Greetings fellow terraformers and spacefarers.
Starfield became available to play on Game Pass on September 6, 2023.
If you haven’t played it yet, it’s time to think about the kind of character you want to play.
From the 60+ hours I’ve played so far, Starfield is shaping up to be one of the greatest role-playing games of all time (though some reviews would have you think otherwise).
This game is an RPG, which means you will have heaps of choices to make, including things like picking a background and traits for your character.
And with lots of choices comes lots of indecision.
Not to worry, this article with provide you with a breakdown of which character backgrounds we currently know of, and who might enjoy playing these types of characters.
Let’s get into it.
The 21 Backgrounds In Starfield
A background in Starfield is essentially what your character did before becoming part of a mining operation.
From a role playing standpoint, a background gives your character more depth and provides reasons to make certain decisions in game.
When it comes to gameplay, backgrounds prove three starting skills that provide a nice boost toward building the character you have in mind.
But, what if you don’t have a character build in mind yet?
Don’t worry, once you get acquainted with the available backgrounds, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of character suits your play style.
Beast Hunter
Hunting horrendous beasts and surviving alien attacks were your bread and butter so the Beast Hunter has boosts to oxygen level (which is effectively your stamina), skill with ballistic weapons, and cooking capabilities – at least you’re using what you kill.
Official Description
- Fitness – Increases available O2.
- Ballistics – Ballistic weapons deal more damage.
- Gastronomy – Craft special food and drink, and research additional recipes.
The Beast Hunter is about tracking down alien creatures. Starfield has quite a few beasties to hunt and this background is ideal for anyone who wants to role play a survival type who hunts aliens to make the galaxy safer but also to find rare materials and compounds to craft stat boosting consumables.
If hunting aliens sounds like your cup of tea, I think the choice is going to come down to the Beast Hunter or the Chef (see below), both backgrounds benefit from focusing on killing alien beasts.
Check out my article on how to role play as a Beast Hunter if this background appeals to you.
Bouncer
- Boxing – Unarmed attacks deal more damage and use less O2.
- Security – You can hack Advanced locks and bank more auto attempts.
- Fitness – Increases available O2.
Learn about role playing as a Bouncer in Starfield.
Bounty Hunter
- Piloting – You can use ship thrusters and better ships.
- Targeting Control Systems – Unlocks and enhances ship targeting systems.
- Boost Pack Training – Unlocks and enhances boost packs.
Learn about role playing as a Bounty Hunter in Starfield.
Chef
While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more… discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.
Official Description
- Gastronomy – Craft special food and drink, and research additional recipes.
- Dueling – Deal more melee damage and take less damage while wielding a melee weapon.
- Scavenging – Find extra resources when looting containers.
Learn about role playing as a Chef in Starfield.
Combat Medic
Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That’s where you come in. You’ve never been afraid to take on the enemy… but you’d much rather take care of your friends.
Official Description
- Pistol certification – Deal more damage with pistols.
- Medicine – Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits heal more and faster.
- Wellness – Increases maximum health.
Learn about role playing as a Combat Medic in Starfield.
Cyber Runner
From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige, and profit. You’ve worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.
Official Description
- Stealth – Adds a Stealth Meter and makes you harder to detect while sneaking.
- Security – You can hack Advanced locks and bank more auto attempts.
- Theft – Unlock and enhance pickpocketing capabilities.
Learn about role playing as a Cyber Runner in Starfield.
Cyberneticist
Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.
Official Description
- Medicine – Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits heal more and faster.
- Security – You can hack Advanced locks and bank more auto attempts.
- Lasers – Laser weapons deal more damage.
Learn about role playing as a Cyberneticist in Starfield.
Diplomat
- Persuasion – Increased chance of success when persuading someone.
- Commerce – Buy items for less and sell items for more.
- Wellness – Increases maximum health.
Learn about role playing as a Diplomat in Starfield.
The wars are over. Peace now reigns the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded… lives were spared.
Official Description
Explorer
They said exploration is a lost art. You didn’t listen. As the major factions argued over the space they desperately tried to control, you were busy uncovering the wonders of the Settled Systems.
Official Description
- Lasers – Laser weapons deal more damage.
- Astrodynamics – Improve your ship’s grav drive.
- Surveying – Increase the range and zoom level of your hand scanner.
Learn about role playing as a Explorer in Starfield.
Gangster
- Shotgun Certification – Shotguns deal more damage.
- Boxing – Unarmed attacks deal more damage and use less O2.
- Theft – Unlock and enhance pickpocketing capabilities.
Learn about role playing as a Gangster in Starfield.
Homesteader
- Geology – Get less common inorganic resources from surface objects and more of them.
- Surveying – Increase the range and zoom level of your hand scanner.
- Weight Lifting – Increase carrying capacity.
Learn about role playing as a Homesteader in Starfield.
Industrialist
- Persuasion – Increased chance of success when persuading someone.
- Security – You can hack Advanced locks and bank more auto attempts.
- Research Methods – Complete Research Projects and craft items using fewer resources.
Learn about role playing as an Industrialist in Starfield.
Long Hauler
- Weight Lifting – Increase carrying capacity.
- Piloting – You can use ship thrusters.
- Ballistic Weapon Systems – Improves ballistic weapons on your ship.
Learn about role playing as a Long Hauler in Starfield.
Pilgrim
- Scavenging – Find extra resources when looting containers.
- Surveying – Increase the range and zoom level of your hand scanner.
- Gastronomy – Craft special food and drink, and research additional recipes.
Learn about role playing as a Pilgrim in Starfield.
Professor
- Astrodynamics – Improve your ship’s grav drive.
- Geology – Get less common inorganic resources from surface objects and more of them.
- Research Methods – Complete Research Projects and craft items using fewer resources.
Learn about role playing as a Professor in Starfield.
Ronin
- Dueling – Deal more melee damage and take less damage while wielding a melee weapon.
- Stealth – Adds a Stealth Meter and makes you harder to detect while sneaking.
- Scavenging – Find extra resources when looting containers.
Learn about role playing as a Ronin in Starfield.
Sculptor
- Medicine – Med Packs, Trauma Packs, and Emergency Kits heal more and faster.
- Geology – Get less common inorganic resources from surface objects and more of them.
- Persuasion – Increased chance of success when persuading someone.
Soldier
- Fitness – Increases available O2.
- Ballistics – Ballistic weapons deal more damage.
- Boost Pack Training – Unlocks and enhances boost packs.
Space Scoundrel
- Pistol certification – Deal more damage with pistols.
- Piloting – You can use ship thrusters.
- Persuasion – Increased chance of success when persuading someone.
Xenobiologist
- Lasers – Laser weapons deal more damage.
- Surveying – Increase the range and zoom level of your hand scanner.
- Fitness – Increases available O2.
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- Wellness – Increases maximum health.
- Ballistics – Ballistic weapons deal more damage.
- Piloting – You can use ship thrusters.
Conclusion
The variety of play styles and role playing provided by these backgrounds is mind-boggling.
For those who need help deciding which background to choose for their first playthrough, my recommendation is to go with the one that excites you the most.