Starfinder Roleplaying Game

Phases of a Vehicle Chase

Starfinder Core Rulebook, page 282

Chases happen in rounds with three phases, which are described in more detail below. At the start of a chase, roll initiative checks (or use the same initiative order if a grid-based vehicle combat transitioned into a chase).

1. Pilot Actions: Each vehicle’s pilot selects her pilot actions and attempts any needed checks outside the normal character initiative count.

2. Chase Progress: The GM moves the vehicles to their new zones, based on the actions the pilots chose and whether they were successful. The GM also determines whether anyone is out of range of other vehicles, and therefore out of the chase.

3. Combat: Pilots (if they have any remaining actions) and passengers take their actions in initiative order as they normally would in a combat. Passengers and pilots can fire on other vehicles, depending on their range, and pilots might be able to slam their vehicles into those of their enemies.

In this section

  • Pilot Actions During the pilot actions phase, the pilot of each vehicle selects any pilot actions she wants to use to drive her vehicle this round, and performs her piloting actions in initiative order during this phase.
  • Chase Progress In the chase progress phase, the GM advances vehicles (based on their pilots’ chosen actions and whether they succeeded at the required checks), then determines whether any participants have escaped or been left behind…
  • Combat The final phase of each round is combat. This happens in initiative order, and characters can take the usual actions they can in combat, with the following adjustments.
  • Chase Environments Where a chase occurs can dramatically influence how it plays out. Heavy traffic, obstacles, and winding paths could all impede a chase or add strategic options for the vehicles involved.
  • Experience for Vehicle Chases PCs earn experience points for successfully completing a vehicle chase.
  • Sample Vehicle Chase Lissa the Game Master is guiding a group of four players as they flee the scene of a successful raid