Characters with Disabilities
Source GM Core pg. 22
A player might want to create a character with a disability, or their character might end up with a disability over the course of play. Work with the player to find ways to respectfully represent the disability. Conditions such as blinded and deafened aren't a good fit for a character who has been living with a disability long-term. Here are suggestions for rules you might use for PCs with disabilities.
Blindness or Impaired Vision
Source GM Core pg. 22
A blind character can't detect anything using vision, critically fails Perception checks requiring sight, is immune to visual effects, and can't be blinded or dazzled. You might give this character the Blind-Fight feat for free.
A character with impaired vision might take a –2 to –4 penalty to vision-based Perception checks. Spectacles or other corrective devices and augmentations might reduce or remove this. Such devices are commonplace and accessible throughout the universe and can be found in most settlements or created on demand at UPB printing kiosks. They usually cost 5 credits and are available in a variety of forms. If the device is an augmentation, it doesn't count toward a character's implant limit. Likewise, if it's an armor upgrade, it doesn't occupy an upgrade slot.
A character with impaired vision might take a –2 to –4 penalty to vision-based Perception checks. Spectacles or other corrective devices and augmentations might reduce or remove this. Such devices are commonplace and accessible throughout the universe and can be found in most settlements or created on demand at UPB printing kiosks. They usually cost 5 credits and are available in a variety of forms. If the device is an augmentation, it doesn't count toward a character's implant limit. Likewise, if it's an armor upgrade, it doesn't occupy an upgrade slot.
Deafness or Being Hard of Hearing
Source GM Core pg. 22
A deaf character can't detect anything using hearing, critically fails Perception checks that require hearing, and is immune to auditory effects. These disabilities typically don't restrict their ability cast spells or use magic items, but if they perform an action they're not accustomed to that involves auditory elements, they must succeed at a DC 5 flat check or the action is lost. It's best to give them the Sign Language feat for free, and you might give them Read Lips as well. You might give one or more other characters in the group Sign Language for free as well.
A hard-of-hearing character might take a –2 to –4 penalty to Perception checks that are hearing-based. Like spectacles, corrective devices and augmentations for hearing are commonplace and accessible across the universe and can be found in most settlements or created on demand at UPB printing kiosks. Such corrective devices usually cost 5 credits and are available in a variety of forms. If the device is an augmentation, it doesn't count toward a character's implant limit. Likewise, if it's an armor upgrade, it doesn't occupy an upgrade slot.
A hard-of-hearing character might take a –2 to –4 penalty to Perception checks that are hearing-based. Like spectacles, corrective devices and augmentations for hearing are commonplace and accessible across the universe and can be found in most settlements or created on demand at UPB printing kiosks. Such corrective devices usually cost 5 credits and are available in a variety of forms. If the device is an augmentation, it doesn't count toward a character's implant limit. Likewise, if it's an armor upgrade, it doesn't occupy an upgrade slot.
Missing Limbs and Mobility
Source GM Core pg. 22
Characters in Starfinder have a wide variety of body types and appendages. While rare, some items require certain limbs or other body parts to function or wield. It's important to allow these items to work for all characters. You're encouraged to create an alternative form of such items whenever desired, turning boots into wristbands for a character without legs, for example.
A character with a missing hand or arm might need to spend 2 actions to Interact with an item that requires two hands, or otherwise compensate. Using a two-handed weapon is not possible. Someone missing a foot or leg might take a small penalty to Speed, and if they have no legs or are unable to walk, they might use a wheelchair, hoverchair, vehicle, jetpack, flight magic, or other items, armor upgrades, and augmentations. Prosthetics are common and come in many different materials, styles, and sizes. Characters can acquire prosthetics in most settlements across the universe or create them on demand at UPB printing kiosks. Prosthetic limbs are an augmentation that cost 5 credits, and don't count toward a character's implant limit.
A character with a missing hand or arm might need to spend 2 actions to Interact with an item that requires two hands, or otherwise compensate. Using a two-handed weapon is not possible. Someone missing a foot or leg might take a small penalty to Speed, and if they have no legs or are unable to walk, they might use a wheelchair, hoverchair, vehicle, jetpack, flight magic, or other items, armor upgrades, and augmentations. Prosthetics are common and come in many different materials, styles, and sizes. Characters can acquire prosthetics in most settlements across the universe or create them on demand at UPB printing kiosks. Prosthetic limbs are an augmentation that cost 5 credits, and don't count toward a character's implant limit.