DEMO

This short 45-minute to 1-hour demo can be run at events and is meant to showcase the rules system
presented in the Starfinder Playtest Rulebook. It’s intended for a group of four to six PCs, using the
1st-level pre‑generated Starfinder characters available at www.starfinderplaytest.com.
This brief adventure has the PCs (a group of adventurers) helping an excitable furry alien skittermander
named Novadorio save Prisma, his very best friend, from a group of vicious jinsul raiders. The demo
begins with the PCs being brought together by Novadorio to assist in his mission and then proceeds to
the group infiltrating an as-of-yet unopened theme park on the resort planet Golarion World!
Demo Summary: The PCs meet with their patron to learn about their mission: to infiltrate an unopened
section of Golarion World being used by jinsul raiders. The group then enters the theme park and must
overcome a minor skill challenge before tracking down and confronting the jinsuls!
 Starfinder Flip-Mat: Amusement Park

1 SQUARE = 5 FEET
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STARFINDER SECOND EDITION DEMO
IT CAME FROM THE VAST!
Begin by reading the following text aloud.
SCALING THE DEMO
Welcome to the Starfinder Second Edition BY JESSICA
Playtest Demo! In CATALAN
For demo tables of more than four PCs, make the
this event, you’ll play through a short encounter using the following adjustments:
new Starfinder Second Edition rules as printed in the Playtest Add one additional jinsul trooper for each PC beyond
Rulebook. Remember, you can help improve the game by 4. The first such trooper joins the jinsul lookout, while
providing feedback at StarfinderPlaytest.com. additional jinsuls join the patrol with the trooper and
We encourage you to talk about your experiences playing jeskraal.
through this encounter. Share whatever you want with friends
or online. The Starfinder team is excited to showcase what
they’ve been working on, so let’s blast off!

Confirm that every player at your table has a character grimly pulls out a newly purchased laser rifle (it still has a
sheet. Ask the players if they’ve played a tabletop roleplaying price tag on it) and motions for the PCs to follow him into
game like Pathfinder before. If you’re running the demo for the mist.
new players, take a few minutes to walk them through their
character sheets and ask if they have any questions before you EXPLORING NIDAL LAND
get started. You should be ready to guide new players through Nidal Land is an under-construction new section in the
basic concepts like the character sheet, three-action turns, Golarion World theme park modeled after Nidal, an ancient
and movement using a map. If your players are experienced country of umbral forests northwest of Cheliax. It’s currently
with Pathfinder or Starfinder First Edition, you can focus on blocked off by a protective fence, which Novadorio claims can
answering their questions about the new playtest rules. be climbed with ease—a challenge his six arms gives him a
When everyone’s ready to begin, read or paraphrase the skewed perspective on.
following to get the demo underway. The PCs can attempt their choice of skill checks to get past
the security fence. A successful DC 14 Acrobatics or Athletics
You’re a group of interstellar adventurers... on vacation! check bypasses the fence before an electrical field activates
Or, at least, you were. to stun would-be-trespassers. Similarly, a successful DC 12
You were all enjoying your downtime exploring the grand Computers or Thievery check bypasses digital or physical
theme-park planet Golarion World, feasting on fried turkey security systems in the area and pinpoints a specific access
legs and enjoying the quaint, medieval villages of Cheliax point that won’t trigger the system. Allow players to propose
Land. Suddenly, you were accosted by a stranger—a frantic creative uses of skill checks, such as a Performance check
skittermander in desperate need of help. After introducing to literally dance past security measures; such checks are
himself as Novadorio, he told you all a harrowing tale. DC 13.
“I came here with my best friend, Prisma. We came from Shocking!: Each PC must attempt their own skill check. On
the Veskarium to explore ancient Pact Worlds culture on a failure, that PC takes 1d6 electricity damage (or falls and
Golarion World. I heard they were opening a new theme park takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage if they were climbing) but gets
called Nidal Land, and so I convinced Prisma to sneak in with past security into Nidal Land without further incident.
me. Except, when we got inside, Prisma went right for the
haunted house and got ambushed by these not-nice aliens in NIDAL LAND MODERATE 1
there! I knew I couldn’t take them alone, so I ran away to find Over the fence, the dark forest gives way to stately but somber
backup. I need your help to save her!” landscaping featuring dark evergreen foliage and pale flowers.
Read or paraphrase the following to set the scene.
The adventure begins with Novadorio begging the PCs
for help rescuing Prisma. Novadorio got laughed off by park A twisted wrought iron gate rises out of the mist, forming a
security and is desperate to get the PCs’ help, knowing he grand entrance inscribed with the park’s name, Nidal Land, in
can’t take on Prisma’s attackers alone. If the PCs brush off spidery script. Willow trees growing near the entrance have
Novadorio’s request, he doggedly follows them around the their leaves sculpted to resemble dangling chains. A skyline
park until they acknowledge him. of gothic spires and buttresses looms over the misty forest.
Give the PCs a few minutes for introductions, encouraging A half-built roller coaster displays grayscale cartoon figures
them to describe their characters’ roles and abilities to get along its side, lit by violet light that recasts their comical
the characters and players introduced to one another. Allow features into horrible leers. An old-fashioned stone manor
players to cast any spells or use any items or skills that they sits southwest of the entrance, with a set of rickety stairs
might think useful as they search for Prisma. ascending to a half-open door.
If they agree to help him, Novadorio leads the PCs to a
gloomy thicket beyond some easily passable pedestrian Creatures: The area around the unfinished haunted manor
barricades, which leads to an ominously shaded forest thick attraction is guarded by two jinsul troopers and their trained
with low-lying fog. A lonely obelisk rises between the dark jeskraal companion. One trooper hides behind the eastern
trees, inscribed “Nidal Land” in Shadowtongue. Novadorio tower of the manor, posted as a lookout for intruders coming

3
STARFINDER SECOND EDITION DEMO

from the south. The other trooper and jeskraal patrol along the NOVADORIO &
eastern area, just by the roller coaster fence. The two groups PRISMA
alert one another with their comm devices immediately upon
discovering the PCs. There are no statistics presented for either Novadorio or
The lone jinsul uses the side of the tower for cover, taking Prisma in this encounter. Prisma is inside the haunted
long-range shots with their laser rifle and then Taking Cover manor fighting a battle of her own, while Novadorio’s
after shooting or repositioning. The patrolling jinsul and role in this combat should be more comedic. You can
jeskraal advance together, then the jeskraal moves forward roll initiative for Novadorio using Perception (with
to attack a lone PC or distract enemies from engaging the a +5 bonus) and narrate his rounds in comedic ways
trooper commanding it. The patrolling jinsul advances and that don’t directly impact the combat. For example,
fires, Taking Cover when appropriate, but gradually closing Novadorio might spend two actions firing his laser rifle
the distance into melee combat where they can use their leg at the enemy (and missing wildly) before realizing he
blades to inflict persistent bleed damage. needs to reload, or he might search for Prisma while
Prisma is currently inside the haunted manor. While the shouting her name, ignoring the battle raging around
PCs engage the jinsuls outside, Prisma escapes captivity, him yet somehow dodging every stray bullet.
along with another jeskraal she’s “tamed”, but the PCs won’t If the PCs are struggling with the combat, Prisma
learn of Prisma’s status until after they deal with the jinsuls. might fight her way out of the haunted manor and back
the PCs up with some real firepower, perhaps using a
JINSUL TROOPERS (2) CREATURE 0 stolen jinsul weapon she found, commanding her new
MEDIUM JINSUL pet to attack, or providing some other minor assistance
Perception +6; darkvision at the GM’s discretion.
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +6, Survival +6 Use Novadorio and Prisma for whatever you think
Str +1, Dex +3, Con +2, Int +0, Wis +1, Cha –1 will add to the players’ enjoyment of this demo!
Items commercial laser rifle (2 commercial batteries)
AC 15; Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +4
HP 16, all-around vision (Monster Core 358)
Speed 30 feet
Melee [one-action] leg blade +5 (agile), Damage 1d4+1 slashing plus 1 Skills Athletics +4, Stealth +6
persistent bleed Str +1, Dex +0, Con +2, Int –5, Wis +1, Cha –1
Ranged [one-action] laser rifle +6 (range increment 100 feet, tech), AC 16; Fort +8, Ref +4, Will +6
Damage 1d8 fire HP 15
Strider Leap [two-actions] The jinsul Strides and then performs a Long Speed 25 feet, burrow 10 feet
Jump. It can Stride less than 10 feet and not automatically Melee [one-action] jaws +8, Damage 1d8+1 piercing
fail its Long Jump check. Melee [one-action] claw +8 (agile), Damage 1d6+1 slashing
Gnaw [one-action] Requirements The jeskraal’s last action this round
JESKRAAL CREATURE 0 was a successful jaws Strike; Effect The jeskraal holds onto
MEDIUM ANIMAL the target of its attack. The target takes a –1 circumstance
Perception +6; low-light vision penalty to AC and Reflex saves for 1 round.

Extra Defenders: If the demo runs short or the PCs roll

exceptionally well, then an another jinsul trooper emerges
from the haunted manor entrance during combat.
Development: After the PCs defeat the jinsul patrol, they
find Prisma just as she delivers a knockout blow to a jinsul
inside the haunted manor. She’s not alone—somehow, Prisma
tamed a jeskraal that the jinsuls commanded to guard her.
Prisma insists on bringing her new pet Bitey home with
her, explaining that putting her headphones on the creature
seemed to placate it. Prisma shows how tame Bitey is by
feeding it a treat. She seems almost entirely oblivious to
everyone else’s ordeal, though she thanks the PCs for their
intervention. Despite Novadorio’s concern for her, Prisma is
more attentive to Bitey, chatting excitedly about ways she
might further tame the creature.
If the PCs alert park security about the jinsul intrusion, they
receive a reward of credits, limited edition Golarion World
JINSUL TROOPER merchandise, and an offer of future employment as freelance
security consultants.