FAQ Request: What actions may be performed during a short rest?


Rules Questions


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As the title states, I would like to know what actions if any may be performed during a short rest. Specifically the short rest used to recover stamina. I am already aware of the mechanic being able to repair his drone but what about other actions?

For example: can a bombardier soldier created a grenade while recovering? Can a solarion perform his one minute of meditation whole recovering stamina? Ect...


I cannot find where it says the mechanic can repair his drone during the 10 minute rest, although i do remember reading it. I'm pretty sure it says:

Other than the mechanic repairing his drone, no actions may be taken during the 10 minute rest


As far as I am aware.. Only the mechanic can do something during it for now.

(Paisley. It was in the FAQ about it)

Scarab Sages Starfinder Design Lead

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The rule is that regaining stamina requires spending a Resolve point and "10 minutes of uninterrupted rest."
Clearly a mechanic repairing his drone is restful. :)

Scarab Sages

You can shoot the breeze, chew the fat, kibitz, kvetch, flap your gums, catch 40 winks, and just hang out.


I imagine you can eat as well.

I assume you could do it on an elevator going up from planet to a ship or something as well. Or on a transport with one person driving and such.


I've got the notion of this sorta backwater-raised gunslinger lady that uses practically antique analog Firearms (wild-west type guns) that can't load store bought ammo. Could this character spend their 10 minute rest periods handloading new cartridges out of bought ammunitions?


If I were GM I could rule it the same as the "light activity" definition from resting and the Heal skill in Pathfinder -- reading, keeping watch, change dressings - I would probably go so far as saying even spell casting would count, as long as they are standard action spells or shorter (such as mystic cure, etc.)


I've a Bombard Soldier that'd like to see some clarification as well. Assembling a grenade doesn't seem any more taxing than repairing a droid. It seems kinda dumb to sit around for 10 minutes doing nothing then asking the rest of the group to wait another 10 to make a grenade.

The Exchange

Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Maybe I missed it but for things that refresh on a 10 minute rest, do you actually have to spend the resolve to recover or is simply the act of the 10 minute rest, which would allow you to recover stamina if you spent a resolve enough.


Given that 'handloading antique ammo' out of standard ammo is just the player making it harder for the PC to have ready ammo, I would certainly let you do it during a short rest. By the rules, you can reload by slapping a new magazine into your weapon as a move action. So if you'd LIKE it to take longer, why would I object?

On the topic of making a grenade during a short rest, it might not be any more mentally taxing, but I would think that constructing something that is designed to EXPLODE might be kind of mentally taxing. I know there aren't rules for screwing it up and having it blow up in your face, but I'd think it was the kind of activity that demanded pretty intense focus and was pretty mentally stressful, so I probably wouldn't allow it during a short rest (I mean, you could do it then, but you'd not feel very rested, and wouldn't get the benefits). Just my 2¢


I'd agree with you if a Mechanic couldn't repair a droid during a rest. Why is it not taxing for a Mechanic to run diagnostics, troubleshoot and repair a high-tech device but assembling a grenade is?

Making the grenade is basically the reassemble part of field stripping a weapon, something soldiers are practically trained to do in their sleep (and some literally can do it blindfolded.)

Liberty's Edge

Shaudius wrote:
Maybe I missed it but for things that refresh on a 10 minute rest, do you actually have to spend the resolve to recover or is simply the act of the 10 minute rest, which would allow you to recover stamina if you spent a resolve enough.

Yes spending the resolve is required to regain stamina.

Your question is confusing because both parts ask the same question, just in a different way.

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
Shaudius wrote:
Maybe I missed it but for things that refresh on a 10 minute rest, do you actually have to spend the resolve to recover or is simply the act of the 10 minute rest, which would allow you to recover stamina if you spent a resolve enough.

Other abilities that refresh after a 10-minute rest, only refresh after a 10-minute rest to regain Stamina Points. So yes, you must spend the resolve point to refresh your abilities even if you don't need to recover Stamina.


Butch A. wrote:
Given that 'handloading antique ammo' out of standard ammo is just the player making it harder for the PC to have ready ammo, I would certainly let you do it during a short rest. By the rules, you can reload by slapping a new magazine into your weapon as a move action. So if you'd LIKE it to take longer, why would I object?

The point is that the character unwinds by performing weapon maintenance, handloading scavenged ammo, and setting themselves up so they can do the whole "slap a new magazine" in routine despite their antique weaponry. They're very much a gun nerd, the kind of character who would buy and handload hundreds of cartridges over downtime.

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