Adapted from Human - Starfinder Wiki and Human Ancestry- Archives of Nethys
Humanity in the Starfall Galaxy is a testament to raw, stubborn resilience in the face of cosmic despair. Far from being a unified empire, humans are a wildly diverse species scattered across the vastness of the three Spheres. Their societies are shaped by the scars of the past and the desperate fight for survival in the present. They are the ultimate adapters, often thriving where other species simply endure, but their ambition and adaptability come with a heavy cost.
Core Identity: Unflagging Will, Boundless Adaptability, and Costly Ambition Humans are defined by their unflagging will to survive and their boundless capacity for change. From the gleaming, overcrowded ecumenopolises of the Inner Sphere to the lawless, resource-scarred wilds of the Outer Sphere and even the terrifying depths of the Frontier, humans have found a way to carve out an existence. Their ambition drives them to innovate, explore, and dominate, often leading them to both incredible heights of ingenuity and profound depths of exploitation. The concept of the Yom – a daily measure of survival – resonates deeply with human nature; for many, every single Dei pack is a hard-won victory against the encroaching void.
If you want a character who is adaptable, ambitious, driven to survive against all odds, and capable of both great innovation and profound exploitation, you should play a Human!
YOU MIGHT...
Find a way to thrive in almost any environment, adapting quickly to new challenges.
Be driven by a desire for progress, exploration, or personal power.
Form strong bonds with diverse allies, leveraging their unique strengths.
Be willing to take risks and make difficult choices for the sake of survival or advancement.
OTHERS PROBABLY...
Are surprised by your resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity.
Are wary of your ambition, fearing its potential for exploitation.
Rely on your ingenuity and problem-solving skills in a crisis.
Are fascinated by your species' sheer diversity and widespread presence.
Physical Description
Humans in the Starfall Galaxy exhibit the same vast diversity in physical appearance as they did in ancient times. They come in all shapes, sizes, and skin tones, reflecting their varied origins and adaptations across countless worlds. While some groups may show subtle genetic or cybernetic modifications to better suit their environments (such as enhanced vision in low-light conditions or minor dermal plating for protection), these are typically functional adaptations rather than defining racial features.
They wear a wide array of clothing, from the utilitarian jumpsuits of Frontier scavengers to the opulent robes of Inner Sphere dignitaries, all reflecting their societal roles and personal expressions. Despite their physical variations, a common thread among humans is their expressive faces and adaptable physiques, allowing them to blend into almost any environment or social context.
Society
Humanity in the Starfall Galaxy is far from a unified empire. Instead, they exist as a wildly diverse collection of societies, each shaped by its unique history, environment, and the scars of the Rift-Storm Cataclysm.
Inner Sphere: Here, humans form a significant portion of the teeming populations of the ecumenopolises and often occupy influential positions within the powerful cabals, cartels, corporations, guilds, and unions that nominally run the Commission. Life can be technologically advanced, yet paradoxically, many are "priced out" of natural worlds, living cramped lives on vast space stations. Despite the outward cooperation between species encouraged by the Commission, humanity's drive for power often simmers beneath the surface, leading to subtle rivalries and covert manipulations.
Outer Sphere: Human groups are far more varied in this fragmented region. They might be part of burgeoning empires, independent tribes, or even isolated colonies struggling for resources. Here, adaptation is key, and human ingenuity is often focused on warfare, resource acquisition, and sheer survival against expansionist neighbors (like Grolak Marauder Hordes) and the raw dangers of the Rift. The Exodus from the Inner Sphere following the Cataclysm saw many human generational colony fleets settle in the Outer Sphere, establishing new, often hardened, societies.
The Exodus and Frontier: The Rift-Storm Cataclysm hit humanity hard, particularly in the Inner Sphere. The devastation of fief systems and the ensuing famine drove a massive exodus of humans on generational colony fleets into the uncharted Frontier. These are the hardened survivors, often becoming nomadic scavengers or reclaimers, who constantly battle the elements, desperate cults, and the raw chaos of Rift-Space for their next Yom. These groups are often fiercely independent, valuing self-reliance and the bonds forged in adversity.
Connection to the Rift and the Genesis Ascendancy
Humanity's ancient connection to the Rift is a double-edged sword. While some humans develop psychic sensitivities vital for Rift-Navigators or even harness magic, many more bear Rift-Taint's physical and mental scars. The legacy of the Cataclysm and the rise of the Automaton Concordance constantly remind them of the perils of unchecked technological and temporal interference.
Emerging from the crucible of the Rift-Storm Cataclysm, the Genesis Ascendancy is a fiercely human-centric faction, born from the desperate survivors who witnessed the near-annihilation of their species. Unlike the pragmatic and often compromised Commission of the Inner Sphere, the Ascendancy believes in humanity's singular destiny as the inheritors of the galaxy. They are driven by a zealous conviction that true stability and prosperity can be achieved only through unified human might and calculated expansion.
Their core ideology posits that the Cataclysm was a divine judgment, a brutal pruning that cleared the path for humanity's true potential. They view non-human species with suspicion, seeing them as either potential rivals, exploitable resources, or inherent threats to human supremacy. While they may engage in pragmatic alliances or trade when necessary, their ultimate goal is to spread human influence, technology, and governance across the Outer Sphere and beyond, establishing a new order where humanity reigns supreme. They are often pioneers, charting new Rift-lanes and colonizing untouched worlds, but their methods are frequently ruthless and uncompromising.
The Hoplites: Humanity's Edge Humanity has embraced radical modification to face the myriad threats of the Starfall Galaxy. The Sider Stratiotes, also known as Hoplites in the common vernacular, are genetically and cybernetically enhanced humans, forged into highly capable military units. Whether they are the unyielding Obsidian Guard serving the Genesis Ascendancy, the adaptable Vanguard, the grotesquely Flesh-Wrought Ascendants, or the pragmatic Wardens, these "Iron Soldiers" represent humanity's ultimate, desperate adaptation to a galaxy that demands more than mere survival. Their diversity in purpose and grim resolve embody their species' fractured yet tenacious spirit.
Humans of the Starfall Galaxy are ever-present, ever-adapting, and forever striving to make their mark upon a cosmos that constantly threatens to consume them.
Beliefs
Human beliefs in the Starfall Galaxy are as varied as their societies, reflecting their diverse experiences and philosophies. While many still adhere to traditional faiths, others have adopted new cosmic philosophies that emerged from the Cataclysm and the challenges of galactic survival.
Many humans believe in the power of individual will and collective ingenuity to overcome any obstacle. They often revere concepts like progress, exploration, and the triumph of civilization over chaos. The Rift-Storm Cataclysm is seen by some as a tragic disaster, by others as a divine trial, and by still others as a scientific phenomenon to be understood and controlled. The Genesis Ascendancy, for example, interprets it as a sign of human destiny.
Popular Edicts: Adapt to survive, innovate for progress, explore the unknown, protect your kin and community, strive for dominance.
Popular Anathema: Stagnation, cowardice, blind adherence to outdated traditions, weakness, failing to seize opportunity.
Human Mechanics
Hit Points 8
Size Medium
Speed 25 feet
Ability Boosts 2 Free Ability Boosts
Languages Common
Additional languages equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region
Human Heritages
At 1st level, choose one of the following human heritages.
Zatalan: You or your ancestors were born on a world controlled by the Zatalan Principality, a human-centric regime known for its rigid arcane traditions. You may have prominent brows, purple eyes, or a widow’s peak. Choose one cantrip from the arcane spell list. You can cast this spell as an arcane innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell rank equal to half your level rounded up. You can change this cantrip to a different one from the same list once per day by meditating to draw on the power of your runic blood; this is a 10-minute activity that has the concentrate trait.
Feudal World Survivor: Your ancestors hailed from a Feudal World, A world locked at the medieval technology level. You are trained with archaic weapons and have uncanny knowledge of Feudal World lore. You learn one bonus language and gain the Diehard feat.
Scavenger: You or your ancestors adapted to harsh, resource-poor worlds, scraping by on the fringes. You can go 2 additional days without food or water before suffering negative effects, gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Society and Survival checks to Subsist, and gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saves against the sickened condition.
Skilled Human: Your ingenuity and adaptability allow you to train in a wide variety of skills. You are trained in one skill of your choice, and you become an expert in that skill at 5th level.
Urbanite: You grew up in a densely populated cityscape. You ignore difficult terrain from crowds and gain the benefits of lesser cover from crowds. You are trained in Lore for one specific city.
Versatile Human: Humanity’s raw versatility is your strength. You gain a 1st-level general feat.
Human Ancestry Feats
You can select human ancestry feats from the following options.
1st Level Feats
Adapted Cantrip (General): You learn one cantrip from a magical tradition other than your own. You can cast this cantrip as an innate spell. Its magical tradition is the same as the chosen tradition.
Augmented (General): Your body has been enhanced with cybernetics or biological modifications. You gain a +1 item bonus to your AC or a +1 status bonus to saves.
Cooperative Nature (General): You are adept at working with others. When you Aid, your circumstance bonus to the check increases by 1.
General Training (General): You gain a 1st-level general feat. You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, you gain a different general feat.
Haughty Obstinacy (General): Your stubbornness makes you difficult to control. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saves against mental effects that would make you friendly or helpful.
Natural Skill (General): You gain training in an additional skill of your choice.
Unconventional Weaponry (General): You are trained in one uncommon simple or martial weapon, or one common advanced weapon. You gain access to this weapon.
5th Level Feats
Adaptive Adept (General): You gain a 2nd-level innate spell from a spell list other than your own. You can cast this spell once per day.
Confident Actualization (General): When you succeed at a Will save against a mental effect that would cause you to take actions against your will, you gain a +1 status bonus to skill checks for 1 round.
Galactic Explorer (General): Your innate curiosity drives you to explore. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to skill checks to Recall Knowledge about unknown planets, species, or space phenomena.
Multitalented (General): You gain a class feat from a class other than your own. You must meet the prerequisites for this feat.
9th Level Feats
Advanced General Training (General): You gain a general feat of 3rd level or lower. You can take this feat multiple times. Each time you do, you gain a different general feat.
Clever Improviser (General): When you attempt a skill check for a skill you are untrained in, you can use your Intelligence modifier instead of the skill's normal ability modifier. You can't use this ability on checks that require a specific action or proficiency.
Persistent Confidence (General): When you succeed at a Will save against a mental effect that would cause you to take actions against your will, you gain a +1 status bonus to all checks for 1 minute. This replaces Confident Actualization.
13th Level Feats
Incredible Improvisation (General): When you attempt a skill check for a skill you are untrained in, you treat your proficiency as trained. This replaces Clever Improviser.
Inner Wellspring (General): You gain a 5th-level innate spell from a spell list of your choice. You can cast this spell once per day.
Unconventional Expertise (General): You become an expert with the weapon you chose for Unconventional Weaponry. This replaces Unconventional Weaponry.
17th Level Feats
Too Stubborn to Die (General): When you are reduced to 0 Hit Points, you can choose to remain conscious with 1 Hit Point. You can only do this once per day.
Here are a few adventure hooks designed to appeal to Human Player Characters, leveraging their adaptability, resilience, ambition, and varied roles within the Starfall Galaxy:
Adventure Hooks for Human Player Characters
The Fading Beacon of the Exodus Fleet:
Hook: A faint, ancient distress beacon, emitting a pre-Cataclysm human signal, is detected from a deep, uncharted sector of the Frontier. It belongs to one of the lost generational colony fleets from the Great Exodus, long thought destroyed. The signal is weak and intermittent, suggesting the colony is barely clinging to life, possibly facing a unique environmental hazard, a desperate cult born of isolation, or a localized Rift-Taint that has warped their technology and minds.
Human Appeal: This hook directly appeals to the Human's core identity as survivors of the Exodus. The PC, particularly if they have the Scavenger or Feudal World Survivor heritage, would be uniquely equipped to navigate the harsh Frontier and understand the plight of these desperate kin. It offers a chance to reconnect with lost history, aid fellow humans in dire straits, and potentially recover valuable pre-Cataclysm technology or knowledge, proving humanity's enduring will.
The Genesis Ascendancy's "New Dawn" Protocol:
Hook: The Genesis Ascendancy has initiated a covert "New Dawn" protocol: a rapid, aggressive colonization effort targeting a resource-rich, but currently inhabited, system in the Outer Sphere. The Ascendancy believes this system is vital for humanity's future dominance, viewing its current non-human inhabitants (perhaps Pahtra communities, Tanyon-Unin enclaves, or even isolated Nomad-Kin tribes) as obstacles to be "relocated" or "integrated" by force. The PC might be a Hoplite assigned to this mission, or a human who has come to question the Ascendancy's ruthless methods and seeks to covertly aid the displaced species.
Human Appeal: This hook explores the "costly ambition" and potential for exploitation inherent in human nature. If playing an Ascendancy loyalist, it offers a chance to embody the zealous drive for human supremacy and participate in large-scale strategic operations. If playing a dissenting human, it presents a profound moral dilemma, forcing the PC to choose between loyalty to their species' perceived destiny and a more compassionate, cooperative path, potentially forming unexpected alliances with non-human ancestries.
The Commission's Contained Cataclysm:
Hook: Within a seemingly stable, high-tech Inner Sphere ecumenopolis, a Commission research facility is secretly experimenting with a contained Rift-Bloom or a captured Scarred entity, attempting to harness its Mana for energy or weaponization. However, the containment is failing, causing subtle but escalating psychic disturbances, technological malfunctions, or even minor localized Rift-Taint outbreaks that the Commission is desperately trying to cover up. The PC, perhaps an Urbanite or a Skilled Human working within the city's infrastructure, uncovers evidence of this dangerous project.
Human Appeal: This hook explores the consequences of unchecked technological ambition and the hidden dangers lurking within the seemingly safe Inner Sphere. The PC's ingenuity and adaptability would be crucial for navigating the complex urban environment, gathering evidence, and deciding whether to expose the Commission's dangerous experiment, potentially risking their own standing or even their life. Their Augmented or Adapted Cantrip feats could prove vital in understanding or countering the Rift's influence.
Charting the Echoing Void-Lane:
Hook: A newly stabilized, ancient Rift-lane has opened, leading to a previously inaccessible cluster of systems in the deepest Frontier. Rumors speak of untouched resources, ancient pre-Cataclysm ruins, or even a forgotten human colony that survived the Exodus by retreating into this hidden pocket of space. The PC, a Galactic Explorer, is part of the first expedition to chart this "Echoing Void-Lane," but the lane itself seems to be subtly psychoreactive, reflecting the fears and ambitions of those who travel it, and attracting opportunistic Grolak or enigmatic Vaelen seeking their own ends.
Human Appeal: This hook appeals to the human drive for exploration and discovery. The PC would be at the forefront of charting new territory, facing unknown dangers and potentially interacting with unique societies. The psychoreactive nature of the void-lane could create personal challenges, forcing the PC to confront their own inner demons or ambitions. Their versatility and ability to adapt to extreme conditions would be constantly tested.
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