13th Age vs Starfinder
Compare 13th Age and Starfinder side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| 13th Age | Starfinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Sci-Fi |
| Tags | Tactical, Strong GM Support, Heroic, Ascending AC | Tactical, Crunchy, Character Building, Heroic, Ascending AC, Space Opera, Ship-Based, Exploration |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + modifier vs. defense. The escalation die (a d6 that increases each combat round, adding to player attacks) builds momentum. One Unique Things and Icon Relationships tie characters to the setting and drive story. | d20 + modifier vs. DC. Three-action economy per turn. Four degrees of success. Cross-compatible with Pathfinder 2e. |
| Dice | d20 | d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | High |
| Availability | Paid | Free core rules |
| Runnability | 5 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | ORC License | ORC |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Not yet researched |
| Publisher | Pelgrane Press | Paizo |
| Year | 2025 | 2024 |
| Languages | English, French, Italian | English, French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Best For | Groups who love d20 fantasy combat but want more narrative freedom, improvisational play, and story-driven character connections baked into the mechanics. | Sci-fi fans who want Pathfinder 2e's tactical depth with plasma rifles and starships. Great for PF2e veterans looking for cross-compatible space adventure. |
| Highlights | The escalation die keeps combat moving. One Unique Things and Icon Relationships create narrative hooks. Streamlined monster design makes GM prep fast. | Free rules on Archives of Nethys, deep tactical combat, cross-compatible with PF2e, distinct class identity |
| Considerations | Tightly coupled to its default setting through the Icon system, some classes have complex trigger systems | Steep learning curve, fewer classes and options than PF2e (still growing), tactical starship combat rules deferred to a future supplement with current rules being narrative only |