Starfall Galaxy; Boundless Skies

  Adapted from Grimdark Future Lore - One-Page Rules and Starfinder Playtest

As a Game Master, I accumulate a lot of game-related paraphernalia; Miniatures are among my favorites. I have a lot of miniatures I want to get more use out of. I scrubbed the internet for miniature agnostic games that let me squeeze more fun out of gaming accessories I spent my money on. I was aware of One-Page Rules and ran into them while searching.

I like what this enterprise offers regarding extracting value from my collection. The Army builder provides options for creating custom, balanced armies in addition to the officially supported army ranges. While the game setting seems like other popular game material at a cursory glance, this game is starting to step away from its inspiration with the publication of the Grimdark Future World book.

One-Page Rules encourages players to bring whatever miniatures they have to the table; the ability to craft custom army lists also lets players manifest their armies from other games. The Grimdark setting has plenty of blank space where players can find room for their custom armies with their own lore. To take advantage of this burgeoning setting I would like to flesh out this setting to support a game of Starfinder 2e.

The Starfall Galaxy, is this science fantasy setting. Forget pristine utopias or shining empires. The Starfall Galaxy is a realm of colossal struggles, ancient decay, and a fragile, desperate glimmer of hope. Here, every Yom (a day's survival, our core currency) is hard-won, and the very fabric of reality is a weapon.

Starfall Galaxy

The galaxy is home to countless species and factions that have evolved over millennia into an ever-shifting maze of rivalries, alliances, rebellions, and treaties. Some have been here since immemorial, while others are more recent arrivals, whether they migrated from faraway reaches or sprang unannounced from a wormhole.

The galaxy is vast, and much of it remains uncharted. Yet, through advanced technology and enterprising travelers, a trade, travel, and communication network has been established, reaching countless worlds. As a result of this network, the galaxy is commonly understood as being split into three broadly concentric zones: the Inner Sphere, the Outer Sphere, and the Frontier.

Time

Time's unreliability is a profound source of anxiety and cosmic horror for individuals and entire societies. A family might wave goodbye to a loved one on a Rift journey, only for that loved one to return decades or even centuries later, all their familiar connections long gone. This constant potential for temporal displacement breeds a deep sense of impermanence.

The Inner Sphere

The galactic core, once a bastion of prosperity, now outwardly projects order but secretly battles decay. The law of the Council binds it and is a hub of trade, industry, culture, and knowledge. Despite its wealth, beneath the surface, poverty and inequality simmer, and subtle planar influences from the Rift's depths begin to take root.

The Outer Sphere

Further from the core, this region is a harsh tapestry of empires, kingdoms, and tribes. Conflicts are often settled through brutal warfare, with control over resources being paramount. This is a region of constant struggle.

The Frontier

The furthest reaches of the galaxy are uncharted and unexplored. It is a place of both peril and riches, where travelers may find ancient ruins, secret laboratories, precious minerals, and dangerous creatures. Some return with great wealth or knowledge, while others are never seen again.

The Rift

The Rift is a tumultuous, psychoreactive parallel dimension flowing beneath real space. It's the galaxy's turbulent undercurrent, influencing everything. All biological life in the Starfall Galaxy originated from energy that escaped Rift-Space. Every thought, every emotion, sends ripples through its ethereal currents. This connection also makes the Rift the source of magic and supernatural powers. Wielding such power is potent, but dangerous, often leading to debilitating Rift-Taint – corruptions of mind, body, and technology.

Traveling the Rift is a constant gamble. While most ships use dangerous Rift-Drives, the core of the galaxy, the Inner Sphere, is so densely populated that its collective psychic resonance makes the local Rift incredibly tumultuous. Here, colossal, ancient Riftgates are the only safe way to travel, tightly controlled by the dominant powers. Navigation through these volatile currents is the domain of specialized Rift-Navigators, individuals whose psychic sensitivity is vital for survival.

Spacecraft

The galaxy is populated by various spacecraft, reflecting the numerous species that operate them. Ships range from sleek diplomatic shuttles to heavily armed battlecruisers, alongside many merchant vessels transporting goods. Each species’ ships often display similar designs influenced by physical needs, culture, and engineering practices. Various advanced engines power these ships, requiring efficient energy sources. Fueling stations are common hubs for countless vessels seeking supply, though attacking them can trigger a formidable defense from merchant ships. Beyond the busy routes, mercenaries offer protection for cargo shipments. Starships are fascinating due to their two design approaches: modular, customizable, standard-sized, and bespoke vessels that feature artistic and unique designs.