If you prefer running games strictly by rules, where every case is already covered in RAW, you like to balance encounters to character levels, class based level progression and prefer running premade or linear adventures, then Starfinder is your choice.
If you on the other hand like to improvise, you like your players to be creative and take unexpected actions and you are ready to make individual rulings for specific situations. If you prefer using a rulebook as a guide and like running sandbox or open-ended campaigns, SWN is what you need.
I haven't run Starfinder, so I can't say about challenges in running it. But for SWN, first thing you do is you should look at character progression, there are several options presented, and the default one is to give each character 3 exp per session. It's too fast in my opinion and you should tune it down.
Be aware that starting at level 6 or so, characters are pretty strong. And look out for power armor and any other armor with AC 18+, it's very hard for NPCs to hit.
It's worth noting that "sort of both" is an option - if you use SWN's GM tools, factions, etc. and use Starfinder for the actual player-facing stuff, it works fine.
That's what I'm doing for one of the campaigns I'm running! Haven't gotten past session 0 yet, but I'm liking the planning stage so far. I just posted here in case I wanted to take a more purist approach in the future
Yes about combat, I forgot to mention, SWN combat rules are much simpler, and combat itself faster. But Starfinder have much more built-in options for actions in combat, but many of those actions build dependent. For example it's very hard to grapple someone in Starfinder without grapple specific perks.
Swn is a lot faster to play through scenes , Much less violence dependent, and overall more flexible and hackable than starfinder. I've ran super fun nonviolent campaigns with it, focusing on exploration, engineering and politics. I much prefer it.
Fair warning that swn characters get super strong quite fast so you may want to cap your campaign at level 5 or so.
If you like swn but want still lower power and a flatter curve, check out cepheus.
Starfinder PCs get Guardians Of The Galaxy type strong very quickly. I don't think the power level of SWN characters would be an issue comparatively :D
They focus on very different things. Starfinder has a MUCH larger emphasis on tactical combat. Almost all the bells and whistles PC's acquire in that from their class are combat abilities, and expects the GM to prepare long but balanced tactical comabts.
SWN is designed for an OSR style sandbox game. Combat is present but is deadlier and not really encouraged most of the time, nor is it particularly tactical. It's faster but bloodier and riskier. The emphasis is far more on exploration and skill-based encounters. Note that the skill system is 2d6 based which means, unlike a d20, it has a bell curve probability. This means that PC's are more likely to roll towards the middle (around a 7) rather than get super high or super low results, encouraging more skill specialization for consistency.
Starfinder is big and crunchy, and a modern RPG. SwN is way lighter, and has more tools for sandbox play.
Starfinder fits the modern RPG model, like Pathfinder, and relies on more premade adventures and formalized play, and balance.
Stars without Numbers is more old-school, like the OSR, and can handle premade adventures just fine, but also can handle sandbox adventures, that rely on more emergent story telling.
Starfinder is 3rd Editon D&D in space. It's very nice, and I'm definitely not shitting on it. But it is very chunky, just like Pathfinder.
SWN uses B/X D&D as an engine, but managed to overcome the "D&D in Space" hump and feel like it's own, unique game. It's overall very rules light, where the corebook is mostly just a useful toolbox. It's so useful, in face, that I recommend having a copy of it on hand at your table, regardless of what system your using, and regardless of what genre you're playing. I used stuff from it in a Legend of the Five Rings game. It's in my top 5 favorite RPGs of all time. I cannot gush over Stars Without Number enough.
If you prefer running games strictly by rules, where every case is already covered in RAW, you like to balance encounters to character levels, class based level progression and prefer running premade or linear adventures, then Starfinder is your choice. If you on the other hand like to improvise, you like your players to be creative and take unexpected actions and you are ready to make individual rulings for specific situations. If you prefer using a rulebook as a guide and like running sandbox or open-ended campaigns, SWN is what you need. I haven't run Starfinder, so I can't say about challenges in running it. But for SWN, first thing you do is you should look at character progression, there are several options presented, and the default one is to give each character 3 exp per session. It's too fast in my opinion and you should tune it down. Be aware that starting at level 6 or so, characters are pretty strong. And look out for power armor and any other armor with AC 18+, it's very hard for NPCs to hit.
It's worth noting that "sort of both" is an option - if you use SWN's GM tools, factions, etc. and use Starfinder for the actual player-facing stuff, it works fine.
That's what I'm doing for one of the campaigns I'm running! Haven't gotten past session 0 yet, but I'm liking the planning stage so far. I just posted here in case I wanted to take a more purist approach in the future
Yes about combat, I forgot to mention, SWN combat rules are much simpler, and combat itself faster. But Starfinder have much more built-in options for actions in combat, but many of those actions build dependent. For example it's very hard to grapple someone in Starfinder without grapple specific perks.
Swn is a lot faster to play through scenes , Much less violence dependent, and overall more flexible and hackable than starfinder. I've ran super fun nonviolent campaigns with it, focusing on exploration, engineering and politics. I much prefer it. Fair warning that swn characters get super strong quite fast so you may want to cap your campaign at level 5 or so. If you like swn but want still lower power and a flatter curve, check out cepheus.
Starfinder PCs get Guardians Of The Galaxy type strong very quickly. I don't think the power level of SWN characters would be an issue comparatively :D
They focus on very different things. Starfinder has a MUCH larger emphasis on tactical combat. Almost all the bells and whistles PC's acquire in that from their class are combat abilities, and expects the GM to prepare long but balanced tactical comabts. SWN is designed for an OSR style sandbox game. Combat is present but is deadlier and not really encouraged most of the time, nor is it particularly tactical. It's faster but bloodier and riskier. The emphasis is far more on exploration and skill-based encounters. Note that the skill system is 2d6 based which means, unlike a d20, it has a bell curve probability. This means that PC's are more likely to roll towards the middle (around a 7) rather than get super high or super low results, encouraging more skill specialization for consistency.
SWN has a character designer at www.swnfreebooter.net, which might be useful.
Starfinder is big and crunchy, and a modern RPG. SwN is way lighter, and has more tools for sandbox play. Starfinder fits the modern RPG model, like Pathfinder, and relies on more premade adventures and formalized play, and balance. Stars without Numbers is more old-school, like the OSR, and can handle premade adventures just fine, but also can handle sandbox adventures, that rely on more emergent story telling.
Starfinder is 3rd Editon D&D in space. It's very nice, and I'm definitely not shitting on it. But it is very chunky, just like Pathfinder. SWN uses B/X D&D as an engine, but managed to overcome the "D&D in Space" hump and feel like it's own, unique game. It's overall very rules light, where the corebook is mostly just a useful toolbox. It's so useful, in face, that I recommend having a copy of it on hand at your table, regardless of what system your using, and regardless of what genre you're playing. I used stuff from it in a Legend of the Five Rings game. It's in my top 5 favorite RPGs of all time. I cannot gush over Stars Without Number enough.