruitment officers and an enthusiastic welcoming committee, members of the Manifold Host are dedicated to inducting new species into the Starfinder Society in the belief that each alien species can contribute their own new and unique skills to the benefit of all. Additionally, they welcome new agents of all kinds and aid them in acclimating to the Society’s operations.
Second Seekers: "Learn from the past." - Ehu Hadif
The Second Seekers are an informal faction dedicated to pursuing the agenda of the Society’s current leader, the First Seeker. The current First Seeker, Ehu Hadif, has dedicated his tenure to re-establishing the Society as an archaeological research organization.
Wayfinders: "First into the unknown."
Named for an old relic of bygone explorers, the Wayfinders seek to explore space and create peaceful relationships with new species. Members of the Wayfinders often act as first contact ambassadors, as well as explorers to the absolute frontiers of known space.
Other Factions
There are innumerable entities and organizations in the galaxy, and some represent unique factions who are not currently influential in the Starfinder Society. During the course of play, it is possible for a character to receive an offer to join one of these factions. Other factions currently in circulation include the Second Seekers factions associated with former First Seekers Roheas, Jadnura, and Luwazi Elsebo.
Reputation Tiers
As a PC earns Reputation associated with a faction, they unlock additional benefits and access to more Boons.
A PC’s overall standing is represented by their Reputation Tier. There are five Reputation Tiers numbered 0 through 4, with a Reputation Tier of 0 representing no advancement within a faction, and a Reputation Tier of 4 representing the height of prestige within a faction. A Reputation Tier of 0 is not a valid Reputation Tier to collect the rewards from Boons based on Reputation Tier.
To reach a particular Reputation Tier, a character must earn the corresponding amount of Reputation in the table below:
Reputation Tier Thresholds
| Reputation Tier | Reputation | |
| 0 | 0+ | |
| 1 | 5+ | |
| 2 | 15+ | |
| 3 | 25+ | |
| 4 | 45+ | |
All Factions Reputation
To calculate your current Reputation Tier for the purpose of all-factions Boons, add up your total Reputation from all factions.
Retail Incentive Program
The Retail Incentive Program (RIP) rewards players with rewards for their characters when they patronize retailers who are providing space for Organized Play activities. Purchases made at the location within a stated time period are added together by table and unlock benefits at different levels for the next game played, including some that reduce the severity of failures. Implementation methods vary from store to store and are posted for attendees to review. For more information, read the full policy and consult your Event Organizer for details.
Group Purchases
Players are permitted to pool their money to purchase items or spellcasting services for use in the current adventure. If the PCs buy an item using pooled money that they do not use during the adventure, one PC may purchase the item at the end of the adventure, paying the item’s full cost. If no PC wants to purchase the item, the PCs must sell the item back for 10% value, reimbursing each PC 10% of what they paid into the pool.
Retraining Characters (Level 2+)
Once you begin a session as a second level character, you still have multiple options for changing your character’s choices. You cannot use Rebuilding (for level 1 characters) or Retraining to build a character that could not be built without using either of those two tools.
Mnemonic Editor: The mnemonic editor hybrid item (Starfinder Core Rulebook page 226 ) allows characters to reverse the last 2 levels worth of decisions on a character. Different versions of the device allow you to retrain up to three additional times, effectively allowing a character to clear and retrain up to 8 levels worth of decisions throughout their career. For more information on purchasing a mnemonic editor, see the corresponding Boon.
Training Montage: The Training Montage and Extended Training Montage boons allow characters to clear and retrain character decisions from all levels. Training Montage is for characters with 12 or fewer XP; Extended Training Montage is for characters with 13 or more XP. For more information on purchasing a Training Montage, see the boon text .
Alternate Downtime Options
Downtime Crafting
You can spend your Downtime to craft a single item following the rules in the Starfinder Core Rulebook (page 235 ). A character must use the skills listed in this section of the book and cannot use the Profession skill to craft equipment. It is assumed that between adventures, you have access to the tools and workshop necessary to craft equipment.
To craft an item, you must acquire the requisite number of UPBs. You can purchase UPBs at a rate of 1 UPB for every 1 credit spent. You cannot scavenge parts from equipment you own or collect during a Scenario. Equipment crafted between sessions is marked on the Chronicle Sheet.
If you have the Master Crafter feat, you receive a 5% discount on crafting if the crafted item is crafted using the Master Crafter feat’s associated skill. You may still craft only a single item during a single Downtime period.
Other Downtime Pursuits
Some Boons allow you to use Downtime in other ways. These Boons will provide exact rules on their use, but often require a character to sacrifice the opportunity to attempt a Day Job check or perform any crafting.
Playtest Rules
These are the general rules for Starfinder Society Playtests. See each playtest announcement for any rules specific to that playtest.
Playtest Period
Each playtest runs for a specified period. Once this period has expired, players can no longer use the options being playtested until their publication in a future Paizo product.
Playtest Characters
Playtest options can be accessed by creating a custom character using the rules presented in the playtest document. This character functions as a pregenerated character.
Creating a playtest character: Depending on the level range of the adventure, the player can use a 1st-, 4th-, or 8th-level character created using the eligible playtest options and the following guidelines:
Class: The character can only take levels in a single class being actively playtested. Although multiclassing ramifications are important for playtests as a whole, the Organized Play portions of playtests use single classes for simplicity.
- 1st Level: The character can be made using the character creation rules in the Character Creation section.
- 4th Level: This character follows the same rules as above, except that instead of the starting 1,000 credits, they can select one 4th-level armor or weapon and one 3rd-level armor or weapon. In addition, the player can spend up to 4,000 credits on other available equipment.
- 8th Level: This character follows the same rules as above, except that instead of the starting 1,000 credits, they can select one 8th-level armor or weapon and one 7th-level armor or weapon. In addition, the player can spend up to 18,000 credits on other available equipment.
Credit: Choose which of your characters will receive the credit at the beginning of the adventure. Chronicles earned for playing a playtest character follow the same rules as for Chronicles earned by playing a pregenerated character.
To encourage play of higher-level characters in playtest classes, the rules for applying credit when playing a playtest character are more open. A player using a non-1st-level playtest character may choose to apply the earned Chronicle Sheet to an existing Organized Play character immediately. To do so, simply replace the credits earned on the Chronicle Sheet with credits from the table below that match the level range of the existing player character.
| Level Range | Scenario Credits | Adventure Path Volume Credits |
| Levels 1-2 | 720 | 2,160 |
| Levels 3-4 | 1,460 | 4,380 |
| Levels 5-6 | 4,085 | 12,255 |
| Levels 7-8 | 5,835 | 17,505 |
This follows all the other rules for applying a Chronicle early.
Boons and Other Character Options: For the playtest character to take a character option that would normally require a Boon, the playtest character must have all of their credit assigned to a character that has access to that character option.
GM Opt In
Because playtests use additional rules that some GMs may not be comfortable with, each GM must opt-in for playtest characters to be used at their tables. Please consult your GM prior to the game!
Current and Past Playtests
This list contains all previous playtests. Make sure to check the dates to see if a playtest is still ongoing.
Evolutionist Playtest
August 2 to September 24, 2021
This playtest included the evolutionist class, published in Interstellar Species .
Precog Playtest
November 16 to December 25, 2020
This playtest included the precog class, published in Galactic Magic .
Tech Revolution Playtest
July 27 to September 18th, 2020
This playtest included the nanocyte class and mech rules , both published in Tech Revolution .
Character Operations Manual Playtest
December 3, 2018 to January 16, 2019
This playtest included the three classes in the Character Operations Manual : biohacker, vanguard, and witchwarper.
SFS Guide Version 6.02
13 November 2023
Page alias: sfsguide._.Player Options