With the release of the science-fantasy Starfinder Roleplaying Game in August and its many related products, players have already begun plumbing the inky depths of space, discovering strange new planets and uncovering alien artifacts. For October, Paizo will be releasing the Alien Archive, a collection of new life forms, both friendly and fearsome, for use with the Starfinder Roleplaying Game. This full-color hardcover also includes new magic and technology, as well as rules for playable alien races to expand those presented in the Starfinder core rulebook.

~ Bizarre Aliens & Familiar Foes ~

The universe of Starfinder is a vast and remarkable place, full of unique ecosystems created by science and magic and populated with a wide array of creatures. The Alien Archive presents the full statistics for over 80 of these aliens, some from the setting’s home system of the Pact Worlds, some originating from far-off planets and other planes.

Those familiar with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game will recognize a few of the featured races, from the merciless, arms-dealing drow to the amusing and troublesome goblins. Dragons and elementals, as well angels and devils, all make their appearances, though with a bit of a sci-fi twist. Though they would rather you look the other way, the shape-changing reptoids and memory-erasing grays can also be found within these pages.

There are also quite a few strange, alien creatures unique to the Starfinder setting. Massive, gravity-controlling plant creatures called frujais stomp across their toroid world, while the silicon-based urogs contemplate the mathematics of efficiency from their moon. Each entry for these new life forms (as well as those for more familiar monsters) includes an in-depth look at that creature’s ecology and society, where applicable.

~ Options For Players ~

But, the Alien Archive isn’t just stat blocks for Game Masters to throw against their players. This tome contains a host of new options for those same players. More than 20 of the entries contain information that allows players to choose to be one of those aliens at character creation. Want to play a winged dragonkin, a hyperintelligent contemplative, or a floating, jellyfish-like barathu? This book has you covered!

In addition, the Alien Archive presents a multitude of a new gear, some crafted by the presented aliens and some from other aliens. From weapons and armor favored by the Azlanti Star Empire to serums crafted out of the hide of the deadly mountain eel, these items run the gamut from technological to magical and everything in between.

Spellcasters can also appreciate the new summon creature spell, which allows them to conjure forth beings from other planes to do their bidding (for a brief period). This spell scales from first to sixth level, so it will be useful throughout an adventurer’s career. Accompanied by a handful of summoning grafts for ease of use, this spell can call forth a variety of strange outsiders to fit almost any situation.

~ Create Your Own ~

Finally, the Alien Archive includes a robust set of rules for GMs to create their own alien monsters and other NPCs from scratch. This system functions similarly to the simple monster creation rules from Pathfinder Unchained, allowing GMs to quickly and easily design stat blocks by choosing the creature’s role and general power level, and then applying a given set of numbers, while grafts for different creature types and classes can modify these stats, if necessary. With a large menu of universal powers for creatures (which are also included in the book), a GM can conceive of and generate playable stats for an alien within minutes!

The Starfinder: Alien Archive will invade retail gaming stores in October of 2017! Don’t miss it!