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Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Starfinder RPG Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition)

Mechs | Terrestrial Vehicles | Starships | Vehicle Modifications

Starship Examples

Armor | Armor (Bulkheads) | Armor (Hulls) | Base Frames | Computers | Crew Quarters | Defensive Countermeasures | Drift Engines | Expansion Bays | Interstellar Drives | Manufacturers | Other Systems | Power Cores | Security | Sensors | Shields | Special Materials | Thrusters | Weapons | Weapon Properties

Expansion Bays

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 298
Most starships have room within their hull for one or more expansion bays, each of which can be converted to function in a wide variety of roles. Unfilled, these bays are simply storage space (and count as cargo holds), and for many large transport vessels, they remain this way. If a starship’s bays are instead used for guest quarters, the ship can serve as a transport vessel for soldiers, travelers, or refugees. If its bays are filled with medical bays and guest quarters, the ship becomes a mobile hospital.

The following options are available for most ships that have available expansion bays. If an option requires multiple bays, this is noted in its description; if it must consume PCU to function, the amount is listed in the table on page 300. An entire expansion bay must be used for a single purpose, even if it gives you multiple instances of that option. For example, if you select escape pods, that expansion bay gains all six escape pods—you can’t combine three escape pods and one life boat.

The PCU requirement and the Build Point costs of the expansion bay options can be found on page 300.

Booster Thruster Housing

Source Starship Operations Manual pg. 24
PCU 0; Cost (in BP) 3
When properly reinforced to absorb the strain, an expansion bay along a starship’s aft or sides can house additional thrusters and fuel tanks (the thrusters must be purchased separately and be an appropriate size for the starship) as well as separate fuel tanks. During starship combat, the pilot can activate these additional thrusters before moving the starship during the helm phase as part of their crew action. When activated, the additional boosters increase the starship’s speed by an amount equal to the boosters’ listed speed divided by 4 (rounded down) and increase the DC of Piloting checks to perform stunts that round by an equal amount. The boosters’ supplemental fuel supply can power them for 5 rounds, after which the thrusters need 24 hours to recharge from the ship’s power core. A starship can have only one such additional booster active at a time.