Creating Starships
Source Tech Core pg. 196
Every spacefaring crew of adventurers needs their own starship to embark on their journey. When creating and advancing a player starship, its crew can customize it to synergize with their classes and playstyles. Creating a starship begins with choosing a frame, then selecting its battle stations and expansion bays. The starship's frame determines its core statistics depending on its level. A starship's battle stations determine the actions its crew can take during tactical starship combat, and upgrades further modify these options. The expansion bays on a starship determine the onboard downtime activities available to its crew.
Follow these steps to create your starship.
Choose Frame: First, select a frame. Your chosen frame determines your starship's core statistics. Record your starship's level, Hull Points, Shield Points, AC, saves, Speed, sensor range.
Arm Battle Stations: The bulwark, explorer, and skirmisher frames each has room for six battle stations, two of which are default battle stations granted by its frame. The default battle stations can't be changed, and any upgrades that are listed with them don't count against that battle station's upgrade limit. Record all battle stations on your starship sheet. Record each station's helmed bonus, detailed in the battle station advancement tables.
Choose Expansion Bays: Choose four expansion bays to install on your starship. Record all expansion bays on your starship sheet.
Create A Map: Create a map to represent your starship's interior. Clearly mark the locations of your starship's battle stations and expansion bays on the grid. Guidelines for using a premade map or creating your own are here.
Choose A Name: Choose a name for your starship as a party, and record it on your starship sheet.
Follow these steps to create your starship.
Choose Frame: First, select a frame. Your chosen frame determines your starship's core statistics. Record your starship's level, Hull Points, Shield Points, AC, saves, Speed, sensor range.
Arm Battle Stations: The bulwark, explorer, and skirmisher frames each has room for six battle stations, two of which are default battle stations granted by its frame. The default battle stations can't be changed, and any upgrades that are listed with them don't count against that battle station's upgrade limit. Record all battle stations on your starship sheet. Record each station's helmed bonus, detailed in the battle station advancement tables.
Choose Expansion Bays: Choose four expansion bays to install on your starship. Record all expansion bays on your starship sheet.
Create A Map: Create a map to represent your starship's interior. Clearly mark the locations of your starship's battle stations and expansion bays on the grid. Guidelines for using a premade map or creating your own are here.
Choose A Name: Choose a name for your starship as a party, and record it on your starship sheet.
Starship Frames
Source Tech Core pg. 196
The three starship frames in Tech Core are all Medium and have the tech trait. These starship frames are the most popular models throughout the galaxy for small crews of adventurers and Starfinders.
These frames have four customizable battle station slots, two default battle stations, and four expansion bays. Some of the default battle stations also have an upgrade that doesn't count toward the battle station's upgrade limit. These upgrades can't be removed from the default battle stations. Each frame has a different sensor range, Speed, and statistics.
The bulwark is the slowest of the three frames found in this section but makes up for its lack of Speed with a reinforced hull that even the deadliest cutting edge weapons struggle to scratch. The explorer is the most well-rounded of these frames, with powerful scanners and shields as well as both a middling bulk and a middling Speed. The skirmisher is a frame that's less durable than the other two but makes up for its lesser bulk with impressive agility and mobility, allowing it to maneuver behind enemies.
These frames have four customizable battle station slots, two default battle stations, and four expansion bays. Some of the default battle stations also have an upgrade that doesn't count toward the battle station's upgrade limit. These upgrades can't be removed from the default battle stations. Each frame has a different sensor range, Speed, and statistics.
The bulwark is the slowest of the three frames found in this section but makes up for its lack of Speed with a reinforced hull that even the deadliest cutting edge weapons struggle to scratch. The explorer is the most well-rounded of these frames, with powerful scanners and shields as well as both a middling bulk and a middling Speed. The skirmisher is a frame that's less durable than the other two but makes up for its lesser bulk with impressive agility and mobility, allowing it to maneuver behind enemies.
Advancing Starships
Source Tech Core pg. 197
As Starfinder characters level up, so do their starships. A starship's statistics improve as it reaches higher levels. The crew should be sure to update their starship sheet when it levels up.
Advance Frame: Record your starship's increased level, Hull Points, Shield Points, AC, saves, Speed, and sensor range.
Advance Battle Stations: Record each station's increased grade, level, upgrades, and helmed bonus.
Upgrade Battle Stations: Choose new upgrades for your starship's battle stations.
Customize Starship: Whenever your starship levels up, you can change any of its upgrades (including weapons) and expansion bays as part of the required improvements. You can also select new locations for your starship's battle stations and expansion bays, if desired. Make sure to mark any changes to the starship's layout on your starship map, and record new battle stations, statistics, and upgrades on your starship sheet.
Advance Frame: Record your starship's increased level, Hull Points, Shield Points, AC, saves, Speed, and sensor range.
Advance Battle Stations: Record each station's increased grade, level, upgrades, and helmed bonus.
Upgrade Battle Stations: Choose new upgrades for your starship's battle stations.
Customize Starship: Whenever your starship levels up, you can change any of its upgrades (including weapons) and expansion bays as part of the required improvements. You can also select new locations for your starship's battle stations and expansion bays, if desired. Make sure to mark any changes to the starship's layout on your starship map, and record new battle stations, statistics, and upgrades on your starship sheet.
Customizing Starships
Source Tech Core pg. 197
Once your crew of adventurers have boarded your starship and experienced an encounter using the tactical starship rules, you’ll likely find yourself searching for a port to dock at in order to rest and recuperate. During your time at the port of a settlement, you might decide to add or change upgrades on your battle stations, change your existing battle stations, or even change your starship’s frame.
Battle Station Grades
Source Tech Core pg. 198
Battle stations advance in grade as the starship levels up. Different battle stations advance at different levels, and different battle station upgrades and their higher-level versions become available at different levels. You can find the advancement levels of each battle station in the Battle Stations section. All battle stations start at commercial grade at level 1, and then become tactical battle stations at level 2. Most battle stations gain new station actions when they become tactical and then again when they become advanced.
The drone console and the gunnery’s grades are determined at level 1 (commercial), level 2 (tactical), level 4 (advanced), level 10 (superior), level 12 (elite), level 16 (ultimate), and level 19 (paragon). The remaining battle stations found in this book (generator, magic conduit, pilot’s console, and scanners) instead have their grades determined at level 1 (commercial), level 2 (tactical), level 5 (advanced), level 8 (superior), level 11 (elite), level 14 (ultimate), and level 18 (paragon).
The drone console and the gunnery’s grades are determined at level 1 (commercial), level 2 (tactical), level 4 (advanced), level 10 (superior), level 12 (elite), level 16 (ultimate), and level 19 (paragon). The remaining battle stations found in this book (generator, magic conduit, pilot’s console, and scanners) instead have their grades determined at level 1 (commercial), level 2 (tactical), level 5 (advanced), level 8 (superior), level 11 (elite), level 14 (ultimate), and level 18 (paragon).
Upgrading Battle Stations
Source Tech Core pg. 198
Commercial battle stations generally don't have upgrade slots. Although the bulwark, explorer, and skirmisher frames all provide one of their default battle stations with an upgrade, that upgrade can't be removed, and it doesn't count toward the upgrade limit of the battle station. Battle stations have a single upgrade slot when they become tactical, two when they become advanced, three when they become elite, and four when they become paragon. As your crew and starship level up, you can freely experiment with different upgrades to suit your playstyle or even to prepare for a specific threat you know you're about to face during your next outing.
Your battle station upgrades also improve with your starship's level. Many upgrades have higher-level versions as well and can be installed freely while at port once your starship reaches the prerequisite level. The weapon installed in your gunnery has a grade equal to your gunnery's, allowing you to also install weapon upgrades into your starship weapon for free.
Your battle station upgrades also improve with your starship's level. Many upgrades have higher-level versions as well and can be installed freely while at port once your starship reaches the prerequisite level. The weapon installed in your gunnery has a grade equal to your gunnery's, allowing you to also install weapon upgrades into your starship weapon for free.
A Member Of The Crew
Source Tech Core pg. 199
As the crew goes on adventures in their starship and create memories aboard, whether fighting tooth and nail for survival or having a heartwarming moment among the party, they’ll begin to form a sentimental bond with the starship that carried them in moments both pleasant and perilous. As the GM, you might decide to play into that bond in your descriptions or grant the starship a personality, making it into a companion NPC.
If you want to give the starship a voice and sentience, you can turn it into an SRO who awakened at a key, emotionally impactful moment during the crew’s adventures through space. Otherwise, you might choose to have the starship be inhabited by a spirit who clung onto it long ago and has taken a liking to the party, helping them in little ways along the way.
If you want to give the starship a voice and sentience, you can turn it into an SRO who awakened at a key, emotionally impactful moment during the crew’s adventures through space. Otherwise, you might choose to have the starship be inhabited by a spirit who clung onto it long ago and has taken a liking to the party, helping them in little ways along the way.