Completely Batty

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Players Handbook: Rules how to play how to make a character, all basic information for playing a game

DnDMagic: List all spells currently available from Player’s Handbook and Elemental Evil. 

Image by Jeremy Jarvis, © Wizards of the Coast. Accessed at the Monster Manual II Art Gallery here

[The Monster Manual II has three high level oozes in it, all of them weirdly balanced but thematically interesting. The bone ooze is probably the one that differs the most from its original, but expect some severe revisions for all three.]

Bone Ooze This massive mound is covered in a carpet of needle-like spines. Plates of bone rise to its surface and sink back within its mass, giving rise to strange angular forms as it moves.

Horrifying creatures of semi-liquid bone, bone oozes are created from the greatest charnel yards imaginable. Massive battles may create these abominations, especially if they took place on unhallowed ground or involved undead combatants. The bone ooze that pulls itself from these places seeks to devour bones of all kinds, extracting them from the living and the dead alike.

A bone ooze’s only ecological role is to consume. These monstrous predators can destroy entire ecosystems in a matter of days, reducing the skeletons of its victims to a slime which then joins the bone ooze. A bone ooze that consumes 200 HD of creatures divides, and the two oozes roll their separate ways. If they ever cross each other’s paths again, the creatures will attempt to devour each other.

In combat, bone oozes are implacable, rolling over their opponents and leaving them with bleeding, suppurating wounds. If attacked at range, they automatically react with their breath weapons, spraying a storm of bone shards that can shred enemies. Bone oozes are attracted to and seemingly mesmerized by negative energy—some clever undead monsters have taken advantage of this by “domesticating” the oozes through repeated exposure to negative energy. Such undead masters should be careful, though, as the bone ooze will swiftly turn on and devour any creature that fails to supply it with its fix.

“Inevitables” © Wizards of the Coast, by Arnie Swekel. Accessed at the Fiend Folio Art Gallery here

[Commissioned by @justicegundam-82. Again, this inevitable had only one unique ability originally, so it required a little bit of tweaking to make it thematically interesting. I’ve said before I’m not especially fond of the mythic rules, but a creature tasked with upholding divinity seems like it needs to brush against those, at least.]

Inevitable, Varakhut This creature is an abstract monolith of greenish-blue metal, its form vaguely humanoid from the waist up and terminating in a flexible spike instead of legs. It hovers off the ground, glowing green circuitry visible between its joints. Its head is low and flat, a wedge shielding an array of luminous eyes.

The varakhuts are the inevitables whose duty is to defend the gods and their worship. Although the inevitables do not serve any particular god, they understand the importance of the divine to the fundamental function of the cosmos. As such, varakhuts fight against asuras, titans, daemons and other creatures that hate the gods and entities that seek to disrupt the flow of souls into the afterlife. They are not inherently opposed to those that seek divinity, but monitor them carefully to maintain the balance of power. Although they do not inherently have mythic power, they know how this strange force functions, and can put a brutal end to mythic creatures that seek to rise too far and too fast.

A varakhut’s construction is unusual for an inevitable, as they resemble a humanoid form in only the vaguest of parameters. A varakhut hovers inscrutably over a single taper—this taper can extrude long spider-like legs and keep the creature mobile in antimagic zones, but it spends almost its entire life airborne. Although the arms of a varakhut are long featureless trapezoids, they can extend and retract a number of fine fingers; this gives the inevitables the dexterity of a human hand should it be required.

The full Mind Mine Adventure Seed is up! You guys can download the full PDF for FREE here at my Gumroad, or here at my Patreon!

Special thanks to all of my patrons that made this all possible!

One of the most fascinating things to me is how certain words can spread very very far - to some very unlikely places - and one very interesting case of this is found in northern California, in a language family called the Pomoan family. In the early 19th century, Russians were setting up settlements up and down the Pacific coast, and one of the southernmost of these was Fort Ross, on Pomo land, in what is now northern California. The Russians were the first Europeans in this part of California, and traces of their colonization efforts remain still in Kashaya, a Pomoan language, in words such as:

kuška “cat”, from кошка

loška “spoon”, from ложка

mišuk “sack”, from мешок

šinitča “wheat”, from пшеница

kulučitča “wild mustard”, from горчица, which actually just means “mustard” - the “wild” meaning comes from reanalysis as being related to the originally Kashaya root kulu- meaning “wild”

molokko “milk”, from молоко

kafey “coffee”, from кофе (of which an archaic variant was кофей)

ča·yu “tea” , from чаю (the partitive case of чай)

čaynik “teakettle”, from чайник

čaška “dishes”, from чашка “cup”

pa·rus “canvas”, from парус “sail”

ya·palka “apple”, from яблоко

ču·ki “socks”, from чулки “stockings”

putilka “broken glass”, from бутылка “bottle” (I guess the Russians left a lot of broken bottles around Fort Ross?) 

kaša “gruel”, from каша “buckwheat”

pečka “brick”, from печка “oven”

tali “pulley”, from таль “block and tackle”

In addition, because Fort Ross hosted not just ethnic Russians but other nationalities within the Russian Empire, Kashaya got some loans from other languages too:

čamay “hello”, from Central Yup’ik čama-i

čawik “iron, metal, nail” from Alutiiq čawik

ʔeqše “fishhook” from Dena’ina iqšak

kalikak “book, letter” from Aleut kalikaq

kičak “anchor” from Alutiiq kičak

kuluwet “cattle”, from Alutiiq kuluwat, from Russian корова (the -t is a plural suffix)

nukkuk “jerky”, from Alutiiq neqkaq (prepared food) 

šakitaq “ocean bird”, from Eastern Aleut šakitar (murre)

taqma “woman’s dress”, from Alutiiq taqmak

tupulu “axe”, from Alutiiq tupuluq, from Russian топор

ʔukuluta “fence, garden”, from Alutiiq ukulutaq, from Russian ограда  

Just kinda wanna touch on my Favorite sword here, The Fangblade!

Fangblade - Level 7 - 5,430 Credits - 1d12 S DMG - Crit Bleed 1d8 - 1 - Analog

CHAINSAW SWORD!!!!

Cheaper and  less elegant than  a  ripper dueling  sword, a fangblade is closer to an industrial chainsaw, with a toothed, motor-driven chain wrapped around its blade.

Meanwhile the Ripper Dueling Sword - Level 15 - 109,250 Credits - 7d6 S DMG - L - Powered

Space: It’s Not Just For Elves Anymore!

In Starfinder, the world of Golarion has vanished under mysterious circumstances; its peoples having long since been relocated to the futuristic Absalom Station, or the far flung corners of the Galaxy. The various races of Pathfinder (Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Half-Orcs, etc) still exist, but lack the same dominance on the galactic scale that they enjoyed on Golarion. Instead, the demographics of the Pact Worlds have taken on a new form; one featuring a few familiar faces (especially for people who have played the Iron Gods adventure path), and some newcomers to the galactic scene.

Humans

Navasi, the Iconic Envoy.

Homeworld: Golarion (Former), Absalom Station

Patron Deity: Aroden (Long Deceased God of Humanity. Modern Humans tend to worship an array of other deities, including Abadar, Iomedae, Desna, Shelyn, Zon-Kuthon, Besmara… They’re too multifarious to be pinned down to one patron, see?)

Humans, with their relatively short lives and boundless adaptability, have taken to the shock of the Gap better than most of the other Golarion races. (The Elves are not taking it well, for the record). As such, they’ve managed to secure a major position on the galactic stage. No matter where you look, there they are. 

Curiously, there are Humans that aren’t from Golarion, having evolved independently on other worlds.There are also rumors that the ancient civilization of Azlant had (at one point) managed to build their own interstellar civilization. However, as Azlant was ancient history when _Golarion_ was young, the veracity of this remains to be seen… though the Starfinder Society would certainly be interested.

Androids

Iseph, the Iconic Operative

Homeworld: Androffa (Former), Golarion (Former), Absalom Station

Patron Deity: Triune (Tri-Aspected Deity of Artifical Intelligence, Computers, and The Drift)

Androids are a type of biosynthetic lifeform designed to resemble a human being. Thanks to their inherent nanite-based systems, androids are almost indistinguishable from humans in many ways, save for the glowing circuitry on their skin and their limited emotional capacity.

Androids were invented on the ancient world of Androffa; a highly advanced civilization which eschewed magic in favor of science and technology. The Androids were one of their most brilliant creations; unlike normal constructs, Androids are ‘alive’ enough to possess a soul and true consciousness. As a result, Androids enjoy the same benefits (and vulnerabilities) as a purely biological creature. It’s even possible to see undead androids in places with a heavy necromancer population.

Androids first arrived on Golarion when the Androffan ship Divinity crashed into the country of Numeria, bringing advanced technology with it. Though the strange science of Androffa remained isolated to Numeria for many years, at some point during the Gap the process for mass producing Androids was reverse engineered and perfected. As a result, Androids have long been an underclass in galactic society, having only recently been recognized as an independent species.

Androids tend to reject many of the trappings of human society, electing to forge their own path. Some Androids (like Iseph, above) choose to reject the concept of gender, claiming that any such traits were artificially imposed by humans. Others reject the customs favored by humanity, embracing their machine-nature or seeking to create their own culture. All Androids are cognizant of their former nature as slaves, and some are fearful that unscrupulous corporations seek to restore the former status quo. 

Androids are built to be very fast and intelligent, but their status as former slaves and artificial nature make it difficult for them to engage in more interpersonal pursuits. They make excellent Technomancers, Mechanics, and Operatives. Some Androids, seeking to improve the standing of their peers, have also worked to overcome their limited emotional capacity and become Envoys. 

An interesting fact about Androids is that, while their bodies are technically immortal, their souls are not. An Android lives approximately 100 years (with their body aging appropriately), at which point their soul departs to the afterlife and their body enters a period of nano-rejuvenation. When the body reaches peak health (and possibly a new appearance) once more, a new soul is ‘born’ into the body with little more than their basic programming. This is the closest thing Androids have to reproduction, and some Android bodies have been active since the days of Ancient Golarion.

Ysoki

Quig, the Iconic Mechanic. (With his Drone, Scout).

Homeworld: Akiton (though some can trace their origins to Golarion)

Patron Deity: La Shu Po (Goddess of Night, Rats, and Thieves)

Also known as “Ratfolk”, Ysoki are a rodentine species native to the red planet of Akiton. Ysoki have been traveling between their native planet, Golarion, and Castrovel for generations, thanks to the magical portal systems that linked the worlds. With Golarion gone and the advent of The Drift, many Ysoki have turned to conventional space travel, but their reputation of traders and travellers hasn’t changed. Ysoki are incredibly skilled with technology and tend to favor unique and intriguing items over credits. It’s not uncommon for a young Ysoki mechanic to get their start by repairing an old machine they rescued from the junkpile. They make excellent Operatives, Technomancers, and Mechanics. Many also become Soldiers, collecting an arsenal of interesting equipment and tailoring it to their precise needs. 

One of the most iconic traits of the Ysoki is their communal nature; one rivaled only by the insectoid Shirren. The Ratfolk are deeply protective of their kin (or those they perceive as kin) and will go any length to help them. Never harm a Ysoki unless you’re prepared to deal with all of their friends and family; they’re not ones to leave such insults unavenged. 

Vesk

Obozaya, the Iconic Soldier.

Homeworld: Vesk Prime (and the other worlds in the Veskarium)

Patron Deity: Damoritosh (God of War, Duty, and Conquest)

The Vesk were, for centuries, the sworn enemies of the Pact Worlds. Fiercely militant, with a culture revolving around honor and conquest, the interstellar empire of the Veskarium conquered much of their corner of the galaxy, and their attempted conquest of the Golarion System is the reason why they became the Pact Worlds in the first place. It wasn’t until the arrival of the Swarm (a brutal insectoid hivemind that threatened to consume both sides in the war) that the Veskarium and the Pact Worlds set aside their interests in favor of mutual survival. The truce born from this incident has lasted to the present day, if only just. 

Ironically, the warrior code of the Veskarium is actually helping things along in that regard. Only those who have proven themselves in combat are capable of holding political power in the Veskarium. However, the Veskarium doesn’t particularly care what sort of combat you’re involved in, or who the target actually is. As a result, the Pact Worlds are flush with glory-seeking Vesk, whose law-abiding and honorable natures make them ideal mercenaries, bodyguards, and security personnel. Though, don’t think that them being law-abiding means you can walk all over them; Vesk culture has a lot of provisions for honor duels and blood debts.

That’s also not to say that all Vesk are Soldiers. Many are merchants and craftsmen, while a growing number have embraced the academic pursuits of the Pact Worlds in order to become scientists, or even Technomancers. Other Vesk are fond of the more philosophical pursuits of the Solarian (whose focus on melee combat meshes well with Vesk tradition) and the Mystic. 

One thing that many non-Vesk have trouble with is identifying the gender of their reptilian companions. Vesk have very limited sexual dimorphism, and their warrior focused culture doesn’t make much of a distinction between genders to begin with. The easiest way to distinguish a Male Vesk from a Female is to look at their skin coloration; females (like Obozaya, above) have brighter colored scales with shades of blue and yellow, while men have duller, earth-colored tones. 

Lashunta

Raia, the Iconic Technomancer 

Homeworld: Castrovel

Patron Deity: Yaraesa (Goddess of Knowledge, Science, and Scholarship)

Lashunta are a species of telepaths, renowned in the Pact Worlds for their focus on scholarship and mental perfection. Their homeworld, Castrovel, is home to some of the most prominent institutions of higher learning in the Pact Worlds, and some have travelled across the Drift for lightyears in order to get an education there.

The Lashunta are actually two subspecies; Damaya Lashunta (like Raia, above) are taller, and known for their beauty and force of personality. Korasha Lashunta are much shorter than Damaya, but far more muscular. Lashunta mature into one of the two subspecies at puberty based on environmental stimuli; those born into more communal and civilized environments become Damaya, while those in harsher environments tend to become Korasha. 

In the past, the Lashunta’s strictly matriarchal society meant that these two subspecies were almost exclusively the domain of a single gender; female for Damaya, and male for Korasha. As men were expected to serve as soldiers while women were placed in charge of the cities, it was extremely rare for a young Lashunta to mature into the “opposite” sub-species, and early scholars who encountered the Lashunta through magical portals mistook this evolutionary adaptation for a form of extreme sexual dimorphism. Shifting cultural norms (and improvements in hormone therapy and medical technology) mean that modern Lashunta are free to choose what sub-species they become at puberty. 

Regardless of their sub-species, all Lashunta are intellectuals at heart, and favor classes that allow them to pursue mental perfection; many choose to become Technomancers or Mechanics, while others enjoy the more esoteric intellectual pursuits offered by Mystics or Solarians. Damaya Lashunta on Castrovel tend to become Envoys, while Korasha often become Soldiers.

Kasatha

Altronis, the Iconic Solarian.

Homeworld: Kasath (Former), The Idari. 

Patron Deity: Talavet (Goddess of Storytelling, Community, and Self-Reliance)

Four-Armed humanoids from the distant desert world of Kasath, no Kasatha living in the Pact Worlds remembers their native planet, because all Kasatha travelled to the Pact Worlds on a massive generation ship known as the Idari centuries ago, when their homeworld’s sun was about to go nova. Unable to colonize Akiton as they had originally planned, the Kasatha have instead converted the ship which had long served as their home into a massive space-station.

Kasatha society is heavily structured around tradition. Scholar-Priests known as adata preserve thin-slices of the brains of the deceased in order to preserve their memories and knowledge for future generations. Other Kasatha draw their lineage from various noble houses on the Idari, who have traditionally served as navigators, pilots, and ship officers. With the transition from being a Generation Ship to a Space Station, many of these noble houses are struggling to find a new purpose, leading many of their scions to seek out other pursuits.

The Kasatha are the ones who introduced the Solarian philosophy (known as the Cycle) to the Pact Worlds. Their introspective, philosophical nature also makes them excellent Mystics, while those more martially inclined Kasatha who aren’t disciples of the Cycle may elect to become Soldiers. The natural agility and speed of Kasatha also make them excellent Operatives, though the Operative’s tendency to operate on the fringes of society runs counter to the traditions of the Idari (not much of a Fringe on a generation ship, after all). Not that that hasn’t stopped some particularly brash Kasatha from pursuing such professions.

Shirren

Keskodai, the Iconic Mystic.

Homeworld: Unknown

Patron Deity: Hylax (Goddess of Diplomacy, First Contact, Friendship, and Peace).

One of the most terrifying forces in the galaxy is The Swarm; a race of Locust like creatures that travelled from world to world, consuming all they encountered before moving on. Most members of the Swarm are simply part of a hivemind, having abandoned individuality long ago. At some point, however, a sub-colony of the Swarm underwent a mutation, regaining their sense of self and rejecting the mindless consumption of their kin. This subcolony would eventually become the Shirren,and came to settle peacefully in the Pact Worlds.

Shirren are an insectoid species with a chitnous exoskeleton, compound eyes, and large antennae which aid in telepathy. They possess six limbs; two arms, two legs, and two weak “mating arms” used for reproductive and ceremonial purposes. The Shirren species has three genders (male, female, and host), and their children spend two years as larva. Many Shirren use specially designed transparent containers to house their larval children, allowing them to safely observe the world while communicating with their parent telepathically. It’s not uncommon for Shirren to take their larva with them on long expeditions or adventures; in the hopes of granting them a variety of experiences.

The Shirren’s former nature as members of a hivemind has made them deeply communal; they are excellent collaborators, though their past connection with the Swarm makes other races slow to trust them. Their desire to understand and form connections with others make them ideal Mystics, though it’s not unheard of for them to pursue the path of the Solarion. Some, eager to atone for the harm caused by their mindless kin, elect to become Soldiers; their hardy nature makes these more martially oriented professions a sound choice the Shirren emphasis on diplomacy and friendship draws many of them to the path of the Envoy, though it takes a lot of dedication to excel at this path. 

Despite their communal nature, Shirren are also literally addicted to individualism; making choices floods them with endorphins, and some Shirren become “option junkies”, constantly making trivial choices in order to achieve a blissful high.  

Everything Else Under The Stars

Of course, just because these are the most common races doesn’t mean that they’re the only ones. All of the races of Golarion still exist (either on Absalom Station, or elsewhere in the Galaxy), and the core rulebook is set to come with conversions for all of the Core Pathfinder Races. Wanna be a Space Elf? No problem!

Conversions of other classic Pathfinder races will be released in future books. Don’t wanna wait? No problem! The Core Rulebook also has guidelines for converting any existing Pathfinder race to their Starfinder equivalent, and Rogue Genius Games is already planning to release a book (The Starfarer’s Companion) filled with Paizo-Approved conversions (not to mention a few new options). 

If that’s not enough, many of the alien races you’ll encounter during your exploration of the Pact Worlds and beyond are also playable! Wanna be a Space Goblin? How about a floating brain? Or a space pirate that glides through the vacuum of space? The Alien Archive is set to be filled with dozens of new alien species, many of them available as options for Player Characters. 

And don’t worry if you’re playing Starfinder Society; members of the Wayfinder faction can unlock all sorts of alien races for play by completing storylines. Make first contact in one season, and you can play as that species in the next! 

Paizo Starfinders Iconics - by Remko Troost

Meet the new guardians of the galaxy.

In Starfinder, the average adventurer looks much different from average party on old Golarion. Understandings have shifted, old disciplines have faded out of vogue, and everyone has friggin’ laser beams.

So while it’s possible to convert some of the old Pathfinder classes, the bulk of adventurers in the Pact Worlds will likely adhere to one of these six new disciplines. Check it!

Envoy

Envoy is Starfinder’s intrigue and tactics focused class. They possess the most skills out of any class (tied only with the Operative) and their Skill Expertise feature allows them to specialize in certain favored skills; granting them an extra 1d6 insight bonus, and allowing them to perform acts that skill doesn’t usually grant. For those of you familiar with Pathfinder, think of it as a cross between an Investigator’s inspiration feature and the skill unlocks of an Unchained Rogue.

Their main class features are Improvisations; non-magical abilities which allow the Envoy to manipulate the battlefield; they can make enemies Flat Footed, warn allies of impending dangers, or even grant their friends additional actions in a turn. 

Play the Envoy if you…

Want to be a social butterfly.

Enjoy using unexpected tactics both on and off the battlefield.

Want to be the undisputed master of a narrow set of skills (without sacrificing other proficiencies).

Mechanic

Mechanics are masters of machines. Unlike the more academic Technomancers, Mechanics aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty working with the futuristic technology of the Pact Worlds. Some even go so far as to augment themselves with advanced cybernetics!

A Mechanic’s best friend is their trusty artificial intelligence; a digital construct they personally designed. At first level, the Mechanic can choose between implanting this AI into a drone (granting them an autonomous robotic ally who can fight alongside them) or into an implanted exo-cortex (augmenting the Mechanic’s cognitive abilities and allowing them access to stronger armor and weapons). As the Mechanic levels up, they can augment their AI (or themselves!) even further. A high level Mechanic can even split their attention between a drone and an exocortex, becoming a cybernetically augmented mastermind with a personal robot honor guard. 

When they aren’t trying to turn themselves into the singularity (or just make a really sweet robot), Mechanics are masters of technology in all forms; they’re master hackers, brilliant engineers, and can make that ray gun work really well in a pinch.

Play the Mechanic if you…

Want to play a pet-focused class.

Don’t want to play a pet-focused class, but would love to play a heavily armored ranged combatant with a wide array of skills.

Want to be a master of technology in all its forms.

Want your character to be more machine than person. 

Mystic

Mystics are the spiritual successors of Golarion’s divine and occult spellcasters, and often fill similar societal roles. Understanding magic to be a manifestation of the connection between all living things, the Mystic channels the fundemental nature of the universe to a variety of effects.

Mystics are one of Starfinder’s two spellcasting classes, viewing the fundamental forces of magic through a more esoteric and philosophical lens than their Technomancer colleagues. Their spells tend to be focused more on living things; affecting both the mind and body. Of course, this doesn’t mean they can’t draw upon natural forces as well; Mystics are more than capable of flooding a room with gamma radiation if they feel like it.

All Mystics can establish a link with other creatures, which manifests first as a healing touch, and then eventually evolves into a party-wide telepathic network you can use as a conduit for their other abilities.

Mystics also all have a connection to a force they see as the source of their power; they may choose to be an akashic, empath, healer, mindbreaker, overlord, or star shaman, with each connection changing the lens through which a Mystic views the universe. An Akashic may view their powers as coming from the divine records that govern reality, while a Star Shaman may take a more religious viewpoint. Healers focus on restoring the vitality of their allies, while Mindbreakers focus on crushing the psyches of their foes. 

Play a Mystic if you…

Want to play a support focused character with strong healing potential.

Want to be a psychic or similar character.

Want to play a more magical character with minimal scientific influence. 

Love enchantment spells like charm person.

Want to have a connection with natural forces. 

Want to define your own supernatural tradition (in SPACE).

Operative

Operatives live on the fringe of society. More than just simple thieves and assassins, the Operative represents any sort of character willing to utilize underhanded tactics and dogged determination to get the job done.

Every Operative chooses a specialization (daredevil, detective, explorer, ghost, hacker, spy, or thief) which grants them access to unique exploits; similar to the talents of a Rogue or Vigilante in Pathfinder. 

Their most unique ability, however, is the trick attack. Unlike the Rogue, an Operative has need to hide in the shadows to surprise their enemies. Instead, they use a skill (usually Bluff, Intimidate, or Stealth, but some specializations can use other skills) to gain an advantage over their enemies; allowing them to deal extra damage and inflict a variety of detrimental effects on their foes. Operatives are also one of the only classes capable of becoming snipers, granting them additional combat options.

Like the Envoy, an Operative is a master of skills. Unlike the Envoy, they lack the same level of focus; the Operative’s edge class feature grants them a bonus to all skill checks (and initiative checks) and they can gain special bonuses to skills in which they’ve taken the Skill Focus feat for. Of course, Operative specializations can grant uses for skills that an Envoy could never hope to accomplish, so perhaps its all relative. 

Play an Operative if…

You want to play a character on the fringe of society, like a spy, vigilante, or assassin.

You want to be the ultimate skill monkey. 

You enjoy stealth and subterfuge (or dashing derring do)

You love the massive payoff from a perfectly set up attack.

Solarian

Solarians believe in the power of the stars; that they are the ultimate expression of the powers of creation and destruction. They guide worlds with their gravity and give life with their light and heat, yet can also obliterate with supernovas and black holes. Solarians seek to be agents of this cycle of preservation and annihilation, channeling the forces of their stars themselves in battle.

All Solarians have a mote of fundamental energy or entropy that accompanies them, which can either transform into a lightsaber Solar Weapon, or augment the Solarian’s armor. 

In battle, Solarians are one of the few classes who specializes in melee combat (indeed, while they gain access to Advanced Melee Weapons, they lack proficiency in any ranged weapon more complicated than a blaster pistol). To make up for this, Solarians are capable of making more melee attacks than other classes (three in a round, rather than the normal maximum of two) and can utilize the power of the stars for a variety of spectacular at-will effects.

Solarians can choose to attune themselves to either Photon or Graviton energy; each of their powers is connected to one of these two energies, and as they build up their attunement these powers grow stronger. After spending three rounds attuned exclusively to a single type of energy, the Solarian can activate a spectacular manifestation of cosmic force known as a zenith power. Even at level one, a fully attuned Solarian can explode in a miniature supernova, or draw distant enemies closer to them with the power of a black hole. These powers only grow stronger as the Solarian’s experience and understanding of the cosmic balance grows.

Play a Solarian if you…

Want to play a knight attuned to the cosmic forces of the universe.

Want to be a melee focused combatant with a variety of at-will effects that can shift the battlefield.

Want to wield the very power of the cosmos themselves.

Enjoy characters with a more philosophical bent.

Soldier

If the Solarian is a master of melee combat, the Soldier is a master of combat, period. Heavily armored, proficient in every kind of weapon, and trained in the culmination of thousands of years of tactics, the Soldier’s skill in a fight is unparalleled. Not only do they have access to more combat options than nearly anyone else.

All Soldiers specialize in a combat style to specialize in (arcane assailant, armor storm, blitz, bombard, guard, hit-and-run, and sharpshoot), and can pick up a second fighting style at level 9. In addition, they can pick up gear boosts that increase the effectiveness of their equipment, representing the modifications they’ve made to their favored combat kits. It doesn’t matter if it’s magic or technology; if it can give a Soldier an edge in combat, they’re willing to give it a shot.

Of course, they wouldn’t be the main combatants of Starfinder if they didn’t have access to bonus Combat Feats. Unlike in Pathfinder, combat feats in Starfinder are far more streamlined (requiring at most one other feat and some BAB and ability score requirements to access). This allows Soldiers to gain access to advanced combat options quickly and easily; for instance, a second level soldier could gain Weapon Focus with every single weapon they are proficient in (which is to say, all of them) with only a two feat investment. And since Weapons in Starfinder are capable of a wide variety of effects (including creating beams, cones, and bursts that would make a Wizard jealous), a Soldier can prove to be one of the most versatile and effective combatants in the game. 

Play a Soldier if you…

Want to be a bad-ass power-armored space marine.

Want to be a melee combatant but don’t like all that weird cosmic stuff.

Want to modify your weapons and armor to fit your combat style.

Want to combine magic, technology, and martial prowess.

Want to be able to use almost any weapon you can pick up.

Want to have a jetpack. Anyone can have a jetpack, but you’re the best at jetpacks.

Want to take a variety of combat feats while still having slots left over.

Technomancer

In the Pact Worlds, Magic and Science are effectively the same thing; a fundamental set of rules that governs reality. While Mystics and Solarians focus on the esoteric connections between things, a Technomancer’s approach to magic is much more practical. Using a combination of the scientific method, advanced technology, and a bit of old-fashioned wizardry, Technomancers can hack into the very fabric of the universe to achieve a variety of effects. 

Unlike the Mystic (who is more focused on connections between nature and living things) a Technomancer’s spells are more focused on interfacing with technology, or fiddling with the laws of physics. They can conjure small technological devices, hit things with logic bombs, bend light to create illusions, and drop fireballs like no one’s business.

What makes the Technomancer unique is their approach to magic; by viewing it as a scientific force, they can break the rules of magic as they’ve been known in the universe since the days of ancient Golarion. They have access to a spell cache, which starts out as a way to bypass the need for a spell slot, and can eventually be used to keep certain spell effects running for 24 hours. They can also fuse lower level spell slots together to achieve higher level effects; the most powerful Technomancers can even fuse two of their 6th level spell slots to cast 9th Level spells like the fabled wish.

Technomancers also have access to Spell Hacks, special abilities focused on manipulating magic, technology, or both. Fueled by spell slots, these magic hacks can modify how your spells and equipment function. You can drain the battery from your weapon to power up a spell, modify how a spell functions, force technology to do things that shouldn’t even be possible, or even fabricate equipment from nothing. 

Play a Technomancer if you…

Want to play a dedicated spellcaster.

Like your magic with a healthy side of science.

Want to blend both magic and technology into a single discipline.

Since May 2016 I’ve created well over 200 monsters, NPC’S, weather, hazards, traps, and items to add to Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition adventures and campaigns. Here is a list of FREE available material so far. Use the links below to download them from google drive. New content always available first on my Facebook group page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dmweber/ Jungle Encounters https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzB4FzIyPQemxpMW9ZTDg2VzQ/view?usp=sharing 

Arctic Encounters https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzB4FzIyPQMDF6UE45TTZSakU/view?usp=sharing 

Desert Encounters https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzB4FzIyPQTWtEb2wza2Q1S28/view?usp=sharing 

Holiday Encounters https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzB4FzIyPQd1lsdUhZaXF5blU/view?usp=sharing 

Jurassic Encounters https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzlzB4FzIyPQRGZRcXdqalBhc3M/view?usp=sharing

What’s in the PDF

Eldrazi Titans by Hendrijo

Table: Pickpocketing

[In my current oneshot campaign I am DM’ing, one of my players seems obsessed with pickpocketing the crowd of NPCs at the event, so I decided to create some roll tables for loot he gathers.]

I decided to make a list of DM stuff that I personally use or think are important to know when it comes to being a DM. So here’s my list:

Medieval Fantasy City Generator: This generator is now my LIFE. It generates incredibly complex cities with good customization. (Thanks to plantkat for sharing this site in their post here)

Naming Your Towns/Cities: Now that you’ve made your city, time to name it and give it some character! This post contains lots of great information.

Index Cards Rule: Fuckyeahdnd shared a SUPER convenient way of keeping track of turns and HP in combat. I use this system now for every single session I run.

Tricks & Traps: I am AWFUL at coming up with good Dungeon traps and challenges, this PDF includes some incredible ideas. The original poster, Courtney C. Campbell also runs a blog where she shares tons of great stuff. (Thanks to we-are-rogue for sharing the PDF in their post here)

Playing Different Types of Characters: Writeinspiration has a masterpost on how to write/play lots of different types of characters.

Unique NPC Jobs: Lauraharrisbooks wrote a list of different Fantasy Jobs which can help populate your world with some unique characters! Another similar post by Thewritershandbook also covers Common Occupations in the Middle Ages. 

Developing Characters by Threes: Monticusrex’s method of creating characters help you really flesh out who they are. Useful for Players and DM’s.

Troublesome Players? Speak Up: Dicebound brings up an incredibly great point. If someone is being a jerk, speak up and call them out. This is especially important and relevant now to crush awful behavior before it even has a chance to show it’s ugly face.

List of D&D Resources: And finally, pretty much anything you might need for D&D.  (Character stuff, spells, online communities/ways to play, etc..) A lot of people contributed to this post but thank you Mushroomancy for posting the original list.

Donjon: And finally, this site is a great resource for looking up Spells and Monsters along with tons of other generators. Not every single Spell or Monster is on here, but most are listed.

CR 20

Chaotic Evil Huge Aberration

Elder Evils, pg. 130~131

Malefic Properties: Anathematic Secrecy.

Sinister Signs: Infestation. As Kyuss’ plan begins to advance, his influence leaks from his prison, stirring the vermin of Wormcrawl Island into frenzied activity. Breeding too rapidly for the island to contain, they march out into the world in search of food, slowly plaguing the surrounding land with monstrous worms and centipedes. Encounters with these swarms become more and more common as Kyuss’ excitement mounts and take the shape of random, wandering encounters; first a 10% chance a week to encounter the vermin, then a 10% each day, then a 10% check every 1d4 hours.

Upon reaching the 1d4 hour mark, though, Kyuss’ power flows freely from his prison, infusing the vermin with unholy strength and turning them into gluttonous Purple Worms and red-hot Remorhaz seeking to feed. When he’s finally free, these empowered crawling beasts surge into the world in such tremendous numbers that the party has a 20% chance of fighting one every single hour.

Roll 1d12 for a random lich phylactery:

The Philosopher’s Stone. (or similar stereotypical powerful item) It’s a precious tool that the Lich wants to keep safe and secure for his own use, but that the players might have trouble destroying to end the Lich’s reign. Bonus points if you tie in the whole “Elixir of Life” thing with the Philosopher’s Stone to be either part of the Lich’s immortality and youthful appearance, or a gift he grants to his most loyal henchmen.

Their family line. The Lich has passed on his soul through his offspring, and every time they have children, his soul is likewise stretched across the generations. While this may cause the Lich’s family to live depressing, cursed lives as they think they keep seeing the Lich out of the corner of their eye, at least the Lich can rest assured that any do-gooder would have to basically wipe out the entire family tree to finally drive the Lich’s soul to extinction.

A ghost ship. The Lich’s soul resides in a magical, cursed pirate ship piloted by the souls of the damned. These undead pirates would sail the seas and make it a dangerous place that few would want to try to meddle with the ship. Furthermore, all of the undead crew’s victims would become undead themselves, eventually amassing a hidden, undersea, undead army for the dread-pirate-lich.

Another Lich. Two (or more) Lichs that have created a pact to keep each other’s souls safe. Thus, even if a Lich’s body is destroyed, it regenerates with the other Lich’s soul still attached. You’d have to destroy both Lich’s at the same time! Bonus points if the Lichs start to fall in love with each other as a side effect of having the other’s soul attached to them, but they cannot follow through with that love because they must never be in the same place to protect their souls.

Gates of Hell. (or any other terrible plane of existence) This Lich either tragically and accidentally attached his soul to a gate he helped create to stop the tides of evil and accidentally made themselves a Lich, or they knowingly sealed it away so that any adventurer would have to open up a doorway to a dark dimension and let the evil denizens there freely invade the material plane in order to destroy the Lich’s soul.

A Future Artifact/Ancient Relic. Basically, use a modern day item and have it sent into your fantasy world somehow. Maybe the Lich was once a kid from the 90’s that got sucked into a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Now his Nokia phone certainly won’t work to make calls…but surely it’s a nearly indestructible container for this soul. Bonus points for cheesey 80’s, 90’s, and/or early 00’s references from the Lich.

A Golem’s Heart. The Lich has crafted a golem to stay hidden or act as loot for any adventurers that would slay him. Then the Lich will slowly start regenerating inside the hollow golem and attack adventurers once he’s studied their weaknesses up close and finds them in a vulnerable spot. Alternatively, perhaps the golem is a gigantic, clockwork monster that the Lich uses as an indestructible tank that the party must infiltrate and destroy it’s core to get the Lich’s soul.

An Entire City. This Lich has been planning his immortal ascension for some time. He’s put in the hours and helped plan and construct major parts of a city, secretly craft arcane symbols and shapes into the very streets and city layout. Once completed, the Lich locks their soul into every piece of cobblestone, plank of wood, and mound of dirt within the city limits. Perhaps this also leads to the Lich slowly turning every city dweller into an undead citizen of a new Necropolis.

Deck of Many Things. This is a personal favorite of mine for the huge McGuffin storyline it can have. Basically, come up with some reason a Lich wants to put his soul into the deck (my Lich was trying to assert some level of control over it to allow him to use it’s more powerful cards), and then have the process of becoming a Lich cause the deck to scatter to all the corners of the world. Now your party has to track each card down one by one and decide which party member is going to grab each card without knowing for certain which card it is whenever they find one. (will the party member suddenly lose all worldly possessions or will they get a huge chunk of EXP?)

The King’s Crown. (or whatever headgear your ruling person(s) of any gender your world has) Basically, this Lich uses the crown to influence the ruler over time. And finally, once the Lich is slain, he will slowly start to regenerate within the ruler’s body before taking it over. Imagine the horror as the king’s flesh starts to fall off and reveal the Lich underneath!

A Comet. This Lich has created their lair inside a comet that only passes over the material plane every ‘x’ amount of years (DM’s choice). This sets up an interesting story possibility where every so many years the kingdoms of the world must be prepared for whatever the Lich’s next evil plan is as the comet comes into view, and if your party is ambitious it offers a tough challenge for figuring out a way onto the comet to destroy it and kill the Lich once and for all.

The Tarrasque. The unkillable Tarrasque is now a Godzilla shaped soul container for this Lich. Your party will now have to deal with whatever the Lich’s plans are as well as figuring out how to kill or otherwise banish from this reality one of the most unstoppable monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons mythos.