Starfinder

Starfinder TTRPG · SFRPG

Starfinder

Starfinder is Paizo’s high-energy blend of space opera and fantasy, where laser rifles, psychic powers, and starships coexist. You might hack a corporate vault on a ringworld, negotiate with crystalline diplomats, then blast off to pursue a distress signal through the Drift. The tone is heroic and pulpy, with space for wonder and the bizarre. It’s ideal if you’re looking for vibrant aliens, high stakes, and a tight-knit crew story.

With a professional Game Master, you receive clear guidance, punchy pacing, and memorable set pieces, from boarding actions to intense starship duels. New players pick things up quickly, while veterans enjoy intricate builds and tactical options. Perfect for birthdays, game nights, or team offsites. Play in person or online. Ready to meet your GM and set a date? Browse Game Masters who run Starfinder.

How to play Starfinder

Starfinder uses a d20 at its core. On your turn, you state what you attempt to do, whether it's firing a plasma carbine, picking a lock, or casting a spell. Roll a d20, add the bonuses from your character sheet, and aim to meet or exceed a target number. The higher your roll, the more powerful the effect, and the GM narrates the outcome. Starship scenes assign the crew to bridge roles such as pilot, gunner, captain, and engineer, ensuring everyone has an important role to play.

You bring a character idea, a willingness to collaborate, and if playing online, a microphone and a stable connection. Dice are helpful; any polyhedral set will do, but digital dice are acceptable too. A professional Game Master provides pregenerated characters if you wish, teaches the rules, prepares maps and handouts, and manages NPCs and adversaries. For online play, they set up a virtual tabletop and shared sheets. See options in online play platforms.

In a one-shot, you dive straight into a clear mission, with streamlined rules, quick character selections or pregens, and a ready starship. It plays out like a concise episode with a strong conclusion. In a campaign, your crew develops, your ship upgrades, and plots unfold. You explore systems, earn credits and reputation, and confront rivals that adapt. The GM weaves your backstories and goals into the sectors you choose to explore.

Smiling Game Master holds a fantasy miniature while reading from the Dungeon Master's Guide.
Smiling Game Master holds a fantasy miniature while reading from the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Common questions

Do I need any experience with Starfinder or Pathfinder?

No. You can start fresh. Starfinder uses a straightforward d20 system. You declare your actions, roll the dice, and the GM interprets the results. A professional Game Master guides you as you play, explains starship roles, and keeps the game flowing. They can offer pre-generated characters and a ready-made ship if you wish. If you're familiar with D&D or other d20 games, the pace will feel familiar, but it's not necessary at all.

Which edition do you run, 1st or the new 2nd?

Both. First Edition (2017) is available now and provides extensive options with a classic feel. Second Edition will arrive in 2025 with updated rules and quicker onboarding. Our Game Masters can recommend what suits your group’s style and timeframe. Many groups opt for 1e for more complex builds, or 2e for a more straightforward start. Ready to compare options and set a date? Browse Game Masters who run Starfinder.

How does starship combat function for the group?

Everyone has a seat on the bridge. Players take on roles such as pilot, gunner, captain, engineer, or science officer. Rounds have distinct phases for manoeuvres, scans, repairs, and firing. Piloting checks dictate the flow, gunnery rolls determine salvos, and subsystem damage is significant. Your character’s skills and the ship’s configuration both play a part. A professional Game Master ensures turns are quick and stakes are clear, creating a cinematic experience rather than a bookkeeping exercise, whether online or in person.

How crunchy is it in comparison to D&D 5E?

Expect more tactical detail than 5E, particularly in 1e. Gear upgrades, conditions, and positioning are important. Character options can combine in intriguing ways. Starfinder 2e aims to maintain that depth while making it easier to get started and reducing edge-case rules. Your GM can adjust complexity with pregens, simplified gear, or optional subsystems turned off for a one-shot, or increase it for a longer campaign. Either way, choices in and out of combat remain significant.

What species and character roles are available to us?

There are plenty of options. Humans, androids, ysoki, vesk, lashunta, shirren, and more are popular choices. You could be a stealthy operative, a soldier armed with heavy weapons, a mystic healer, a technomancer who merges code and magic, a mechanic with a drone, a solarion wielding stellar power, or a silver-tongued envoy. Share your concept and edition with your GM, and they will assist in shaping a build and a starship role that suits the crew.

Is it appropriate for children or teenagers? What about the blasters?

Yes. The science-fantasy tone can be bright and adventurous. A professional Game Master tailors content for age and comfort, employing safety tools, non-lethal outcomes, and stakes that emphasise exploration and teamwork rather than gore. Aliens can be allies, mysteries can be unravelled with cleverness, and combat pacing remains clear. It suits families, birthdays, and school clubs well. You can establish lines and veils before play.

Do we need miniatures and a grid, or can we use theatre of the mind?

Starfinder excels with tactical maps for both firefights and starship scenes, making a grid useful. Our Game Masters provide physical maps and tokens for in-person play, or can set up a virtual tabletop with fog of war, ship sheets, and digital dice for online sessions. If you favour theatre of the mind, the GM can simplify encounters. To explore the online tools they use, check online play platforms.

Booking Form


Click to select dates

0/1500
Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Sent!

Illustration of a dragon perched on a rock, with wings spread and detailed line art, similar to a dragon from lotr.

Nat 1, give it another go!

Please try again or email info@storyforgers.ie

Genres you can play in Starfinder

  • Space Opera

    Epic sci-fi drama set among the stars, featuring brave pilots, heroic rebels, tyrants wielding planet-destroying weapons, and a crew that…

    View genre: Space Opera
  • Heroic

    Stand tall, make the right choice, and triumph in the end. Heroic games evoke the spirit of The Lord of the Rings, featuring brave oaths…

    View genre: Heroic
  • Military

    Close-knit squads under fire, tough decisions, maps laid out, and the struggle of supply lines. Think Band of Brothers, but you make the…

    View genre: Military
  • Alien

    From careful first contact to invasive terrors, you confront the unknown intellect beyond Earth. Consider Arrival for the marvel of…

    View genre: Alien
  • Pulp

    Two-fisted thrills, cliffhanger chases, masked villains, and deathtraps. Imagine an Indiana Jones-style adventure or hardboiled capers…

    View genre: Pulp
  • Futuristic

    Adventures set in the near to far future where technology influences every decision, from vibrant neon megacities to remote deep-space…

    View genre: Futuristic
  • Pirate

    Salt spray, creaking decks, and cutlass duels as you pursue treasure and rivals across treacherous seas. Swashbuckling adventure…

    View genre: Pirate

What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

Similar gaming systems

  • Lasers & Feelings

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Simple rules

    Zoom through a vibrant space opera in a rules-light game inspired by Star Trek. Select a number that defines your style, then roll a single die to tackle daring challenges, charm aliens, or redirect warp power. Ideal for quick one-shots and fun-loving teams.

    View system: Lasers & Feelings
  • Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Blast stormtroopers, race TIE fighters, and swashbuckle across the galaxy in West End Games' classic D6 Star Wars RPG. Fast-paced, pulpy, and cinematic, it captures the essence of the original trilogy. Ideal for daring heists, Rebel missions, and family-friendly adventures with 2 to 6 players.

    View system: Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game
  • Fate

    • Pulp +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Fate is a quick, adaptable system where your character's traits influence every scene. Craft thrilling, high-octane stories from audacious heists to two-fisted heroics. Imagine the momentum of Indiana Jones, driven by aspects and fate points, all overseen by a professional Game Master.

    View system: Fate
  • Scum and Villainy

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • Moderate rules

    Scum and Villainy is a quick, cinematic space-opera heist game where your crew undertakes daring jobs, evades syndicates and the Hegemony, and keeps the ship in the air. Imagine Firefly with effective tools for teamwork and chaos. Ideal for one-shots or ongoing crews.

    View system: Scum and Villainy
  • Doctor Who: The Roleplaying Game

    • Space Opera +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Grab a sonic, hop into a TARDIS, and save people with brains rather than blasters. Doctor Who: The Roleplaying Game captures the TV show's clever, time-twisting adventures, from alien mysteries to heartfelt heroics. Perfect for groups seeking clever strategies, quick wit, and a sense of wonder.

    View system: Doctor Who: The Roleplaying Game
  • Lancer

    • Mecha +7
    • 2 – 5 players
    • In-depth rules

    Pilot a custom-built mech in high-stakes missions that combine tactical precision with character-driven drama. Lancer offers intense battles and expansive sci-fi themes of duty, politics, and hope. If you're a fan of Gundam, you'll feel right at home.

    View system: Lancer
  • Savage Worlds

    • Pulp +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Savage Worlds powers quick, cinematic adventures across any genre. Pursue cultists, duel desperados, blast aliens, or don a cape, all using one streamlined system. Imagine the excitement of Indiana Jones at the table, expertly tailored by a professional Game Master for your group.

    View system: Savage Worlds
  • Mutants & Masterminds

    • Superhero +7
    • 2 – 6 players
    • In-depth rules

    Mutants & Masterminds allows you to create any superhero, from a street vigilante to a cosmic guardian, and then engage in daring rescues, uncover clues, and partake in high-flying battles. Imagine The Avengers, but with you as the star, tailored to your style by a professional Game Master.

    View system: Mutants & Masterminds
  • Genesys

    • High Fantasy +6
    • 2 – 6 players
    • Moderate rules

    Genesys is a universal tabletop RPG that prioritises storytelling with custom symbol dice. With a professional Game Master, your group can dive into high fantasy quests, neon cyberpunk, or thrilling space opera, ranging from heists to heroics. Imagine sweeping adventures in the vein of The Lord of the Rings.

    View system: Genesys
Black diagonal cross icon, commonly used to close popups or dismiss notifications on websites.

We’re Looking for Dungeon Masters!

StoryForgers is seeking enthusiastic and imaginative Dungeon Masters to become part of our team.
Are you interested?