Races

The Starfinder Roleplaying Game is about more than just meeting aliens—it’s also about playing alien characters. In Starfinder, the word “race” usually refers to an intelligent, selfaware species whose members can be considered characters rather than simple monsters. While not all races are appropriate for player characters, many of them are; any creature with a racial traits entry is a member of a potentially playable race, provided that your GM approves it.

Dwarf Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 506 Dwarves are a stocky race, roughly a foot shorter than humans, with broad, heavy frames. Dwarves trace their heritage to the missing planet of Golarion, yet for them, this is not merely a matter of history, but identity—they were forged in the furnace of Golarion’s subterranean passages, and many dwarves born long after the planet’s disappearance still feel the sting of its loss, kept alive in dwarven song and legend. Dwarven history also claims that they once had a different racial god, Torag, who left his worshipers in the hands of his brother Angradd during the Gap so he could stand guard over Golarion, wherever it is now. Dwarves are most commonly found on Absalom Station, where their guilds and clans wield significant power, or on city-sized Star Citadel ships. Significant dwarven communities on other worlds are rare, though small groups can be found throughout the Pact Worlds’ extrasolar colonies. Many dwarves are attracted to asteroid mining, with Star Citadels common in the Diaspora. Larger dwarven communities often focus on tradition and fight to keep ancient crafts, laws, and enmities alive. This traditionalism sometimes causes other races to see dwarves as old fashioned, or even backward. Dwarves are certainly cautious in adopting new technologies and slow to change their way of life, but once a new technology has proven safe and effective, it’s quickly adapted to dwarven needs. Dwarves are often mechanics, mystics, and soldiers. They tend to get along best with gnomes, halflings, humans, and other races with ties to Golarion, though they have a sometimes impolite appreciation for androids’ elegant construction and find much in common with kasathas and korasha lashuntas. Among the strongest dwarven traditions is the Quest for Sky, a belief that Torag commanded his people to leave their underground homes on Golarion and fight a generations-long war to reach the surface. While many dwarves feel the Quest for Sky was fulfilled, some explore far from the Pact Worlds in the belief that the original journey was only the first stage of the quest and that Torag now wants them to find some specific alien sky for which they’re destined. Most dwarves stand 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall and weigh 150–200 pounds. They’re considered adults at 40 and live up to 450 years. Ability Modifiers +2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Cha Hit Points 6 Size and Type Dwarves are Medium humanoids with the dwarf subtype. Darkvision Dwarves can see up to 60 feet in the dark. Slow but Steady Dwarves have a land speed of 20 feet, which is never modified when they are encumbered or wearing heavy armor. They also gain a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities, and when standing on the ground they gain a +4 racial bonus to their KAC against bull rush and trip combat maneuvers. Stonecunning Dwarves gain a +2 bonus to Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking. Traditional Enemies Dwarves still train to fight their ancient enemies. A dwarf gains a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against a creature with the goblinoid or orc subtype and a +4 racial bonus to AC against an attack from a creature with the giant subtype. Weapon Familiarity Dwarves are proficient with basic and advanced melee weapons and gain specialization with those weapons at 3rd level. Vital Stats Average Height 4 to 4-1/2 ft. Average Weight 150–200 lbs. Age of Maturity 40 years Maximum Age 250+2d% years Alternate Ability Adjustments Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 Some dwarves initiated a new Quest for Sky and gathered on a generation starship, seeking the ultimate sky in an alien place or remote galactic region. These dwarves adapted to zero-g but lack the hardiness of kin they left behind. Such dwarves have ability score adjustments of +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and −2 Strength rather than the adjustments found in the Starfinder Core Rulebook. Alternate Racial Traits Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 The dwarven desire to redefine their existence has led many dwarves to demonstrate new cultural and physical expressions. Adamant Mage Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 Dwarves with this trait gain a +2 racial bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity provoked by casting a spell and against readied actions triggered by spellcasting. This replaces weapon familiarity. Mining Expert Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 Dwarves can be skilled at delving for riches, gaining a +2 racial bonus to Physical Science and Profession (miner) checks. This replaces stonecunning. Opposite Reaction Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 Rather than train with ancient weapons and focus on traditional enemies, some dwarves turn to combat techniques suited to dwarf physiology. These dwarves gain a +4 racial bonus to KAC against reposition combat maneuvers. Also, when an opponent fails a bull rush, reposition, or trip combat maneuver against such a dwarf by 5 or more, the dwarf can attempt a trip combat maneuver against that opponent as a reaction. This replaces traditional enemies and weapon familiarity. Ship Dwarf Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 In the few centuries since the end of the Gap, some dwarves have adapted to life in homes where interaction with other cultures is a constant, and where light can be summoned with the flick of a switch. Ship dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Sense Motive and Culture checks. This replaces darkvision. Tradition Mender Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 There is a movement among dwarves to heal past prejudices, and make friends with beings once deemed foes. These dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks. This replaces traditional enemies. Zero-G Dwarf Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30 Unlike most of their kin, dwarves living in space feel more at ease when weightless than when grounded. These dwarves have a land speed of 25 feet. They gain a +4 racial bonus on Acrobatics and Athletics checks to avoid becoming off-kilter and can always take 10 on such checks. They also have a climb speed of 25 feet, but only for moving along a wall with handholds at full speed in zero-g. This replaces slow and steady.

Dwarf

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 506
Dwarves are a stocky race, roughly a foot shorter than humans, with broad, heavy frames. Dwarves trace their heritage to the missing planet of Golarion, yet for them, this is not merely a matter of history, but identity—they were forged in the furnace of Golarion’s subterranean passages, and many dwarves born long after the planet’s disappearance still feel the sting of its loss, kept alive in dwarven song and legend. Dwarven history also claims that they once had a different racial god, Torag, who left his worshipers in the hands of his brother Angradd during the Gap so he could stand guard over Golarion, wherever it is now.

Dwarves are most commonly found on Absalom Station, where their guilds and clans wield significant power, or on city-sized Star Citadel ships. Significant dwarven communities on other worlds are rare, though small groups can be found throughout the Pact Worlds’ extrasolar colonies. Many dwarves are attracted to asteroid mining, with Star Citadels common in the Diaspora.

Larger dwarven communities often focus on tradition and fight to keep ancient crafts, laws, and enmities alive. This traditionalism sometimes causes other races to see dwarves as old fashioned, or even backward. Dwarves are certainly cautious in adopting new technologies and slow to change their way of life, but once a new technology has proven safe and effective, it’s quickly adapted to dwarven needs. Dwarves are often mechanics, mystics, and soldiers. They tend to get along best with gnomes, halflings, humans, and other races with ties to Golarion, though they have a sometimes impolite appreciation for androids’ elegant construction and find much in common with kasathas and korasha lashuntas.

Among the strongest dwarven traditions is the Quest for Sky, a belief that Torag commanded his people to leave their underground homes on Golarion and fight a generations-long war to reach the surface. While many dwarves feel the Quest for Sky was fulfilled, some explore far from the Pact Worlds in the belief that the original journey was only the first stage of the quest and that Torag now wants them to find some specific alien sky for which they’re destined.

Most dwarves stand 4 to 4-1/2 feet tall and weigh 150–200 pounds. They’re considered adults at 40 and live up to 450 years.

Ability Modifiers +2 Con, +2 Wis, -2 Cha
Hit Points 6

Size and Type

Dwarves are Medium humanoids with the dwarf subtype.

Darkvision

Dwarves can see up to 60 feet in the dark.

Slow but Steady

Dwarves have a land speed of 20 feet, which is never modified when they are encumbered or wearing heavy armor. They also gain a +2 racial bonus to saving throws against poisons, spells, and spell-like abilities, and when standing on the ground they gain a +4 racial bonus to their KAC against bull rush and trip combat maneuvers.

Stonecunning

Dwarves gain a +2 bonus to Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.

Traditional Enemies

Dwarves still train to fight their ancient enemies. A dwarf gains a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against a creature with the goblinoid or orc subtype and a +4 racial bonus to AC against an attack from a creature with the giant subtype.

Weapon Familiarity

Dwarves are proficient with basic and advanced melee weapons and gain specialization with those weapons at 3rd level.

Vital Stats

Average Height 4 to 4-1/2 ft.
Average Weight 150–200 lbs.
Age of Maturity 40 years
Maximum Age 250+2d% years

Alternate Ability Adjustments

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
Some dwarves initiated a new Quest for Sky and gathered on a generation starship, seeking the ultimate sky in an alien place or remote galactic region. These dwarves adapted to zero-g but lack the hardiness of kin they left behind. Such dwarves have ability score adjustments of +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and −2 Strength rather than the adjustments found in the Starfinder Core Rulebook.

Alternate Racial Traits

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
The dwarven desire to redefine their existence has led many dwarves to demonstrate new cultural and physical expressions.

Adamant Mage

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
Dwarves with this trait gain a +2 racial bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity provoked by casting a spell and against readied actions triggered by spellcasting.

This replaces weapon familiarity.

Mining Expert

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
Dwarves can be skilled at delving for riches, gaining a +2 racial bonus to Physical Science and Profession (miner) checks.

This replaces stonecunning.

Opposite Reaction

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
Rather than train with ancient weapons and focus on traditional enemies, some dwarves turn to combat techniques suited to dwarf physiology. These dwarves gain a +4 racial bonus to KAC against reposition combat maneuvers. Also, when an opponent fails a bull rush, reposition, or trip combat maneuver against such a dwarf by 5 or more, the dwarf can attempt a trip combat maneuver against that opponent as a reaction.

This replaces traditional enemies and weapon familiarity.

Ship Dwarf

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
In the few centuries since the end of the Gap, some dwarves have adapted to life in homes where interaction with other cultures is a constant, and where light can be summoned with the flick of a switch. Ship dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Sense Motive and Culture checks.

This replaces darkvision.

Tradition Mender

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
There is a movement among dwarves to heal past prejudices, and make friends with beings once deemed foes. These dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks.

This replaces traditional enemies.

Zero-G Dwarf

Source Character Operations Manual pg. 30
Unlike most of their kin, dwarves living in space feel more at ease when weightless than when grounded. These dwarves have a land speed of 25 feet. They gain a +4 racial bonus on Acrobatics and Athletics checks to avoid becoming off-kilter and can always take 10 on such checks. They also have a climb speed of 25 feet, but only for moving along a wall with handholds at full speed in zero-g.

This replaces slow and steady.

Archives of Nethys