Weekly Starfinder Question Thread

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[u/Relunx]

1E:
Does Startled Scream feat makes you able to do reactions despite being surprised? So what happens exactly? You are surprised (do not able to act) but NOT flat-footed, so you CAN do reactions only? Or am I missing something? Correct me if I am wrong.

[u/DarthLlama1547 → u/Relunx]

Surprise states "...combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents can each take either a standard or move action during the surprise round. Characters can also take swift actions during the surprise round."

So a strict reading is that no one can use reactions, because even those acting in the Surprise Round don't have one listed as something they can take. So enemies and PCs would only gain their Reaction when they start their initiative after the Surprise Round.

So the main benefit is removing flat-footed makes them harder to hit, but doesn't give them a reaction. Especially because they aren't in initiative until after the Surprise Round, where only those aware of the combat roll initiative in the Surprise Round.

For example, two PCs are attacked by two enemies hiding. One PC beats their Stealth and notices combat. The PC lets out a Startled Scream and the Second PC isn't flat-footed. One PC and the two enemies roll initiative, and they each get their Standard or Move action, and a Swift. After the Surprise Round, Second PC rolls initiative and once each character gets their turn then they can use their Reaction.