Star Rangers

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Environments ======
FIXME format and edit

The universe is an endless expanse of adventuring potential.

On its billions of worlds, physics create every possible
permutation of geology, while life’s endless creativity gives
rise to organisms both eerily familiar and defying imagination.

Regardless of their design, many of these creatures struggle to
survive and thrive in their native habitats, from icy seas and lush
fungus jungles to the savage pyroclastic flows of tidally heated
moons or the rusting hulks of ancient alien megastructures.

===== SPACE =====

The immeasurable gulf of space is home to everything on the
Material Plane, housing more stars and planets than could ever
be recorded. During their careers, the player characters will
undoubtedly need to venture into space. 

Traveling from one planet to another, exiting the atmosphere of a planetoid, or
visiting an orbiting space station are all examples of common
travel that require at least a brief time in space. 

==== Cosmic Rays ====

“Cosmic rays” is a catchall term for various interstellar radiation
effects. They use the same rules as [[#radiation]].
Most habitable planets maintain atmospheres and magnetic fields capable of
repelling these emissions. Such protected planets allow, at
most, a low amount of radiation in infrequent bursts. Planets
devoid of a protective atmosphere are constantly assailed by
radiation of medium to severe intensity.

===== Vacuum =====

The void of space is effectively empty of matter, and this vacuum is
perhaps the greatest danger of outer space. A creature introduced
to a vacuum immediately begins to suffocate (see [[#Suffocation and Drowning]]). If the introduction if sudden the creature takes 1d6 bludgeoning damage(no save) from the popping of ears, nose bleeds and other minor effects combined.

Because a vacuum has no effective temperature and no need to shed temperature, the void of outer space presents a problem of getting rid of heat as the human body is not a good radiator and the sweating glands do not work. So if he does not have problem with the suffocation within 10 minutes he starts to overheat and is at -2 to most things due to fever like symptoms. Also he continues to take 1d6 damage every 30 minutes due to drying and such.

Sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum.

Most creatures travel the vacuum of space in a starship. 


====== ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS ======

Most living beings begin their lives on floating astronomical
objects. These planets, planetoids, and stars are the hub of much
adventure and vary in complexity of design and makeup. A
brief summary of the different types of astronomical objects is
presented below, along with various rules associated with each.


There exist several different types of astronomical objects.
Summarized below are the most prominent types encountered
during interstellar exploration.

===== Asteroid =====

An asteroid is a fractured chunk of matter, notable for being too
small to be considered a proper planetoid. Asteroids commonly
lack any sort of ecosystem and are often bereft of an atmosphere
and breathable air. Many see asteroids as exploitable resources,
given that they are often rich in minerals of varying rarity.

=====Gas Giant=====
As their name suggests, gas giants are worlds composed
entirely of gas—frequently elements such as hydrogen and
helium. They lack any natural solid surfaces to walk on and
so have no proper ground. Creatures unable to fly or without
flight-capable equipment toward the dense
core of the world at the falling speed of a standard-gravity
planet. Such a fall often takes days, given the immense size
of these worlds. Near the center of a gas giant, a creature is
subject to [[#extreme gravity]]. The heart of a gas
giant acts in many ways like a star (see [[#Star]] below), including
destroying creatures that don’t have full immunity to fire.

=====Irregular World=====

Some planets exist outside of the typical description of a
(mostly) spherical mass of gases or silicate rocks and metals.
These irregular worlds come in a variety of shapes, many of
which are still considered theoretical. Some worlds might be
artificially designed in the shape of a torus. Other worlds, like a
planet in the form of a cube or a world that is entirely flat, exist
as the result of cosmic abnormalities or the direct intervention
of the divine.

=====Satellite=====
Satellites are objects, such as moons, orbiting any other form
of planetoid. “Satellite” is a classification that can be applied
to other astronomical objects as well, as many asteroids and
terrestrial worlds are also satellites. Unlike other types of
astronomical objects, a satellite isn’t necessarily a natural
object. Alien markers and space stations are but a few types
of artificial constructs that hang in the gravitational field of
planets. Some planets have only a single moon, while others
(such as gas giants) boast dozens of objects caught in their
gravitational fields.

=====Star=====
A star—sometimes multiple stars—typically rests at the heart
of a planetary system. Stars are massive balls of incandescent
plasma that blast their orbiting planetoids with heat. While
there are various categorizations of stars, from blue dwarf stars
to yellow hypergiants, all stars produce enough heat to pose
similar hazards to most adventurers. The surface of a star is so
hot that no immunity to fire allows a creature to survive
there. Any creatures or items are instantly
and utterly consumed down to the molecular level.

Solar Flares: Occasionally, stars let off bursts of intense
energy, visible upon their surfaces as flares of roiling plasma.
These disturbances have a deadly and immediate effect on
things on or near the surfaces of such turbulent stars. The
peripheral danger of these flares is the devastating effect
they have on unshielded electronic equipment and radio
communications. These distortions can be felt millions of
kilometers away from the star, and typically they cause various
electronics and radio communications to cease functioning
for 6d6×10 minutes.

=====Terrestrial World=====
Most people use the word “planet” to refer to a terrestrial
world. The ones closest to the star of a solar system are the
worlds most likely to be naturally habitable. They’re home to
varying ecosystems, from barren, rocky landscapes to vibrant
jungles of lush plant life and rushing waterways. Such worlds
are sometimes categorized by their predominant features,
leading to titles such as desert world, ice world, jungle world,
and lava world

=====ATMOSPHERES=====
An atmosphere is a layer of gases held in place by the pull of a
planetoid’s gravity. The gravity and temperature of a planetoid
impact its ability to retain an atmosphere. Most planets and
planetoids support some manner of atmosphere. In addition
to hospitable atmospheres, there are various other types of
atmosphere that serve as hazards to most life.

=====Corrosive=====
As the name suggests, a corrosive atmosphere eats away at
matter. The type and speed of the erosion varies, but the most
common use of this term describes atmospheres capable of
dissolving most matter. A typical corrosive atmosphere deals
anywhere from 1 acid damage per minute up to 10d6 acid
damage per round to creatures and objects within. Certain
metals and treated materials may be immune to the specific
atmosphere of a planet, and often the corrosion can be mitigated
with dutiful preparation.

=====No Atmosphere=====
A creature on a planet without an atmosphere (or with an
atmosphere so thin that it is effectively airless) is exposed to a
[[#vacuum]].

=====Normal=====
A normal atmosphere is one that can support the majority of
breathing life-forms. Most such atmospheres are composed of
some combination of oxygen, nitrogen, and other nontoxic gases.

=====Thick=====
A nonacclimated creature operating in a thick atmosphere treats
it as somewhat harmful, due to the extra chemical compounds
in the air and the increased atmospheric pressure. Every hour,
such a creature must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC = 15 + 1
per previous check) or become sickened. This condition ends
when the creature returns to a normal atmosphere. Conversely,
the increased weight of the air grants a +4 circumstance bonus
to Acrobatics checks to fly or Piloting checks to keep an aircraft
in flight.

Severely thick atmospheres are far more dangerous. Every
minute, a creature in such an atmosphere must succeed at
a Fortitude save (DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) or begin to
suffocate (see [[#Suffocation and Drowning]]) as its
lungs cease coping with the density of the oxygen inhaled and
lose the strength to keep pumping air into its bloodstream.

=====Thin=====
Thinner atmospheres tend to cause a nonacclimated creature
to have difficulty breathing and become extremely tired. A
typical thin atmosphere requires such a creature to succeed at
a Fortitude save each hour (DC = 15 +1 per previous check) or
become fatigued. The fatigue ends when the creature returns to
a normal atmosphere.

Severely thin atmospheres can cause long-term oxygen
deprivation to those affected in addition to the effects of a
standard thin atmosphere. The first time a creature in a severely
thin atmosphere fails its Fortitude save, it must succeed at a
DC 25 Fortitude save or take 1 damage to all ability scores.

A creature acclimated to high altitude (see [[#Hill and Mountain Terrain]]) gains a +4 insight bonus to its saving
throw to resist this effect.

=====Toxic=====
Toxic atmospheres are composed of poisonous compounds and
vary radically in their consistencies. Some toxic atmospheres are
capable of sustaining oxygen-breathing life-forms, while others
immediately suffocate those within them. Regardless of whether
or not they allow creatures to breathe, toxic atmospheres are
threats to most living creatures, as they act as an inhaled poison.

Though the specific type of poison varies, many
toxic atmospheres act as existing poisons but with radically
different onset times and save DCs. Low-level toxic atmospheres
can have onset times measured in hours or days, while heavily
toxic atmospheres have onset times measured in rounds.

======BIOMES======
The following section includes information on a variety of
biomes found on planets. Some planets could be entirely made
up of a single biome, such as desert or forest worlds, while other
planets contain a mix of the following terrain types.
==== Aerial Terrain ====

On worlds where the atmosphere expands high above the
physical boundaries of the surface, there exists a region of
open air. Similarly, gas giants are made up of nothing more than
a vast atmosphere, held in place by a starlike core. The most
common rules sections to reference when using aerial terrain
are Falling, Gravity, Suffocation and Drowning, and Weather.
The rules for flying with the Acrobatics skill are also critical for
many creatures operating in an aerial environment.
====== Clouds ======

Most clouds are little more than condensed gas that obfuscates
vision. Treat a cloud in an aerial environment using the same
rules as fog cloud, except it’s a nonmagical effect. Other types
of cloud exist, such as corrosive or toxic clouds, which operate
in the same manner as those types of atmospheres (see above).
===== Stealth and Detection in Aerial Terrain =====

How far a character can see in the air depends on the presence
or absence of clouds. Creatures can usually see 5d8×100 feet if
the sky is completely clear, with minimal clouds (or other aerial
objects) blocking their views. Clouds generally provide enough
concealment to hide within (though the hiding creature might
have difficulty seeing out from its hiding place).
====== Aquatic Terrain ======

Aquatic terrain can be one of the least hospitable to PCs
because most can’t breathe underwater. The ocean floor holds
many marvels, including undersea analogues of any of the other
terrain elements described in this chapter, but if characters find
themselves in the water because they were bull-rushed off
the back of a transport ship, the kelp beds or volcanic vents
hundreds of feet below them don’t matter. The most common
rules sections to reference when using aquatic terrain are
Suffocation and Drowning and Underwater
Combat. The rules for swimming with the
Athletics skill  are also critical for many creatures
operating in an aquatic environment.
===== Deep Water =====

Lakes and oceans simply require a swim speed or successful
Athletics checks to move through (typically, DC 10 in calm
water, DC 15 in rough water, DC 20 in stormy water, and
DC 30 in maelstrom water). Characters need a way to breathe
if they’re underwater; lacking that, they risk drowning. When
underwater, characters can move in any direction, including up
and down.
===== Extreme Depths =====

At certain depths, the pressure of the surrounding water
becomes so great that characters might be affected as if they
were in a thick or severely thick atmosphere (see page 396),
even if they can breathe underwater.
Stealth and Detection Underwater
How far a character can see underwater depends on the water’s
clarity. As a guideline, creatures can see 4d8×100 feet if the
water is clear and 1d8×10 feet in murky water. Running water
is always murky, unless it’s in a particularly large, slow-moving
river. It is hard to find cover or concealment to hide underwater
(except along the sea floor).

FIXME onward

====== Desert Terrain ======

Desert terrain exists in cold, temperate, and warm climates,
but all deserts share one common trait: very little precipitation.
The three categories of desert terrain are tundra (cold desert),
rocky deserts (often temperate), and sandy deserts (often
warm). The most common rules sections to reference for
adventures in these areas are Cold Dangers (see page 400),
Heat Dangers (see page 402), Starvation and Thirst (see
page 404), and Weather (see page 398).
Stealth and Detection in the Desert
In general, the maximum distance in desert terrain at
which a creature can succeed at a Perception check to
detect the presence of others is 6d6×20 feet; beyond this
distance, elevation changes and heat distortion in warm
deserts makes sight-based Perception checks impossible.
The presence of dunes in sandy deserts limits spotting
distance to 6d6×10 feet. The scarcity of undergrowth or
other elements that offer concealment or cover makes using
Stealth more difficult.
Forest Terrain
A forest can be composed of more than trees. On some worlds,
vast fungal growths tower into the sky, while on others metallic
veins rise from the ground and connect in spidery canopies.
Common rules sections to reference for forests are Catching
on Fire (see page 403), Falling Objects (see page 401), Smoke
Effects (see page 404), and Vision and Light (see page 261).
Trees
Most forests are filled with trees, or something akin to trees,
which provide partial cover to those standing in the same
square as a tree. An average tree has an AC of 4, a hardness
of 5, and 150 HP (see page 409 for rules on smashing an
object). A successful DC 15 Athletics check is enough to climb
most trees.
Undergrowth
Fungal blooms, vines, roots, and short bushes cover much of
the ground in a forest. Undergrowth counts as difficult terrain
(see page 257), provides concealment (20% miss chance), and
increases the DCs of Acrobatics and Stealth checks by 2. Squares
with undergrowth are often clustered together. Undergrowth
and trees aren’t mutually exclusive; it’s common for a 5-foot
square to have both a tree and undergrowth.
Stealth and Detection in a Forest
In a sparse forest, the maximum distance at which a creature can
succeed at a Perception check to detect the presence of others is
3d6×10 feet. In a medium forest, this distance is 2d8×10 feet, and
in a dense forest it is 2d6×10 feet.
Because any square with undergrowth provides
concealment, it’s usually easy for a creature to use the Stealth
skill to hide. Logs and massive trees provide cover, which also
makes hiding possible.
The background noise of a forest makes Perception checks
that rely on sound more difficult, increasing the DC of the check
by 2 (not 1) per 10 feet.
Hill and Mountain Terrain
Hill terrain describes rises in the immediate area, often multiple
hills spread over miles. This type of terrain can occur in any
other biome. Mountains are steeply rising rock, metal, or even
the organic crust of the planet. The most common rules sections
to reference when using hill and mountain terrain are Cold
Dangers (see page 400), Falling (see page 400), and Weather
(see page 398).
Chasms
Usually formed by natural geological processes, chasms are
common dangers in mountainous areas. Chasms aren’t hidden,
so characters won’t (usually) fall into them by accident. A typical
chasm is 2d4×10 feet deep, at least 20 feet long, and anywhere
from 5 to 20 feet wide. It usually requires a successful DC 15
Athletics check to climb the wall of a chasm. In mountain terrain,
chasms are typically 2d8×10 feet deep.
Rock Wall
A vertical plane of stone, a rock wall requires one or more
successful DC 25 Athletics checks to ascend. A typical rock wall
is from 2d4×10 feet tall to 2d8×10 feet tall.
High Altitude
At particularly high altitudes, the thinning atmosphere poses
a challenge for many creatures, with the same effects as a
thin atmosphere (see page 396). A creature residing at a high
altitude for 1 month becomes acclimated and no longer takes
these penalties, but it loses this benefit if it spends more than 2
months away from high-altitude terrain and must reacclimatize
upon returning.
Stealth and Detection in Hills and Mountains
As a guideline, the maximum distance in mountain terrain at
which a creature can succeed at a Perception check to detect
the presence of others is 4d10×10 feet. In hill terrain, the
maximum distance is 2d10×10 feet. It’s easier to hear distant
sounds in the mountains. The DCs of Perception checks that
rely on sound increase by 1 per 20 feet between listener and
source, not 1 per 10 feet.
Marsh Terrain
Two categories of marsh exist: relatively dry moors and watery
swamps. Both are often bordered by lakes (see page 396), which
are effectively a third category of terrain found in marshes.
The most common rules sections to reference for marshes
and swamps are Suffocation and Drowning (see page 404),
Underwater Combat (see page 405), and Weather (see below).
Bogs
If a square is part of a shallow bog, it has deep mud or standing
water of about 1 foot in depth. It counts as difficult terrain,
and the DCs of Acrobatics checks attempted in such a square
increase by 2.
A square that is part of a deep bog has roughly 4 feet of
standing water. It counts as difficult terrain, and Medium or
larger creatures must spend 4 squares of movement to move
into a square with a deep bog, or characters can swim if they
wish. Small or smaller creatures must swim to move through a
deep bog. Tumbling is impossible in a deep bog.
The water in a deep bog provides cover for Medium or larger
creatures. Smaller creatures gain improved cover. Medium
or larger creatures can crouch as a move action to gain this
improved cover. A creature with this improved cover takes a
–10 penalty to attacks against creatures that aren’t underwater.
Deep bog squares are usually clustered together and
surrounded by an irregular ring of shallow bog squares.
Stealth and Detection in a Marsh
In a moor, the maximum distance at which a creature can
succeed at a Perception check to detect the presence of others
is 6d6×10 feet. In a swamp, this distance is 2d8×10 feet.
Vegetation and deep bogs provide plentiful concealment (20%
miss chance), so it is possible to use Stealth to hide in a marsh.
Urban Terrain
Urban terrain can be found in most settlements where the
people have greatly exerted their influence over the surrounding
environment, constructing buildings where they can live and
work in comfort and laying well-defined roads, usually paved.
This type of terrain can occur in just about any biome, and it
often supersedes the environmental effects of that biome.
Urban terrain can include space stations, and it is often replete
with technology. The most common rules sections to reference
when using urban terrain are Settlements (see page 405),
Structures (see page 406), and Vehicles (see page 228), as well
as Breaking Objects (see page 409) and sometimes Radiation
(see page 403).
Stealth and Detection in Urban Terrain
In a settlement with wide, open streets, the maximum distance
at which a creature can succeed at a Perception check to detect
the presence of others is 2d6×10 feet. In a settlement where
the buildings are more crowded, standing close together, this
distance is 1d6×10 feet. The presence of crowds might reduce
this distance.
Thanks to twisting side streets and vehicles that can provide
cover, it’s usually easy for a creature to use Stealth to hide in
a settlement. In addition, settlements are often noisy, making
Perception checks that rely on sound more difficult; this
increases the DC of any such checks by 2 per 10 feet.
WEATHER
Weather can play an important role in an adventure. The
following section describes weather common on most habitable
worlds. Additional rules for cold and heat dangers can be found
in Environmental Rules starting on page 400.
Rain and Snow
Bad weather frequently slows or halts travel and makes it
virtually impossible to navigate from one spot to another.
Torrential downpours and blizzards obscure vision as effectively
as dense fog. Most precipitation is rain, but in cold conditions
it can manifest as snow, sleet, or hail. If the temperature drops
from above freezing to 32° F or below, it might produce ice.
Rain
Rain reduces visibility ranges by half, resulting in a –4 penalty
to Perception checks. It has the same effect on flames and
Perception checks as severe wind (see below).
Snow
Falling snow has the same effects on visibility and skill checks
as rain. Snow-covered squares count as difficult terrain. A day of
snowfall leaves 1d6 inches of snow on the ground.
Heavy Snow
Heavy snow has the same effects as normal snowfall but
also restricts visibility as fog does (see Fog below). A day of
heavy snow leaves 1d4 feet of snow on the ground. Snow at
this depth counts as difficult terrain, and it costs 4 squares of
movement to enter a square covered with heavy snow. Heavy
snow accompanied by strong or severe winds might result in
snowdrifts 1d4×5 feet deep, especially in and around objects
big enough to deflect the wind—a reinforced wall or a large
force field, for instance. There’s a 10% chance that a heavy
snowfall is accompanied by lightning (see Thunderstorm on
page 399).
Other Precipitation
There are other forms of precipitation, such as freezing rain,
hail, and sleet. These generally function as rain when falling, but
at the GM’s discretion, they may also have effects on movement
similar to snow once they accumulate on the ground.
Storms
The combined effects of precipitation (or dust) and wind that
accompany storms reduce visibility ranges by three-quarters,
imposing a –8 penalty to Perception checks. Storms make
aiming with ranged weapons difficult, imposing a –2 penalty to
attack rolls, and archaic ranged weapons can’t be fired at all.
Storms automatically extinguish unprotected flames. Storms
commonly appear in three types: dust, snow, or thunder.
Dust Storm
These desert storms differ from other storms in that they
have no precipitation. Instead, a dust storm blows fine grains
of sand that obscure vision, smother unprotected flames, and
can even choke protected flames (50% chance). Most dust
storms are accompanied by severe winds and leave behind
a deposit of 1d6 inches of sand. There is a 10% chance for
a dust storm to be accompanied by windstorm-magnitude
winds (see Table 11–6: Wind Effects on page 400); this
greater dust storm deals 1d3 nonlethal damage each round
to anyone caught out in the open without shelter and also
poses a choking hazard (see Suffocation and Drowning on
page 404). A greater dust storm leaves 2d3–1 feet of fine
sand in its wake.
Snowstorm
In addition to the wind and precipitation common to other
types of storms, a snowstorm leaves 1d6 inches of snow on
the ground afterward.
Thunderstorm
In addition to wind and precipitation, a thunderstorm is
accompanied by lightning that can pose a hazard to characters
who don’t have proper shelter (especially those in metal armor).
As a rule of thumb, assume one bolt per minute for a 1-hour
period at the center of the storm (GM rolls to hit). Each bolt
deals between 4d8 and 10d8 electricity damage. One in 10
thunderstorms is accompanied by a tornado.
Powerful Storms
Very high winds and torrential precipitation reduce visibility to
zero, making Perception checks and all ranged weapon attacks
impossible. Powerful storms are divided into the following types.
D
Blizzard: The combination of high winds, heavy snow
(typically 1d4 feet), and extreme cold make blizzards deadly
for those unprepared for them.
D
Hurricane: In addition to very high winds and heavy rain,
hurricanes are accompanied by floods. Most adventuring
activity is extremely difficult under such conditions.
D
Tornado: With incredibly high winds, tornadoes can severely
injure and kill creatures pulled into their funnels.
D
Windstorm: While accompanied by little or no precipitation,
windstorms can cause considerable damage simply through
the force of their winds (see Winds below).
Fog
Whether in the form of a low-lying cloud or a mist rising from
the ground, fog obscures all sight beyond 5 feet, including
darkvision. Creatures 5 feet away have concealment (20%
miss chance).
Winds
Wind can create a stinging spray of dust, sand, or water, fan a
large fire, rock an atmospheric transport midflight, and blow
gases or vapors away. If powerful enough, it can even interfere
with some ranged attacks and knock characters down. Below
are the most common wind forces seen on habitable worlds.
Light Wind
A gentle breeze, having little or no game effect.
Moderate Wind
A steady wind often extinguishing small, unprotected flames
trong Wind
Gusts that automatically put out any unprotected flames. Such
gusts impose a –2 penalty to nonenergy ranged weapon attack rolls.
Severe Wind
Nonenergy ranged weapon attack rolls take a –4 penalty.
Windstorm
Powerful enough to bring down branches, if not whole trees.
Nonenergy ranged weapon attack rolls take a –4 penalty, while
attacks with archaic ranged weapons are impossible. Perception
checks that rely on sound take a –8 penalty due to the howling
of the wind. Small characters might be knocked down.
Hurricane-Force Wind
Nonenergy ranged weapon attack rolls take a –8 penalty, and
archaic ranged weapon attacks are impossible. Perception checks
based on sound are impossible: all characters can hear is the
roaring of the wind. Hurricane-force winds often fell trees. Most
characters are knocked down due to the force of these winds.
Tornado
All flames are extinguished. All nonenergy ranged weapon
attacks are impossible, as are sound-based Perception checks.
A creature in close proximity to a tornado that fails a DC 15
Strength check is sucked toward the tornado. All creatures that
come into contact with the actual funnel cloud are picked up
and whirled around for 1d10 rounds, taking 6d6 bludgeoning
damage per round, before being violently expelled in a random
direction (falling damage, described below, might apply). While
a tornado’s rotational speed can be as great as 300 mph, the
funnel itself moves forward at an average of 30 mph (roughly
250 feet per round). A tornado uproots trees, destroys buildings,
and causes similar forms of major destruction
WIND FORCE WIND SPEED
RANGED ATTACK
PENALTY*
Light 0–10 mph —
Moderate 11–20 mph —
Strong 21–30 mph –2
Severe 31–50 mph –4
Windstorm 51–74 mph –4
Hurricane 75–174 mph –8
Tornado 175–300 mph Impossible
* This applies only to nonenergy ranged weapons. Larger weapons, such as
starship weapons, ignore this penalty.
ENVIRONMENTAL RULES
The following is a compilation of rules appropriate for use in a
variety of environments.
Cold Dangers
Cold and exposure deal nonlethal damage to the victim. A
character can’t recover from the damage dealt by a cold
environment until she gets out of the cold and warms up again.
An unprotected character in cold weather (below 40° F)
must succeed at a Fortitude save each hour (DC = 15 + 1 per
previous check) or take 1d6 nonlethal cold damage. A character
can attempt Survival skill checks to gain a bonus to this saving
throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters
as well (see page 148).
In conditions of severe cold (below 0° F), an unprotected
character must succeed at a Fortitude save every 10 minutes
(DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) or take 1d6 nonlethal cold
damage. A character can attempt Survival skill checks to gain
a bonus to this saving throw and might be able to apply this
bonus to other characters as well.
Extreme cold (below –20° F) deals 1d6 lethal cold damage per
minute (no saving throw). In addition, a character must succeed
at a Fortitude save (DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) each minute
or take 1d4 nonlethal cold damage. Colder environments can
deal more damage at the GM’s discretion.
A character who takes any damage from cold or exposure
is beset by frostbite or hypothermia (same as fatigued). These
penalties end when the character recovers the nonlethal
damage she took from the cold and exposure.
Ice
Icy surfaces count as difficult terrain, and the DCs for Acrobatics
checks attempted on ice increase by 5. Characters in prolonged
contact with ice might run the risk of taking damage from
severe cold.
Falling
A character that falls takes 1d6 damage per 10 feet fallen, to a
maximum of 20d6. A character that takes damage from a fall
lands prone.
If a character deliberately jumps instead of merely slipping
or falling, the damage is the same but the first 1d6 is nonlethal
damage. On a successful DC 15 Acrobatics check, the character
avoids taking damage from the first 10 feet fallen and converts
the damage from the second 10 feet to nonlethal damage. For
example, a character who slips from a ledge 30 feet up takes
3d6 damage. If the same character deliberately jumps, he
takes 1d6 nonlethal damage and 2d6 lethal damage. And if the
character leaps down with a successful DC 15 Acrobatics check,
he takes only 1d6 nonlethal damage and 1d6 lethal damage from
the plunge.
The damage from the first 10 feet of a fall onto a yielding
surface (such as soft ground or mud) is converted into nonlethal
damage. This conversion is cumulative with damage reduced
through deliberate jumps and successful Acrobatics checks.
A character can’t cast a spell or activate an item while free-
falling unless the fall is greater than 500 feet or the spell or
item can be used as a reaction. Casting teleport or a similar
spell while falling doesn’t end the character’s momentum; it
just changes her location, meaning that she still takes falling
damage, even if she arrives atop a solid surface.
Falling and Gravity
The rules for falling presented here assume standard gravity.
For planets with high or low gravity, double or halve the damage
amounts, respectively. Falling in extreme gravity deals as least
triple the listed damage, and potentially even more.
Falling into Water
Falls into water are handled somewhat differently. If the
water is at least 10 feet deep, a falling character takes no
damage for the first 20 feet fallen and 1d3 nonlethal damage
per 10-foot increment for the next 20 feet fallen. Beyond that,
falling damage is lethal damage as normal (1d6 per additional
10-foot increment).
A character who deliberately dives into water takes no
damage with a successful DC 15 Athletics check or DC 15
Acrobatics check, as long as the water is at least 10 feet deep
for every 30 feet fallen. The DC of the check increases by 5 for
every 50 feet of the dive.
Falling Objects
Just as characters take damage when they fall more than 10 feet,
so too do they take damage when they are hit by falling objects.
An object that falls upon a character deals damage based on
its size and the distance it fell. Table 11–7: Damage from Falling
Objects determines the amount of damage dealt by an object
based on its size. Note that this assumes the object is made of
dense, heavy material, such as metal or stone. Objects made of
lighter materials might deal as little as half the listed damage,
subject to the GM’s discretion. For example, a Huge boulder
that hits a character deals 6d6 bludgeoning damage, whereas
a Huge wooden wagon might deal 3d6 bludgeoning damage.
In addition, if an object falls less than 30 feet, it deals half the
listed damage. If an object falls more than 150 feet, it deals
double the listed damage. Note that a falling object takes the
same amount of damage as it deals.
Dropping an object on a creature requires a ranged attack
against its KAC. Such attacks generally have a range increment
of 20 feet. If an object falls on a character (instead of being
thrown), that character can attempt a DC 15 Reflex save to take
half damage if he is aware of the object. Falling objects that are
part of a trap use the trap rules (see page 410) instead of these
general guidelines.
TABLE 11–7: DAMAGE FROM FALLING OBJECTS
OBJECT SIZE DAMAGE
Tiny or smaller 1d6
Small 2d6
Medium 3d6
Large 4d6
Huge 6d6
Gargantuan 8d6
Colossal 10d6
Gravity
Gravitational differences between planets have the potential to
cripple characters or make them superheroes—and sometimes
both at the same time. Most planets habitable by humanoids have
a gravity level defined as standard, which makes them similar
enough that trying to arbitrate the difference isn’t necessary.
Others, however, require special consideration. For planets with
gravities that aren’t quite standard but don’t fall into the exact
categories below, the GM might decide to assume the effects are
proportional. For example, a planet with half standard gravity
allows player characters to jump twice as high, whereas one
with 1-1/2 standard gravity cuts jump heights by a third. In all
cases, these effects last until the PCs adjust to the gravity (a
process that typically takes about a month of living under such
conditions). See Flying on page 259 for information about flying
on planets with high or low gravity.
Extreme Gravity
A planet where the gravity is at least five times as strong as
standard gravity is extremely dangerous to most creatures. In
addition to the limitations of high gravity (see below), a creature
in this environment takes an amount of nonlethal bludgeoning
damage per round (at least 1d6, but potentially more, depending
on the intensity of the gravity). Once a character takes sufficient
nonlethal damage to be reduced to 0 Hit Points, any further
damage from extreme gravity is lethal bludgeoning damage.
High Gravity
On high-gravity worlds, characters are burdened by their
increased weight, and their physical abilities are affected
accordingly. On a high-gravity world, where the gravity is at least
twice as strong as standard gravity, a character (and her gear)
weighs twice as much as on a standard-gravity world, but she
has the same amount of strength. Such characters move at half
speed, can jump only half as high or as far, and can lift only half
as much. Thrown weapons (though not those of natives) have
their ranges cut in half as they fall to the ground more rapidly.
Modifications to running, jumping, and lifting can be negated
by certain magic or technology, but projectiles remain affected.
Characters who remain in a high-gravity environment for long
periods (more than a day) often become fatigued and remain so
until they leave the planet or become accustomed to the gravity.
Low Gravity
Low-gravity worlds are liberating to most species acclimated to
standard-gravity worlds. Such characters’ muscles are far more
effective than normal. On a low-gravity world, where the gravity
is no greater than a third of standard gravity, PCs can jump three
times as high and as far and lift three times as much. (Movement
speed, however, stays the same, as moving in great bounds is
awkward and difficult to control.) Thrown weapons have their
range categories tripled.
Standard
Standard-gravity worlds have gravity approximately the same as
that of lost Golarion, which is identical to Earth’s gravity.
Zero Gravity
Movement in zero gravity (also referred to as zero-g) is not the
same as flight. Controlled movement is difficult without some
form of propulsion, and creatures without something to push
off from often find themselves floating aimlessly. A creature in
a zero-gravity environment can’t take move actions to move its
speed, crawl, or take a guarded step. If a creature is adjacent
to or in the same square as an object (including a wall, floor,
or ceiling) or another creature one size category smaller than
itself or larger, it can take a move action to push off that object
or creature, moving at half its land speed in a direction of its
choosing (as appropriate); if that object or creature is movable,
it begins moving in the opposite direction at that same speed.
D
Moving in Zero-G: A creature that moves in a given direction
continues to move in that direction at the same speed at the
beginning of its turn each round (without taking any action);
it must move the full distance unless it is able to change its
motion by latching on to an object or creature, pushing off
in a new direction, or creating thrust of some kind (all of
which are considered move actions). If a creature runs into
a solid object during its movement, it must succeed at a DC
20 Acrobatics or Athletics check to safely stop its movement;
failure means that creature gains the off-kilter condition (see
page 276). If a creature runs into another creature during
its movement, both creatures must each attempt a DC 20
Acrobatics or Athletics check to avoid gaining the off-kilter
condition. A creature anchored to a solid object (such as
by the boot clamps available with most armor) receives
a +4 bonus to this check. An off-kilter creature in a zero-
gravity environment can steady itself as a move action
that requires a surface to grab on to or some method of
propulsion; alternatively, that creature can throw a single
item weighing at least 4 bulk (for Medium creatures; 2 bulk
for Small creatures) to reorient itself and remove the off-
kilter condition.
If provided with sufficient handholds, a creature with a
climb speed can move along a wall at full speed, as can any
creature that succeeds at a DC 20 Acrobatics or Athletics
check. Creatures that fly via methods that require an
atmosphere, such as wings or turbofans, can’t use their fly
speeds in a vacuum; once they reenter an atmosphere, they
can recover and get their bearings within 1d4 rounds, after
which they can fly normally. Magical flight and methods of
flight that provide their own thrust, such as maneuvering
jets, are not affected. A character in a zero-gravity
environment can lift and carry 10 times her normal amount.
D
Weapons: Thrown weapons have their range increments
multiplied by 10 in zero-g. In addition, all ranged weapons no
longer have a maximum number of range increments—their
wielders simply continue to accrue penalties the farther
away the target is.
Heat Dangers
Heat deals nonlethal damage to the victim. A character can’t
recover from the damage dealt by a hot environment until she
gets out of the heat and cools off.
A character in very hot conditions (above 90° F) must
attempt a Fortitude saving throw each hour (DC = 15 + 1 per
previous check) or take 1d4 nonlethal fire damage. Characters
wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty to
their saving throws. A character can attempt a Survival check to
receive a bonus to this saving throw, and might be able to apply
this bonus to other characters as well (see page 148).
In severe heat (above 110° F), a character must attempt a
Fortitude saving throw once every 10 minutes (DC = 15 + 1 per
previous check) or take 1d4 nonlethal fire damage. Characters
wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty to
their saves. A character can attempt a Survival check to receive
a bonus to this saving throw and might be able to apply this
bonus to other characters as well (see page 148).
Extreme heat (air temperature over 140° F, boiling water, fire,
and lava) deals lethal fire damage. Breathing air in extreme heat
deals 1d6 fire damage per minute (no saving throw). In addition,
a character must attempt a Fortitude saving throw every 5
minutes (DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) or take 1d4 nonlethal
fire damage. Hotter environments can deal more damage at the
GM’s discretion.
A character who takes any damage from heat exposure
suffers from heatstroke (same as the fatigued condition; see
page 276). These penalties end when the character recovers
from the nonlethal damage she took from the heat.
Boiling water deals anywhere from 1d6 to 10d6 fire damage
per round of exposure, depending on water temperature and
level of immersion.
Catching on Fire
Characters exposed to burning oil, bonfires, and
noninstantaneous magical fires might find their clothes, hair,
or equipment on fire. Spells or technological items with an
instantaneous effect don’t normally set a character on fire, since
the heat and flame from these come and go in a flash.
A character at risk of catching fire must succeed at a Reflex
saving throw (usually DC 15) or gain the burning condition (see
page 273). Those whose clothes or equipment catch fire must
attempt a separate Reflex saving throw (at the same DC) for
each item. On a failed saving throw, flammable items take the
same amount of damage as the character.
Lava Effects
Lava or magma deals a minimum of 2d6 fire damage per round
of exposure, while cases of total immersion (such as when a
character falls into the crater of an active volcano) deal upward
of 20d6 fire damage per round. The exact damage is left to the
GM’s discretion, based on situational terrain elements.
Damage from lava continues for 1d3 rounds after exposure
ceases, but this additional damage is only half of that dealt
during actual contact (that is, 1d6 or 10d6 per round). Immunity
or resistance to fire serves as an immunity or resistance to
lava or magma. A creature immune or resistant to fire might
still drown if completely immersed in lava (see Suffocation and
Drowning on page 404).
Radiation
Radiation is a very real threat to adventurers, whether it’s
the radiation emitted from stars or the radiation generated
by various technological wonders of the universe. Radiation
is a poison effect (see page 414) that weakens an affected
creature’s Constitution and can also inflict an affected creature
with a disease called radiation sickness. Radiation dangers are
organized into four categories: low, medium, high, and severe.
The effects of these categories of radiation are described on
Table 11–8: Radiation Levels.
Area of Effect
Radiation is an emanation poison, meaning that a victim only
needs to enter an area suffused with radiation to be affected by
it. Radiation suffuses a spherical area of effect that can extend
into solid objects. The closer one gets to the center of an area of
radiation, the stronger the radiation effect becomes. Radiation
entries list the maximum level of radiation in an area, as well as
the radius out to which this radiation level applies. The radiation
continues to suffuse each increment out to an equal length
beyond that radius, its strength degraded by one level per
increment. For example, a spherical area of high radiation with
a radius of 20 feet creates a zone of medium radiation spanning
20 feet to 40 feet from the center in all directions, and a similar
zone of low radiation spanning 40 to 60 feet from the center.
Curing Radiation Effects
A creature that leaves an area suffused with radiation is
essentially cured of the poison effect. Ending the source of
radiation or successfully casting remove radioactivity has the
same effect. As usual for poison effects, an affected creature
requires rest to recover from radiation poisoning. Remove
affliction doesn’t cure a creature of the effects of radiation
poisoning, but remove radioactivity does.
If a creature has been exposed to enough radiation, it might
contract radiation sickness, which acts like a noncontagious
disease. Symptoms of radiation sickness include nausea,
vomiting, and loss of hair. Radiation sickness can be treated like
any disease, although it can’t be cured with remove affliction.
Remove radioactivity can cure radiation sickness.
RADIATION
Type poison, emanation (see above); Save Fortitude (see chart)
Track Constitution; Frequency 1/round
Effect At each state of impaired and beyond, the victim must
succeed at a DC 18 Fortitude saving throw or contract the
radiation sickness disease (see below).
Cure none
RADIATION SICKNESS
Type disease; Save Fortitude (same DC as the level of radiation
that caused the radiation sickness)
Track physical; Frequency 1/day
Effect Radiation sickness isn’t contagious.
Cure 3 consecutive saves
TABLE 11–8: RADIATION LEVELS
RADIATION LEVEL FORT DC
Low 13
Medium 17
High 22
Severe 30
Sleep Deprivation
A character who needs to sleep must get at least 6 hours of
sleep every night. If she doesn’t, she must attempt a Fortitude
save (DC = 15 + 1 per previous check) after each night she
doesn’t sleep enough. The first failed check causes her
to become fatigued and take a –1 penalty to saving throws
against effects that cause the asleep condition (see page 273).
A second failed check causes her to become exhausted, and
the penalty to saving throws against effects that cause the
asleep condition increases to –2.
====== Smoke Effects ======

A character who inhales heavy smoke must attempt a Fortitude
save each round she’s within the smoke (DC = 15 + 1 per previous
check) or spend that round choking and coughing. A character
who chokes for 2 consecutive rounds takes 1d6 nonlethal
damage. Smoke obscures vision, giving concealment (20% miss
chance) to characters within it.
====== Starvation and Thirst ======

Characters might find themselves without food or water and
with no means to obtain them. In normal climates, Medium
characters need at least a gallon of fluids per day to avoid
thirst and about a pound of decent food per day to avoid
starvation; Small characters need half as much. In very hot
climates, characters need two or three times as much water
to avoid thirst.
A character can go without water for 1 day plus a number
of hours equal to his Constitution score. After this time, the
character must succeed at a Constitution check each hour
(DC = 10 + 1 per previous check) or take 1d6 nonlethal damage.
A character can go without eating food for 3 days. After
this time, the character must succeed at a Constitution
check (DC = 10 + 1 per previous check) each day or take 1d6
nonlethal damage.
A character who has taken any damage from lack of food or
water is fatigued. Damage from thirst or starvation cannot be
recovered until the character gets food or water, as needed—not
even magic that restores Hit Points heals this damage.
====== Suffocation and Drowning ======

A character who has no air to breathe can hold her breath for
a number of rounds equal to twice her Constitution score. If a
character takes a standard or full action, the remaining duration
that the character can hold her breath is reduced by 1 round.
After these rounds have elapsed, the character must attempt a
Constitution check (DC = 10 + 1 per previous check) each round
in order to continue holding her breath.
When the character fails one of these Constitution checks,
she begins to suffocate. In the first round, she is reduced to 0
Hit Points and is unconscious and stable. In the following round,
she is no longer stable and begins dying (see page 275). In the
third round, she suffocates and dies.

An unconscious character must begin attempting
Constitution checks immediately upon losing air supply (or
upon becoming unconscious, if the character was conscious
when her air was cut off). Once she fails one of these checks,
she immediately drops to 0 Hit Points and is dying (see page
275). On the following round, she suffocates and dies.
====== Slow Suffocation ======

A Medium creature can breathe easily for 6 hours in a sealed
cubic chamber measuring 3 meters on a side. After that time, the
creature takes 1d6 nonlethal damage every 15 minutes.
Each additional Medium creature or significant fire source
(a torch, for example) proportionally reduces the time the air
will last (two Medium creatures will run out of air in 3 hours,
and so on). Small characters consume half as much air as
Medium characters. A creature stuck in a starship or space
station whose life support systems have completely failed
will run out of breathable air in a similar fashion; while these
structures are often larger than a 3m cube, they are also
often occupied by several creatures. On average, a crew of four
in a Medium starship without a source of fresh air can breathe
easily for 20 hours.
Star Rangers

User Tools

Site Tools

Page Tools
