The Envoy in the Starfinder RPG is a catch-all class for most charisma-based professions and jobs, often taking the role of the “face” in sci-fi games. Unlike the bard class of classic fantasy RPGs, the envoy is not music based. There are characters in the Macross and Robotech series (Lynn Minmae, Lance “Yellow Lancer” Belmont, Janice Em), Priss in Bubblegum Crash, Idol Singers throughout anime in general, the Diva of Fifth Element, and even with today’s Vocaloids; and the idea of a sci-fi bard, while not common, was not completely alien (pun intended). The Pop Star class specialization brings music back to the Envoy.
Pop Star (Envoy Specialization)
The Pop Star is a Specialization for the Envoy class intended for characters that also utilize the Icon theme. As a pop star your abilities as a performer for the masses has augmented your combat and leadership talents.
Associated Skills
Charisma and Profession: Musician/Singer You can attempt any Charisma-based skill check with a +4 when, or shortly after, performing a song.
Specialization Extraordinary Abilities
Engaging Performer Starting at the 11th level, you can regain 1 Resolve Point during any combat session when succeeding on an Envoy Improvisation while incorporating music.
2nd Level Extraordinary Abilities
Wardrobe Change (Ex) Your practice with quick wardrobe changes between songs continues even under the pressures of combat. You can change clothes or armor (so long as you have the clothes or armor) using one Full Action in combat.
6th Level Extraordinary Abilities
Entourage (Ex) Like an Icon’s celebrity, a pop star can call upon their entourage of roadies and friends riding their coattails to help perform an action. No culture check is required, but convincing a member of your entourage to do something dangerous or out of character does require a DC 10 Diplomacy or Intimidate check. Unlike an Icon’s celebrity an Entourage is almost always in the background of a pop star’s life. Because of the entourage’s familiarity with the pop star, they are immune to other extraordinary abilities when convincing them to do something dangerous or out of character.
Earworm (Ex) Your tunes are especially catchy and last twice as long after being performed, all extraoirdinary ability effect times are doubled when the ability is performed as a song. For example, if the effect of an ability normally lasts “until the end of your next turn,” it now lasts for 2 turns.
While true to the idea of a pop star, some GMs or players do not like having an NPC crew as part of the campaign, even if largely in the background. The Entourage ability should be available based on GM, group, and campaign type discretion. For that reason, I also included the Earworm ability.
10th Level Extraordinary Abilities
Combat Performance (Ex) By spending 1 resolve point, you can perform both an Envoy Improvisation as well as a standard attack (not spell or power) without penalty as a full action.
The Pop Star in a Starfinder Campaign
Pop Stars are rarer in science fiction and it might be an initial challenge to incorporate the specialization into a Starfinder campaign. Here are three ideas to add the pop star to a Starfinder game.
Player Characters are a Band
Because the Starfinder races, themes, and archetypes allow for a variety of tactics even within a single class, it’s possible for all the player characters to be Envoys with the Pop Star specialization and not all the characters would need to use the Icon theme. The PCs will likely need an entourage to help supplement their adventures and this type of game should be much role-play focused than tactical and may be well-suited for games of a humorous bent. Think Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space or Jem and the Holograms.
Player Characters are the Entourage
Though no player should be in the constant spotlight of the GM, that doesn’t mean that a player character can’t be in the spotlight for NPCs while the rest of the PCs do the actual “work.” With player characters as the entourage/bodyguards of a pop star the star in question could be another player or a GM PC. This type of campaign may feature more tactics than the “all band” approach given the wider option of multiple classes, but can still be largely role-play centric. The HBO series Entourage may provide inspiration.
Seeking a New Audience or Inspiration
While the above options change a campaign to be pop star-focused, the Pop Star specialization can simply be a music-focused Envoy in a standard campaign. Perhaps the star joined the Starfinder Society (at the behest of their agent/management, maybe) to seek out new audiences or to gain inspiration for new music. Another option might be that being a member of the Starfinder Society grants them special tax license as representatives for the organization.
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