Player Core
Chapter 1: Introduction
Format of Rules
Source Player Core pg. 15
Throughout this rulebook, you will see formatting standards that might look a bit unusual at first. These standards are in place to make the rules elements in this book easier to recognize.
The names of specific statistics, skills, feats, actions, and some other mechanical elements in Starfinder are capitalized. This way, when you see the statement “a Strike targets Armor Class,” you know that both Strike and Armor Class are referring to rules.
If a word or a phrase is italicized, it's describing a spell or a magic item. This way, when you see the statement “the radiation from an atomic blast lingers in the room”, you know that the words denote the atomic blast spell, rather than a non-magical atomic blast.
The names of specific statistics, skills, feats, actions, and some other mechanical elements in Starfinder are capitalized. This way, when you see the statement “a Strike targets Armor Class,” you know that both Strike and Armor Class are referring to rules.
If a word or a phrase is italicized, it's describing a spell or a magic item. This way, when you see the statement “the radiation from an atomic blast lingers in the room”, you know that the words denote the atomic blast spell, rather than a non-magical atomic blast.
Understanding Actions
Source Player Core pg. 15
Characters and their adversaries affect the galaxy of Starfinder by using actions and producing effects. This is especially the case during encounters, when every action counts. When you use an action, you generate an effect. This effect might be automatic, but sometimes actions necessitate that you roll a die, and the effect is based on what you rolled.
Throughout this book, you will see special icons to denote actions.
Throughout this book, you will see special icons to denote actions.
[one-action] Single Actions
Source Player Core pg. 15
Single actions use this symbol: [one-action]. They're the simplest, most common type of action. You can use three single actions on your turn in an encounter, in any order you see fit.
[reaction] Reactions
Source Player Core pg. 15
Reactions use this symbol: [reaction]. These actions can be used even when it's not your turn. You only get one reaction per encounter round, and you can use it only when its specific trigger is fulfilled. Often, the trigger is another creature's action.
[free-action] Free Actions
Source Player Core pg. 15
Free actions use this symbol: [free-action]. Free actions don't require you to spend any of your three single actions or your reaction. A free action might have a trigger like a reaction does. If so, you can use it just like a reaction—even if it's not your turn. However, you can use only one free action per trigger, so if you have multiple free actions with the same trigger, you have to decide which to use. If a free action doesn't have a trigger, you use it like a single action, just without spending any of your actions for the turn.
Activities
Source Player Core pg. 15
Activities are special tasks that you complete by spending one or more of your actions together. Usually, an activity uses two or more actions and lets you do more than a single action would allow. You have to spend all the actions an activity requires for its effects to happen. Spellcasting is one of the most common activities, as most spells take more than a single action to cast.
Activities that use two actions use this symbol: [two-actions]. Meanwhile, activities that use three actions use this symbol: [three-actions]. There are also special activities, such as spells you can cast in an instant, which use a free action or a reaction.
All tasks that take longer than a turn are activities. If an activity is meant to be done during exploration, it has the exploration trait. An activity that takes a day or more of commitment and that can be done only during downtime has the downtime trait.
Activities that use two actions use this symbol: [two-actions]. Meanwhile, activities that use three actions use this symbol: [three-actions]. There are also special activities, such as spells you can cast in an instant, which use a free action or a reaction.
All tasks that take longer than a turn are activities. If an activity is meant to be done during exploration, it has the exploration trait. An activity that takes a day or more of commitment and that can be done only during downtime has the downtime trait.
Reading Rules
Source Player Core pg. 16
This book contains many rules elements that give characters new and interesting ways to respond to situations in the game. All characters can use the basic actions found in Chapter 8, but an individual character often has special rules that empower them to do things most other characters can't. Most of these options are granted by feats, which are gained by making certain choices at character creation or when a character advances in level.
Regardless of the game mechanic they convey, rules elements are always presented in the form of a stat block, a summary of the rules necessary to bring the monster, character, item, or other rules element to life during play. Where appropriate, rules presentations are introduced with an explanation of their format. For example, the Ancestry section of Chapter 2 contains rules for the ten ancestries in this book, and an explanation of the ancestry sections appears at the beginning of that chapter.
The general format for stat blocks is shown below. Entries are omitted from a stat block when they don't apply, so not all rule elements will have ever each of the entries given below. Actions, reactions, and free actions each have the corresponding icon next to their name to indicate their type. An activity that can be completed in a single turn has a symbol indicating how many actions are needed to complete it; activities that take longer to perform omit these icons. If a character must attain a certain level before accessing an ability, that level is indicated to the right of the stat block's name. Rules also often have traits associated with them.
Spells, tech items, and magic items use a similar format, but their stat blocks contain a number of unique elements, such as the possible magical traditions for a spell (see Chapter 7 for more on reading spells).
Trait
Prerequisites Any minimum attributes, feats, proficiency ranks, and so forth you must have to select this rules element are here. Feats also have a level prerequisite, listed above.
Frequency The limit on how often you can use the ability.
Trigger Reactions and some free actions have triggers that must be met before they can be used.
Requirements Sometimes you must have a certain item or be in a certain circumstance to use an ability.
This section describes the effects or benefits of a rules element. If the rule is an action, it explains what the effect is or what you must roll. If it's a feat that modifies an existing action or grants a constant effect, the benefit is explained here.
Special Any special qualities of the rule are explained in this section. Usually this section appears in feats you can select more than once, explaining what happens when you do.
Sometimes an ability will grant multiple actions or an action in addition to other benefits. These are condensed into a shorter format using the same categories, as seen below.
Name [one-action] (traits) Frequency how often it can be used; Trigger when a reaction or free action can be used; Requirements some actions require specific circumstances, listed here; Effect this section explains how the ability changes the world.
Regardless of the game mechanic they convey, rules elements are always presented in the form of a stat block, a summary of the rules necessary to bring the monster, character, item, or other rules element to life during play. Where appropriate, rules presentations are introduced with an explanation of their format. For example, the Ancestry section of Chapter 2 contains rules for the ten ancestries in this book, and an explanation of the ancestry sections appears at the beginning of that chapter.
The general format for stat blocks is shown below. Entries are omitted from a stat block when they don't apply, so not all rule elements will have ever each of the entries given below. Actions, reactions, and free actions each have the corresponding icon next to their name to indicate their type. An activity that can be completed in a single turn has a symbol indicating how many actions are needed to complete it; activities that take longer to perform omit these icons. If a character must attain a certain level before accessing an ability, that level is indicated to the right of the stat block's name. Rules also often have traits associated with them.
Spells, tech items, and magic items use a similar format, but their stat blocks contain a number of unique elements, such as the possible magical traditions for a spell (see Chapter 7 for more on reading spells).
Action or Feat Name [one-action] Level
Trait
Prerequisites Any minimum attributes, feats, proficiency ranks, and so forth you must have to select this rules element are here. Feats also have a level prerequisite, listed above.
Frequency The limit on how often you can use the ability.
Trigger Reactions and some free actions have triggers that must be met before they can be used.
Requirements Sometimes you must have a certain item or be in a certain circumstance to use an ability.
This section describes the effects or benefits of a rules element. If the rule is an action, it explains what the effect is or what you must roll. If it's a feat that modifies an existing action or grants a constant effect, the benefit is explained here.
Special Any special qualities of the rule are explained in this section. Usually this section appears in feats you can select more than once, explaining what happens when you do.
Sometimes an ability will grant multiple actions or an action in addition to other benefits. These are condensed into a shorter format using the same categories, as seen below.
Name [one-action] (traits) Frequency how often it can be used; Trigger when a reaction or free action can be used; Requirements some actions require specific circumstances, listed here; Effect this section explains how the ability changes the world.