One of the things I love about Starfinder is how much potential the setting has for interesting locals for encounters. Not only do you have a whole galaxy of planets, moons, asteroids, and more to choose from, the very nature of a Sci-Fantasy setting opens up a host of potentially interesting locations. Low level play can all to often devolve into the standard formula of ‘go to dungeon-analog and fight goblin-analogs’ but it doesn’t have to. Yes, a dungeon can be anything from a derelict space ship, an industrial scrap yard, or apartment complex turned gang base, but you can take it a step further. Any one of those potential dungeons has flavor, but you can build on that. Maybe the players need to confront a criminal gang in an active subway station, avoiding bystanders, dodging the steady schedule of trains, and careful avoiding contact with the third rail. Or perhaps they have to capture a spy in a flying zoo, dodging freed alien animals, trying not to endanger tourists, and prevent the agent from escaping in the confusion. Or they have to capture a rogue robot in a fully automated factory, and damage to any of the expensive manufacturing droids comes out of their pay. There is a wealth of potential out there for a GM to tap into, so don’t hesitate to make not just your creatures, but also your places, active characters in the ongoing story you and your players are making.
Jeremy Corff
Artist and Writer