Anomaly Hunter (Starfinder Archetype)
(art by Pupiy220 on DeviantArt)
Starfinder as a setting loves to explore every corner of science fiction, and that includes the speculative side, particularly cosmic horror.
Now you probably read that just now and thought of Cthulhu or some other Lovecraftian deity whose very existence challenges what little we understand of reality, and yes, Starfinder has that, but cosmic horror is not just the elder gods or their servants, it’s confronting the vast unknown of the cosmos that we as terrestrial life are ill equipped to comprehend. It’s object or entities that don’t play nice with our contemporary understanding of the laws of physics and/or metaphysics. (Either because they’re from realities beyond our own where the rules are different, implying a cosmos far vaster than any imagine, or because they simply demonstrate how utterly ignorant we are of our own reality.)
In other words, anomalies. Whether it’s SCP stuff or movies like Contact or Interstellar, there are things on the fringes of space that are actively dangerous purely because we don’t understand them and blundering into them can spell catastrophe even if they otherwise mean no harm.
Most mortals never run into such things, sticking to familiar worlds and spacelanes, but a few scientifically-minded folk dare to brave the unknown and study such anomalies, either on their own or outside backing. And that’s where you get today’s subject: anomaly hunters.
Such characters, with their study into such esoteric mysteries are better equipped than most to deal with such anomalous events, they still do not and perhaps cannot understand them fully. They might have a better chance of surviving though, and their quick thinking and insight can save the day more often than not.
So let’s take a look at them!
The importance of preparation cannot be overstated in any expedition, to say nothing of those venturing into the complete unknown. As such, these explorers and researchers take it upon themselves to be fully prepared, from understanding local legends and customs to haggling for supplies, and more.
Anomalies often do not follow conventional logic, so it is important to keep an open mind and study multiple disciplines of science to find any useful threat of inquiry. As such, not only do these researchers boast a robust knowledge of all sciences, but have the flexibility to chase other lines of inquiry when one fails to pain out, letting them reroll such knowledge checks.
Sometimes emergencies call for quick thinking and a little magical help, and whether they are spellcasters or not, they learn enough to magically jury-rig failing equipment when the proverbial Daemon Sultan hits the fan.
Stronger anomaly hunters have been exposed to strange energies and substances to the point they become anomalies themselves, able to survive in a vacuum with no trouble.
This archetype has some fun abilities, mostly centered around useful skill checks that any character and party can benefit from even if they aren’t facing eldritch strangeness. The jury rigging can also come through in a pinch. Naturally, science-y and skilled classes are the first pick here, but any class can benefit from this skillset.
The desire to push past fear and doubt and venture into the unknown is a classic character trait for this kind of character, but it also has the potential for drama if they have loved ones that do not share this trait, and wish that they’d stop risking everything venturing beyond the reaches or mortal knowledge. Could be worth exploring. However, it’s not for every character or story, since plenty of stories are just as good if we focus on the wonder of discovery instead.
Haunted locations, while dangerous and unnatural, are fairly commonly known to most people, at least in passing. However, it is not the restless dead that calls the Vectorstone Expedition to explore the abandoned townhouse, but rather, the titular artifact that caused so many traumatic deaths in the fist place, which defies natural physics in it’s strangeness and abilities.
Once an eager young test pilot, Lillian Journeystep was nearly lost in a rift caused by the experimental drive she had been testing. While she survived, she was forever changed, and though the halfling has given up flying, she has not been dissuaded from pushing her limits, exploring the mysteries behind that rift and the technology that created it.
The Order of the Black Asp believes they can achieve ultimate power by mastering the secret laws of the universe beyond conventional physics or magic. More often than not, they end up destroying their own agents by messing with things they cannot control, but enough relics of their successes are locked in vaults and labs, guarded by technomagical arcane asp constructs and other guardians.
