Slugblaster vs Starfinder
Compare Slugblaster and Starfinder side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Slugblaster | Starfinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Scifi | Scifi |
| Play Style | Narrative, Rules-Light, Cinematic, Fast-Paced, Gonzo, Character-Driven, Comedy | Tactical, Crunchy, Combat-Heavy, Character Building, Grid-Based, Heroic, Ascending AC, Space Opera, Ship-Based, Exploration |
| Core Mechanic | Forged in the Dark — roll a d6 dice pool and take the highest: 6 is a success, 4–5 is a partial success, 1–3 is a failure. No attributes or skills — instead, spend Boost to add dice. Kick lets you push your luck for Style Points by adding flair to any action. Style Points fuel advancement and reputation. Trouble tracks escalate consequences from parents, school, and interdimensional authorities. | d20 + modifier vs. DC. Three-action economy per turn. Four degrees of success. Cross-compatible with Pathfinder 2e. |
| Dice | d6 dice pool | d20 |
| Complexity | Low | High |
| Accessibility | High | Very High |
| Community | Low | High |
| License | Forged in the Dark | ORC |
| Cost | $$ | Free (ORC) |
| Publisher | Wilkie's Candy Lab (Mikey Hamm) | Paizo |
| Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Best For | Groups who want fast-paced, irreverent adventures about teenagers hoverboarding through alternate dimensions, doing tricks, getting sponsorships, and avoiding getting grounded. | 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 | Combines teen drama with dimension-hopping action sports, Kick mechanic adds dice for adding flair to actions, Indie Groundbreaker Game of the Year winner, Trouble tracks escalate consequences from parents and authorities without lethal combat | Free rules on Archives of Nethys, deep tactical combat, cross-compatible with PF2e, distinct class identity |
| Considerations | Narrow genre focused on teenage hoverboard adventures, no attributes or skills — characters differentiate through playsheet and narrative choices only, five playsheets (Grit, Guts, Smarts, Heart, Chill) limit build variety, tone is specifically absurdist teen action | 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 |