Starfinder Galactoc Magic is a unique and fascinating aspect of the Starfinder role-playing game. It adds a whole new dimension of mystical abilities and powers to the game, allowing players to harness the energies of the cosmos and wield them for various purposes. In the Starfinder universe, magic is closely tied to the mysterious substance known as "galactoc" or "Galactic Magic Material." This substance is believed to have originated from the chaotic energies of the Drift, a dimension that serves as a cosmic sea between different star systems. The galactoc material is extracted from the Drift and refined into various forms, such as crystals or liquid vials, which can then be used by magic-users to channel their powers. The galactoc substance itself is highly volatile and unstable, requiring careful handling and containment.
Spells and Magic Variants
As I ve written about at greater length before, I like deities and faith as a quick, in-theme way to distinguish and say something about a character and what motivates them. I did several sections for the book, including the faith introduction, the Besmara and Weydan entries, the Parallel Truths, and the new operative class options.
The galactoc substance itself is highly volatile and unstable, requiring careful handling and containment. It is known to have a variety of magical properties, such as enhancing the range and effectiveness of spells or allowing the creation of unique magical effects. It can even grant temporary boosts to the user's magical abilities, making them more powerful for a limited duration.
Paizo Publishing Meet The Authors Of Galactic Magic (1 Viewer)
Get ready to reboot your spell caches with Starfinder Galactic Magic! This exciting new supplement dives into the most magical parts of the science-fantasy Starfinder setting, with a new class, a wealth of class options, dozens of new spells, and articles on how magic and religion affect day-to-day living in the Pact Worlds and beyond. Of course, none of this would be possible without our talented authors! Let’s learn a little more about some of them and what they worked on for this book in their own words. And if you’re a new (or returning) fan of any of these authors, be sure to check out their other projects, websites, livestreams, and more!
Jason Keeley (he/him)Starfinder Development Manager
Illustration by Arturo Gutierrez
James Jacobs (he/him)
Creative Director
I’ve had the good fortune to write a lot for Pathfinder and helped to invent a fair portion of its deities, but always in the context of the fantasy genre. The chance to revisit some of these elements in a different genre is exciting and liberating. after spending decades with deities like Desna and Sarenrae flitting around in my head as divinities first in my homebrew game and then more recently in Golarion. Alas, there was only so much room to talk about Desnan dream stations or to explore the implications of what worshiping the goddess of the sun might entail when you’re in outer space, but hopefully the entries in this book will help spark new ideas for how to use these deities in your game! And of course, on the opposite side of the “friendliness scale,” being able to lean into the science-fiction tropes of the classic pulps and explore how Nyarlathotep and the Elder Mythos functions in Starfinder was equally delightful. But the thing I’m most excited to see once this book’s out is all the amazing content created by all the other authors in this book!
Jessica Catalan (she/her)
Starfinder Society Developer
Hello! My name is Jessica Catalan and I’m the Starfinder Society Developer. I’m also a mother, gamer, blogger, and freelance author who primarily writes for Paizo’s Starfinder and Pathfinder RPGs. You can find a list of my currently announced writing credits on my Paizo profile (meloriel). Some recently released highlights include Secrets of Magic, Guns & Gears, Lost Omens Grand Bazaar, Galaxy Exploration Manual, and Tech Revolution.
For Galactic Magic, I wrote the mystic and witchwarper class options, twenty spells, and numerous deities, including Kadrical, Lamashtu, and all the ancestral deities. Galactic Magic also marks two big firsts for me. This is the first time I was hired to create entirely new deities of my own design (Dagosarn, Flux, Isvith, Jalvari, Meyel, Romgul, Uvonn, and the Vesk Saints). Galactic Magic is also the first time I was hired for freelance development work, making this my very first developer credit.
I’m beyond thrilled to have been a part of this book and I look forward to seeing it hit gaming tables! Enjoy!
Rigby Bendele (they/them or xe/xem)
I'm a sometimes-poet, sometimes-game designer doing my best to make engaging, inclusive tabletop games. In Galactic Magic, you'll find my work in the technomancer and Oras section. When I was writing the Oras section, I thought quite a bit about Donna Haraway's "A Cyborg Manifesto" and the way in which cyborgs offer a rejection of the separations between animal, human and machine. This should probably tell you that I'm a queer theory nerd (which is the crux of my academic background) and that I love thinking about alternative ways of being through TTRPGs. While Galactic Magic is my first hardcover with Paizo, you'll find my name on more books soon and can enjoy more of my Starfinder work with SFS #3-07: Strike at Zone 78 and SFS #4-04: Mission Not Found.
You can find me on Twitter @slothscout.
Kendra Leigh Speedling (she/her)
Hello, all! I’m Kendra Leigh Speedling, and I’ve been freelancing for Pathfinder and Starfinder for about six years. You might remember me from this year’s Starfinder GenCon special, #3-99: Perils of the Past. I’m delighted to have been a part of Galactic Magic, helping give the “fantasy” side of “science-fantasy” some love. I did several sections for the book, including the faith introduction, the Besmara and Weydan entries, the Parallel Truths, and the new operative class options. I’ve always been fond of exploring how magic and faith interact with a highly technologically advanced setting, so this assignment was a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed crafting the operative options, which hopefully add a little magical flair to your operative of choice!
I’ve got a few more Pathfinder and Starfinder projects in the works currently, though most of them are still Forbidden Knowledge at this point. I can confirm, though, that I got my grabby hands involved in Pathfinder’s upcoming Book of the Dead! In my non-freelancing downtime, I can be found hanging out with a book or video game—usually Animal Crossing these days—or pretending I know how to bake. You can find a full list of my writing credits at klspeedling.com and I’m on Twitter as @KendraLS, where I sporadically post cat pictures.
Sen.H.H.S. (she/her)
Hello, readers! Sen.H.H.S. here. You might have seen my name before in some Pathfinder Second Edition products such as Bestiary 3, Secrets of Magic, and many others. (See my carrd for the full list: https://senhhs.carrd.co/#portfolio) With Galactic Magic, it looks like I've made the jump over to write even more magic in a different(?) universe. This book has been a long time coming, and I hope you'll get to experience the magic (pun intended) within its pages soon. You can always find out what I'm up to on my Twitter @SenHHS. If my calculations are correct, you might get to witness me tweeting about "trace analysis in Golarion" in the next little while, for every reason whatsoever.
Shay Snow (they/them)
Hi, I'm Shay Snow, I'm an editor at Paizo, and I wrote up a bunch of species-specific spells and the entry on Zon-Kuthon, surprising exactly. no one! As my mutuals on Twitter know I'm a pretty big Zon-Kuthon fan so I joyfully jumped when offered the chance to give the pain man a new write up for Galactic Magic. You may have seen me in a few Starfinder scenarios, Pathfinder’s Lost Omens Grand Bazaar and Tech Revolution and I have a few things coming out in Lost Omens Monsters of Myth. Additionally, you can find my name on a few Coyote & Crow projects!
When not writing, I’m usually discussing Native issues and rights over on my Twitter @SpellsInSugar, where you can also sometimes catch me talking about video games and horror media. You can keep up with my work, or even contact me for hire, through my website https://shayjay.carrd.co/!
Jessica Redekop (she/they/he)
Hi! I'm Jess, and I wrote about some fabulous outsider deities in Galactic Magic ! Even though it's a smaller section, I'm particularly proud of my work in this book. It gave me an opportunity to introduce a lot of cool content into Starfinder, and there are some lines scattered through the section that are quite personal to me. I won't spoil which gods are included, but if you're familiar with my past work for PF and SF, some of them are very "me." I hope you like Starfinder's new and returning outsider deities as much as I do!
For more of my content check out Valiant, an actual play Pathfinder podcast on the Know Direction network, where I play Xiadani the aasimar druid. You can also find me @tectonomancer on Twitter.
Mikhail Rekun (he/him)
дравствуйте, уважаемые читатели! My name is Mikhail Sergeyevich Rekun, and you may recognize me from previous Starfinder products such as the Galaxy Exploration Manual (where I wrote about Accord and created the Starship Toolbox) and Starfinder Adventure Path #31: Waking the Worldseed (where I wrote the Hibb article), along with plenty of Pathfinder stuff. In my more mundane life, I’m a Russian-American historian, educator, and author.
Galactic Magic was a bit of a weird project for me. John Compton contacted me and said ‘we need magical nanomachines and we need them as soon as humanly possible.’ Well, I’m never one to shirk from a challenge, and produced the magical options for the nanocyte in basically a weekend. I’m reasonably pleased with the results, especially the ability to make fancy nano-runes and sigils like a proper anime protagonist. (That was what John wanted, right?)
Nanites are also of some interest to me for other reasons, as when not writing for Paizo, I’m working on Ourichor: Fulcrum of the Luminant Age alongside the inimitable Andrew Mullen and Isabelle Thorne (follow us at https://twitter.com/LuminantA). I shan’t share too much in the way of details, but let’s just say that fans of microscopic shenanigans may find our upcoming release, Armaments of the Luminant Age, of some interest to them.
John Godek III (he/him)
Hi everyone! My name is John Godek and I am an avid Starfinder GM, player, freelance author, and podcaster. I had the opportunity to write several sections of Galactic Magic and I can’t wait for you to see them! I created two brand new soldier fighting styles—the spellbrawler and the archer—along with new weapons, gear boosts, fusions, and armor upgrades that synergize with these styles as well as offer cool options for other styles and classes. In addition, I formulated nearly three dozen new magic spells, including spells that provide basic utility, create different types of barriers, and are related to or originated in the Vast. Finally, I crafted three new legendary artifacts of tremendous power, each steeped in ancient lore. Other Paizo projects I have forthcoming include work on the Drift Crisis hardcover, backmatter in Starfinder Adventure Path #44, and my very first adventure—Starfinder Bounty #1: The Cantina Job!
You can find me playing with the Emerald City Lodge in Seattle, or you can listen to my podcasts on the Know Direction Network, including: Digital Divination with Ron Lundeen, Intrepid Heroes, a Stafinder actual play, and Presenting, a podcast where I interview game designers, developers, artists, and writers.
Nate Wright (he/him)
Evening, everyone. I’m Nate Wright, a blogger on the Know Direction Network and a freelancer who has contributed to multiple works from Paizo. Some of my favorites include the anadi ancestry from Lost Omens The Mwangi Expanse and the memetic zenith from Starfinder Adventure Path #24: The God-Host Ascends. The best part about writing for this book has been visualizing the awesome abilities I’ve always wished my character could have and getting the opportunity to share that vision with the rest of the community.
If you want to see my most recent work, you’re in need of a freelancer, or you just want to watch me share cool art I found, you can find me on @RoscMan on the cursed bird app.
Dennis Muldoon (he/him)
Hi folks! My name is Dennis Muldoon, and I've been freelancing for Paizo for a few years now. I've contributed to almost every line Paizo publishes, now, most recently SFS #4-10: The Way In, the Azlanti Space Age material in the toolbox of Starfinder Adventure Path #42: Whispers of the Eclipse, and the ssumzili and golgopo monsters in Pathfinder Adventure Path #171: Hurricane's Howl. For Galactic Magic, I wrote the experimental apparatus mechanic alternate class feature for all your magically inclined mechanic needs, along with magic-themed mechanic tricks for mechanics of all types. I'm also extremely excited to bring the Lucky Drunk himself into Starfinder with a section on Cayden Cailean! My full list of credits is on my Paizo profile, and you can find me on Twitter @dkmuldoon.
Kate Baker (she/her)
Hey, Starfinder fans! I’m Kate, and I’ve been writing for Starfinder and Pathfinder for about five years. I was delighted to get to write the sections on Hylax and Talavet for this book. Hylax is near and dear to my heart after writing one of the Attack of the Swarm volumes, and I even have a tattoo of the Crown of Hylax! Talavet speaks to me equally, with such a strong focus on the importance of stories, something I’ve never appreciated more than in the last year and a half. I hope you enjoy reading about their role in the galaxy, along with the many other deities featured in this book.
Follow me at @KateBakerGM on Twitter to hear more about what I’m working on, including some upcoming projects for Starfinder Infinite!
Follow me at @KateBakerGM on Twitter to hear more about what I’m working on, including some upcoming projects for Starfinder Infinite!
Starfinder Galactoc Magic is not limited to traditional spellcasting classes. Any character with the appropriate training and access to galactoc material can learn and use galactoc-based magic. This opens up new possibilities for character customization and development, allowing players to create unique magical abilities that suit their playstyle. However, the use of galactoc magic is not without risks. The unstable nature of the substance means that mishandling or overusing it can have catastrophic consequences. It can lead to unpredictable magical surges, causing unintended side effects or even endangering the user and their allies. Therefore, it is essential for magic-users to exercise caution and use galactoc magic responsibly. In conclusion, Starfinder Galactoc Magic is a captivating addition to the Starfinder game system. It offers players new avenues for magical exploration and provides a fresh twist on traditional spellcasting. With its ties to the mysterious galactoc substance and the cosmic energies of the Drift, galactoc magic adds a touch of wonder and unpredictability to the Starfinder universe..
Reviews for "The Origins and History of Galactoc Magic in the Starfinder Universe"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Starfinder galactic magic". The plot was confusing and the characters felt flat. The magic system was poorly explained and didn't make much sense. I was hoping for an immersive space adventure, but the book just left me confused and uninterested. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating sci-fi read.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Starfinder galactic magic" was a huge letdown for me. The writing was overly descriptive and dragged on unnecessarily. The pacing was slow and the story lacked any real excitement. The world-building was weak and didn't fully immerse me into the galactic setting. I struggled to connect with the characters and found myself losing interest in their fates. Overall, it was a forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend to fellow sci-fi enthusiasts.
3. Alex - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Starfinder galactic magic", but unfortunately, it fell short. The dialogue felt cliché and forced, and the plot was predictable. The magic elements felt like an afterthought and weren't well-integrated into the story. The pacing was off, with long periods of dull exposition followed by rushed action scenes. I was left unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging space adventure.
4. Emily - 2 stars - "Starfinder galactic magic" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to care about their journeys. The world-building was underwhelming, and the magic system felt haphazardly thrown into the mix, without proper explanation or integration. The writing style was mediocre, and at times it felt like a chore to keep reading. All in all, I found the book to be a lackluster addition to the genre and wouldn't recommend it to others.