Group Composition
Source GM Core pg. 20
No two Starfinder groups are exactly the same. At each gaming table, the GM and players work together to find their own style for the game and to tell their own stories. Some of these differences require the GM to make adjustments, especially for groups participating in Starfinder Society Organized Play, large or small groups, and groups in which one or more players has additional needs.
Starfinder Society Organized Play
Source GM Core pg. 20
The Starfinder Society Organized Play campaign is a thriving, worldwide organization of players and GMs. While most home campaigns provide long-running stories with a consistent group, Starfinder Society provides adventures designed to be completed in a single game session, so that players can continue their characters' stories whenever and wherever works best for them.
To allow this flexibility while maintaining a fair experience, the Starfinder Society campaign handles some tasks that are normally in the GM's purview, such as selecting which rules options are available to PCs. Starfinder Society GMs are encouraged to allow players to apply creative solutions to the situations they face. For example, PCs may be able to use holograms, magic, bribery, or social skills to bypass a challenge that is presented in the scenario as a combat encounter. For more information about playing, running, and organizing games for Starfinder Society Organized Play, visit StarfinderSociety.club.
To allow this flexibility while maintaining a fair experience, the Starfinder Society campaign handles some tasks that are normally in the GM's purview, such as selecting which rules options are available to PCs. Starfinder Society GMs are encouraged to allow players to apply creative solutions to the situations they face. For example, PCs may be able to use holograms, magic, bribery, or social skills to bypass a challenge that is presented in the scenario as a combat encounter. For more information about playing, running, and organizing games for Starfinder Society Organized Play, visit StarfinderSociety.club.
Unusual Group Sizes
Source GM Core pg. 20
The standard group size for Starfinder assumes four players and a GM. Some additional changes to your GMing strategy might be useful for groups with dramatically fewer or greater players.
Small Groups
Source GM Core pg. 20
Small-group games focus more intently on the interests of the players and their characters, allowing for an experience that can be more customizable for each individual. However, small group games can also run into trouble when the PCs have gaps in their abilities. In many cases, the easiest way to adjust for a small group is to add additional characters. This could come in the form of allowing each player to play two characters or adding mercenaries, followers, and support NPCs to the party to shore up roles that the PCs don't fill. When adding GM-controlled NPCs to the party, it's important to be sure that the PCs remain the stars of the show. In general, GM-controlled characters shouldn't make major decisions, and they shouldn't outshine PCs at their primary skills or roles. Think of such characters as a support network for your PCs or an additional asset the PCs can leverage to achieve their goals. When running these GM-controlled NPCs, consider allowing your players to give the NPCs basic directions, tactical suggestions, or even select their exploration activities or targets in battle. If the PCs are working on a plan or enacting a combat strategy, these NPCs should always support it and supplement it, not hinder it—even if such actions would be out of character for that NPC. You can also use variant rules like free archetypes, extra loot, or even just a few bonus trained skills to help improve the PCs' overall flexibility.
Large Groups
Source GM Core pg. 20
Large-group games bring together the creativity and enthusiasm of many players, and they lend themselves to combat at a grand scale. However, they also divide the GM's attention. Large groups also need to set ground rules for how many players need to be present for the game to run when some players are missing, and what happens to the characters of players who are absent for a session. Ideally, you develop a simple narrative reason that enables all characters to participate in or sit out events from session to session, as player attendance requires. Some players prefer to leave their characters with the GM and have them become party-run or GM-run NPCs during their absence—such characters should be treated with care, have their consumable equipment and valuable resources preserved, and shouldn't be at risk of death or permanent harm.
Recaps at the beginning of each session are crucial to keep everyone on the same page. Delegation is one of your most powerful tools to keep the session running smoothly. For example, you can put the players in charge of recapping the events from the previous session, handling initiative, managing the party's armory, looking up rules, or helping with accessories like props and music. Also consider which tasks really need to be taken care of while everyone is there. For example, you could ask your players to handle selling items, deciding which common items they want to buy, and leveling up between sessions instead of at the table.
Inevitably, there will be situations and circumstances that don't involve the whole group. In a sufficiently large group, splitting the party is not necessarily dangerous. If the party splits up for more than a short stint, you can call for separate sessions to determine what happens to the two halves of the group, allowing them to reunite and share their findings afterward. Whether or not the party splits, having more players means less active time for each character. Look for opportunities to highlight each PC by providing challenges that play to their strengths or tie in story elements to which they are particularly connected.
Recaps at the beginning of each session are crucial to keep everyone on the same page. Delegation is one of your most powerful tools to keep the session running smoothly. For example, you can put the players in charge of recapping the events from the previous session, handling initiative, managing the party's armory, looking up rules, or helping with accessories like props and music. Also consider which tasks really need to be taken care of while everyone is there. For example, you could ask your players to handle selling items, deciding which common items they want to buy, and leveling up between sessions instead of at the table.
Inevitably, there will be situations and circumstances that don't involve the whole group. In a sufficiently large group, splitting the party is not necessarily dangerous. If the party splits up for more than a short stint, you can call for separate sessions to determine what happens to the two halves of the group, allowing them to reunite and share their findings afterward. Whether or not the party splits, having more players means less active time for each character. Look for opportunities to highlight each PC by providing challenges that play to their strengths or tie in story elements to which they are particularly connected.
Player Needs
Source GM Core pg. 21
Sometimes, making your game accessible and fun for everyone at the table requires making some adjustments to your typical GMing style or player setup. The first step is open communication so you can learn what the players need, what accommodations would be helpful, and what type of assistance players do and don't want to receive.
Sensory Differences
Source GM Core pg. 21
Players may have differences in the way that they process sensory information, as well as which senses they use. For players who are hard of hearing or who struggle to process large amounts of sensory information at once, selecting a quiet gaming venue and establishing ground rules about table talk (such as asking players not to interrupt each other) can make the game more accessible. Such players can also often benefit from handouts they can consult during the session. Keep in mind the way your players perceive the world when describing locations. For example, if you have a blind or visually impaired player at the table, instead of simply describing what a location looks like, describe how it sounds and smells, the temperature of the room, the feeling of the breeze, and other aspects of the scene that they can identify with.
Attention Span
Source GM Core pg. 21
It's not uncommon for people to struggle to maintain their attention for hours on end, especially for young players. If keeping attention is an issue at your table, add breaks to the game. Whether you're just taking a break to stretch and chat or enjoying a full meal in the middle of the game, switching up the context helps players refresh their focus.
Some players remain more engaged if they have something else to do while playing, such as doodling, pacing, stacking dice, or fiddling with a tangible object, sensory gadget, or fidget tool. Work with your players to identify which preferred behaviors satisfy these players without distracting the rest of the group and to ensure everyone's needs are met. Some players might prefer to take on extra tasks at the gaming table, such as tracking initiative during combat or managing background music to help them stay focused on the game.
Maintaining attention can be particularly challenging for some players when their character is not engaged, such as when the party splits or when they have just finished their turn in a large combat. You can allow players to engage in other activities during the session, such as texting, reading, or playing other games, and then draw them back into the game when their character is active.
Some players remain more engaged if they have something else to do while playing, such as doodling, pacing, stacking dice, or fiddling with a tangible object, sensory gadget, or fidget tool. Work with your players to identify which preferred behaviors satisfy these players without distracting the rest of the group and to ensure everyone's needs are met. Some players might prefer to take on extra tasks at the gaming table, such as tracking initiative during combat or managing background music to help them stay focused on the game.
Maintaining attention can be particularly challenging for some players when their character is not engaged, such as when the party splits or when they have just finished their turn in a large combat. You can allow players to engage in other activities during the session, such as texting, reading, or playing other games, and then draw them back into the game when their character is active.