Starfarer's Codex: Multiclass ThemeTypes

Any chance you'll get around to doing the 3 new classes from COM in this format? Would adore it.

Hi Charles! We heard you and responded. We have created a printer-friendly version and uploaded it, just for you! Okay, it's for everyone, but we did it because of your comment! Since you purchased the product, you should be automatically updated. Thanks for the comment!

I have one question: Is it possible for you to provide a 'printer friendly' version of this in the future?

Its an excellent supplement, but the background art on each page makes it difficult to read the text bars (I suppose I could copy/paste the text into a word file or something, but it would be easier to just download one from you ^_^).

I guess OBS won't let me write a review of this because I'm also a publisher. So, you get a big friggin comment!

Let me give you a summary of my review up front:
If you like multiclassed or gestalt characters, you will enjoy this book. If you want a way to streamline character-creation choices, you will enjoy this book. If you like additional options for characters, you will enjoy this book.
Obviously, if you don't like any of the above, you will not enjoy this book.
I loved it.

There you go – short and sweet. Still reading? You want MORE? If I give you much more, I’ll end up writing a review longer than the product! But since you asked…
The book is gorgeous. RGG makes use of full-page artwork with text-boxes on top. I enjoyed the visual impact. That said, one of my players who is easily distracted visually said it was occasionally overwhelming to try and read, as the art kept pulling her away from the text – and vice versa. Certainly not a knock against...See more the style, just a “be aware” pointer if you are in my player’s situation. You may have to make some extra read-throughs.
I watched as Owen developed this idea on his blog and his Patreon and was thrilled to see he polished up what was extant and rounded out what was missing. The concept is simple – turn a Starfinder class into a combination Theme and Archetype. This allows you to explore a huge variety of character concepts that continue to advance in power as your character levels up. I dislike level-dip multiclassing, because I always feel like I get cheated just a bit when my “secondary” class abilities don’t continue to improve. But, if I continue to take levels in my secondary class, my primary class suffers. ThemeTypes allow me to avoid that problem.
Owen and Ryan Costello, Jr, first introduced a similar concept for Pathfinder in “The Genius Guide to Feats of Multiclassing” early in 2012. Owen also wrote several archetype titles for various classes. Then in late 2015, RGG published “The Genius Guide to Variant Multiclassing Rules” by Jenny Jarzabski. The current ThemeTypes book we are looking at now is very much in the same vein as Jenny’s work. As you can tell from the initial summary, I approve. (I give the history lesson to illustrate that this is not at all “new territory” for Owen or RGG.)
In ThemeTypes, Owen suggests the GM disallow the use of standard multiclassing – and I’m okay with that! He lays out a compelling case for doing so but goes on to explain how ThemeTypes will work with regular multiclassing if you wish to continue to use it alongside ThemeTypes. I’m satisfied with how characters are strengthened/deepened/broadened without needing to use regular “level-dipping.”
Let me tell you – I’m *not* the reviewer to read for details on how well the concept was executed or how balanced the various choices are, whether against the standard multiclassing system or against each other within the variant. I *am* the guy who is going to tell you this product sparked a handful of new character ideas within a matter of seconds.
This product will let you run a low-magic setting, by restricting mystic, technomancer, and solarian classes to just their ThemeType counterparts.
This product will let you build cyber-solos (that might be an R. Talsorian registered trademark) by giving your soldier the mechanic (exocortex) ThemeType. Or an operative with the soldier ThemeType who takes the Sharpshoot style and Bullet Barrage gear-boost. Or an operative with the soldier ThemeType who takes powered armor proficiency, the Armor Storm style, and either Armored Advantage or Melee Striker. You want a Jedi Knight equivalent without going full solarian? Soldier with the solarian ThemeType and make your choices from there! A mechanic who is a *real* wizard with machinery? Mechanic (either AI type) with the technomancer ThemeType – they’ll be a full mechanic with the ability to (eventually) cast 4th level technomancer spells.
Now – the class abilities gained by taking a ThemeType are definitely reduced in power – spellcasters get fewer spells, spell-hacks, etc while mechanics get fewer AI mods and so on. This isn’t a full-on gestalt, but it is certainly a deeper – and, to me, more solid – character than what “level-dipping” can provide. The more I have thought about ThemeTypes since first seeing them on Owen’s blog, the more drawn I am to the idea and the more I want to replace core theme and archetypes with this system completely. I’m sure my NPCs will be made this way!
I can’t tell you if this product is right for you – I can only tell you what it can do for you and then let you reach your own conclusions. Is it a must-have? I’m glad I bought it. I plan to make extensive use of it. Is it a must-have for you? That’s your call.