Starfinder Differences

[liamfisher]

Due to the nature of how differently Hit Points work in SF compared to PF (the existence of SP), healing works quite differently.

Spell gems exist (which are like scrolls) and you can get multiple castings in a single gem, but a spell gem of a 1st level spell costs 140 credit while a Serum of Healing costs 50 credits. The spell gem of Mystic Cure Level 1 (140 credits) would heal for 1d8+Wisdom Modifier of the Mystic who casts it and you would need a Mystic to be able to use it. Serum of Healing Mk 1 (50 credits) heals for 1d8 and anyone can use it. With the cost difference, it would mean that on average the Mystic casting from a spell gem would need a +8.1 (can round to +8) wisdom modifier to make up for the cost different on a pure credit basis, which is not possible in this system until level 20 assuming a starting stat of 18.

Therefore, Serum of Healing Mk 1 is more efficient credit-wise.

Add that to the fact that you can't spend Fame to buy healing items like you could with Prestige in PFS, a bunch of Serum of Healing Mk 1 it is.

However, I don't forsee needing as much healing because of the existence of Stamina Points, which can't be healed by healing items. The only ways to heal Stamina is to take a 10 minute rest and use 1 Resolve Point to restore all your stamina, or have an Envoy who has the ability to heal Stamina heal you in battle (which they can only do once/person until you take a 10 minute rest). There are other classes that have abilities to heal their own stamina, but nothing for the other party members.

But really, the most cost efficient thing you could do is take the Medicine skill and be able to heal yourself using 1 minute of care. You can only do this once/day unless you have a medical lab, but a basic medkit is 100 credits and reusable.

TLDR; Serum of Healing Mk 1 heals for 1d8 and costs 50 credits and is the most cost-efficient out-of-combat reliable healing, but you probably won't need as much healing in SF as you did in PF. My first character bought 3 to start off. You can't use Fame (which is the new Prestige points) to buy healing items. For maximum cost effectiveness, you need either the Medicine skill or a Mystic, but the Serum of Healing Mk 1 is the most reliable.

I saw about six instances of healing - including one channel.  Serum was the least used since it wasn't renewable.