M-SPACE vs Starfinder
Compare M-SPACE and Starfinder side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| M-SPACE | Starfinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi |
| Tags | Toolkit, Modular, Skill-Based, Classless, Ship-Based, Tactical, Social Combat, Character-Driven, Faction Play, Random Tables | Tactical, Crunchy, Character Building, Heroic, Ascending AC, Space Opera, Ship-Based, Exploration |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d100 at or below the relevant skill percentage to succeed. Difficulty changes the target percentage. Opposed tests compare success levels and then the highest successful roll. | d20 + modifier vs. DC. Three-action economy per turn. Four degrees of success. Cross-compatible with Pathfinder 2e. |
| Dice | d100 | d20 |
| Complexity | High | High |
| Accessibility | Medium | Very High |
| Runnability | Very High | Very High |
| License | All Rights Reserved | ORC |
| Third-Party Publishing | No verified route found | Not yet researched |
| Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. | ||
| Cost | $ | Free |
| Publisher | FrostByte Books | Paizo |
| Year | 2020 | 2024 |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish | English, French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Best For | Groups who want to build a spacefaring campaign around a shared ship and conflicts between alien societies. | 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 | Modular ship construction connects crew space and equipment choices to handling and damage in combat. Extended Conflicts use depleting pools to make withdrawal a meaningful choice during negotiations and chases. Passions turn personal loyalties into skill bonuses and conflicts between competing commitments. | Free rules on Archives of Nethys, deep tactical combat, cross-compatible with PF2e, distinct class identity |
| Considerations | The group must supply its campaign setting and adventures. Standard combat tracks injuries by body location and can leave permanent damage. Depleted conflict pools can impose skill penalties that persist into later scenes. | 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 |