The Dark Times: A Sci-Fi RPG Podcast

Hidden goals! How do you use them in campaigns? Are they better suited for one shots? Do they have a place at your table? Is PVP an approachable task for Starfinder GMs? All this and more answered in this episode! Don't forget you can go vote on our Patreon for your favorite Adamantine Chef build we featured back in Episode 44. Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask somethin...

Tune in to hear Sam and Stephen talk about the Captain Archetype from Pathfinder 2e's Battlecry! rulebook and how you can apply it to your Starfinder campaign. Sam also brings a companion-focused build! Kree-8, Android Mechanic Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask something/submit a build? Email us at: thedarktimespod@gmail.com Logo designed by: @MothPunk Starfinder 2E at...

This episode Sam and Stephen talk about some fun Auto-Fire shenanigans inspired by a post from the Starfinder 2e Subreddit! Also, a special thanks to all the folks who submitted their Adamantine Chefs for our enjoyment! If you want to vote for your favorite, go to the Dark Times Podcast Patreon and join before it's too late! u/Famous_Slice4233's Post about Troops and Auto-Fire Adamantine Chef Buil...

Paizo dropped a Luminary class playtest when we weren't looking! Sam and Stephen give their first impressions, and Sam even made a Luminary for the occasion! Don't forget, your Level 10 Adamantine Chefs must have an Ancestry from the Galactic Ancestries rulebook, a Starfinder class (maybe even a Luminary), and the Wandering Chef Archetype from Pathfinder 2E. Those Bounty Builds are due by May 25th...

Sam and Stephen are diving back into Galactic Ancestries this week! Looking at the illustrious Izalguun and some new favorites for some Pathfinder/Starfinder core ancestries. Don't forget, your Level 10 Adamantine Chefs must have an Ancestry from the Galactic Ancestries rulebook, a Starfinder class, and the Wandering Chef Archetype from Pathfinder 2E. Those Bounty Builds are due by May 25th at 11:...

Galactic Ancestries is OUT! And Sam and Stephen have broken their one month late curse by only being a little less late to the party this time. This episode we highlight two of the ancestries new to Starfinder 2E! Don't forget, your Level 10 Adamantine Chefs must have an Ancestry from the Galactic Ancestries rulebook, a Starfinder class, and the Wandering Chef Archetype from Pathfinder 2E. Those B...

Once again, shout out to Marshall H on their victory in our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty with their submission of Secundose! Keep an ear out for next episode when we announce our next Build Bounty! This week, Sam and Stephen learn from their mistake last episode and spin the Wheel of Monsters! Picking three statblocks at random, the two come up with an entirely unique adventure out of t...

Sam and Stephen talk about what it takes to design custom abilities for creatures! Mostly why you shouldn't do it. Don't forget that all paid Patreon members get to vote in our Followers of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty until March 30th, 11:59pm. Join now at the support link below to get access to the poll and many other exclusive goodies! Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask...

Stephen made a special Aeon Guard troop using the Troop mechanics presented in Pathfinder 2E's Battlecry! book. Also, Sam and Stephen cover the 4 amazing followers of Antiquitius-1 Solarian builds listeners sent in! Thank you for breathing life into the Luminous! Please use the link below to check out the builds, and remember that Patrons can vote for their favorite! Patreon Poll The Followers of...

Sam and Stephen talk about player hooks, campaign starts, and the wet fart that is D&D 5E Supplement Books. We're only mostly joking about that last part. Remember, broadening your RPG system horizon can only improve your gamemaster skill. Don't forget, our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty is due Monday, March 2nd at 11:59PM. Submissions must be a Level 10 Solarian, must have some deep...

Stephen and Sam are back with more Starfinder Deities. Sam pulls off the impossible: Creating an entire session's worth of adventure themed around a single Hazard! Don't forget, our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty is due Monday, March 2nd at 11:59PM. Submissions must be a Level 10 Solarian, must have some deep connection to Antiquitius-1. Can have an archetype if you’d like. Please include...

Sam and Stephen get a little biblical this week, discussing a couple distinct deities from Starfinder 2nd Edition! Also, Sam brings a friend of nature and offers ways to use them in your Starfinder games! Don't forget, our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty are due Monday, March 2nd at 11:59PM. Submissions must be a Level 10 Solarian, must have some deep connection to Antiquitius-1. Can have...

Welcome back, Dark Timers! This episode, we digest some tasty Starfinder 2E errata while we get back into the swing of things in 2026. Don't forget, our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty are due Monday, March 2nd at 11:59PM. Submissions must be a Level 10 Solarian, must have some deep connection to Antiquitius-1. Can have an archetype if you’d like. Please include an outline of what makes yo...

This week Sam and Stephen dive back into the Alien Core to look at Kyokor! The Kaiju that inhabit Daimalko are represented in Starfinder 2nd Edition through a variety of Hazards as opposed to fully fleshed out statblocks. Also, Sam and Stephen talk about their adventure through the playtest scenario "Shards of the Glass Planet". Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask somethi...

Content warning for this episode: The Civusdaemon covered in this episode uses cyberbullying and cyberstalking to push its victims to suicide, this is mentioned but not extrapolated upon in its coverage. This episode, Sam and Stephen are casually late to the game coverage, finally getting their grubby little paws on a copy of the Alien Core! Also this episode, learn how to use adjustments to cater...

Using what we learned last episode, Sam and Stephen design a horror-themed one shot that will leave you shaking in your gelatin mold! Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask something/submit a build? Email us at: thedarktimespod@gmail.com Logo designed by: @MothPunk Starfinder 2E at Paizo Starfinder 2E Subreddit Support the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Sam and Stephen talk about the 4 pillars of making/running an excellent one shot! Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask something/submit a build? Email us at: thedarktimespod@gmail.com Logo designed by: @MothPunk Starfinder 2E at Paizo Starfinder 2E Subreddit Support the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this haunted episode of The Dark Times: A Sci-Fi RPG Podcast, Sam and Stephen talk about how to bring the pillars of horror in to support your Starfinder 2nd Edition games... Not without borrowing some help from the TOMBS cycle from Mothership, another great horror TTRPG. Don't forget, patrons can vote for one of the build in our Rock The Stars Build Boutny on our Patreon until 12am November 1s...

This week Stephen shows off his implementation of the Victory Point subsystem in order to make high speed races! Thanks to our two build submissions from Kenny G and the Lone Star Starfinder! Check out their builds in the link below. Don't forget, patrons can vote for their favorite over on our Patreon until 12am November 1st, 2025. Rock The Stars Build Bounties Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimesp...

The Starfinder 2E GM Core is out! Sam and Stephen are having field days. This week they discuss the victory point subsystem introduced in the GM Core and how it has a big history in another favorite RPG of theirs: Star Wars Saga Edition. Don't forget! There's still time to enter our Rock The Stars Build Bounty! The new due date is NOW Tuesday, September 23rd at 12:00am PST. Please submit your Leve...

Unfortunately, this episode was recorded before the release of the Starfinder 2E GM Core. Tune in this week to hear about Exploration Mode in the Paizo ecosystem! Also this week, using the magic of forum posts, Sam and Stephen talk about narrative starship encounters! Don't forget! Our Rock The Stars Build Bounty is due September 9th at 12:00am PST. Please submit your Level 10 Starfinder Build w/...

Congrats to our Operative Build Bounty Winners Jack C and Marshall H! This week, Sam and Stephen talk about two current 1st edition exclusive Starfinder features and how they'd adapt them to 2nd Edition. Don't forget! Our Rock The Stars Build Bounty is due September 9th at 12:00am PST. Please submit your Level 10 Starfinder Build w/ Bard Free Archetypes to our email below! "Everything They Don't T...

The Starfinder 2nd Edition Player Core is finally here! This week, Sam and Stephen cover the traditionalist Kasatha. What's your favorite part of the Player Core so far? Don't forget to join our Patreon to vote on our Operative Build Bounty by Monday, August 11th, at 11:59pm. Our listener submitted builds are available at the link below. Galactic Operative Builds Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimes...

Special thanks to all the folks who submitted Galactic Operatives for our first ever Starfinder 2nd Edition Build Bounty! Join Sam and Stephen as they bite into these meaty builds and show you their juicy bits. Check out their submissions below and vote on our Patreon! Galactic Operative Builds Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.social Want to ask something/submit a build? Email us at: the...

Thanks Sarradi for providing an excellent post to talk about this week! Sam and Stephen talk about the why's and how's of hand-waving narrative logic for Starfinder 2nd Edition. Don't forget, our Smooth Operative builds are NOW due by July 15th 12am PST. These must have 1 level in Operative, be level 4, and contain either an Ancestry, Archetype, Background, or Faction from the newly released Galax...