The Only Book A Space Game Master Needs
Starfinder has always been renowned as a rules-heavy system, but in that regard, there have always been ways to circumvent that heaviness and make the game your own. The only thing the system was missing was a way to run a homebrew sandbox-style campaign based on exploration… until now! Let’s talk Paizo’s new book: The Starfinder Galaxy Exploration Manual!
Worldbuilding?? Psssh. How about Universe Building!
The bulk of the book is Chapter 2, an amazing Chapter outlining how to build different worlds based on biomes, from things like “Marsh” to words like “Weird”. These biomes have tables outlined on EACH of them, including inhabitants, useful items, and even adventure hooks. Not to mention small enough to read but large enough to matter sections outlining each and every biome. Everything a GM could ever want to make their own worlds. Heck… everything a player could ever want to build a custom world for their character background.
But it doesn’t stop there. Not only can worlds be built based on biomes, but there are also included rules for Accord, Leadership Systems, and Organizations. All with the ability to base these new worlds off of Alignment, Magic, Religion, and Technology.
Let me throw out some random words for you, knowing they have the rules and tables for each one, and imagine the possibilities:
A High Technology, Medium Magic, Low Religion, Chaotic Neutral, Aquatic World.
Toolboxes Galore
The next section of the book includes everything anyone would ever need to run a true, blue, sandbox adventure. Finely tuned guidelines and hints to start and get the mindset right, before using all of the amazing tools provided. Ever wonder what high-fantasy could look like? What about a western space setting, like Firefly? It’s all here, ready to actualize.
Do you have that down? Great! You’re ahead of the prep game. But… Ever needed a unique settlement made on the fly because the players turned left instead of right? What about a random starship with a story? Treasure? What about the all-random Drift Travel and its encounters? Oh.. okay, I know. NPCs. This book is chock full of names, species, and quirks, on the fly, ready at the players’ whims. If nothing else, these toolboxes themselves are worth the price of admission.
But Wait, There’s More?
At this point, the book is paid for and on the way right? Just imagine having all of these amazing things ready for that galaxy exploration campaign. But, as always, Paizo goes that extra mile and throws in some fun bonus content for everyone to enjoy. This book comes with oodles and oodles (it’s a real number over 100) of class options and features for every single class. It’s got piles of new unique equipment ready to use in your Starfinder campaign, and a brand new system of activities (such as downtime or exploration) to be used when exploring galaxies and planets.
In Summation…
Look, we do have to disclose that we were given a free copy of this book to allow us to review it for the likes of amazing people like you, but that doesn’t change the content of the book. And holy wow… have we also mentioned the artwork is amaaaazing. Paizo never disappoints, and in terms of a brand new book with proper content for Starfinder, this one is a solid 10/10.
But in terms of a must-have for any Spacemaster or Starfinder group that thinks they’ll ever run into a planet or galaxy they never planned for, go ahead and bump this to a hardcore 11/10. Because after seeing some of this content, it’s hard to imagine not having this in your library for inspiration.
