Starships

The fathomless depths of space are dangerous to even the most experienced crews, but they can be deadly to those who wander the stars unprepared. Planet-crushing black holes, invisible radiation belts, and chaotic meteor storms are found in any system. But of all the hazards that you might encounter between the stars, hostile vessels are by far the most common. The following rules govern combat between starships—or in rare cases, between immense spacefaring creatures.

The starship combat system presented in the Starfinder Core Rulebook is a deep set of rules involving multiple dice rolls, hex-based measurement, and a wide array of choices for building and upgrading a spacefaring vessel. It’s the perfect fit for those groups who enjoy thinking tactically on a turn-by-turn basis and finding the “best” loadout of weapons and shields. Other players might want something a little more fast-paced that still allows them to make important decisions, roll some dice, and engage in memorable encounters.

This section introduces a more narrative-focused system for running starship combats. Rather than taking place on a hex grid, these combats rely more on “the theater of the mind,” focusing on cinematic interactions between the fighting starships. Every member of the crew still gets to participate in the encounter, lending their expertise to sway the outcome in their group’s favor!