The Galaxy as a Participant

Aside from characters and monsters, the galaxy of Starfinder itself can be a force at the table and in the narrative. While the presence of the larger setting can sometimes be an obvious hazard, such as when a firestorm rages through an alien jungle, the setting can also act in subtler, smaller ways. Traps and treasures are just as important in many tales as monstrous foes. To help you understand these game elements, many of them use the same characteristics as characters and monsters. For example, most environmental hazards have a level that indicates how dangerous they are, and the level of a magic item gives you a sense of its overall power and impact on a story.