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One of the strongest features of a paladin is his reaction (retributive strike). This leads to the relative common issue - what happens during combat round 1.
Your reactions let you respond immediately to what’s happening around you. The GM determines whether you can use reactions before your first turn begins, depending on the situation in which the encounter happens.
Quiet a few GMs seem not to be aware that reaction prior to your turn are allowed and it is actually up to them to determine if they allow them or not.
These are most common exploration activities.
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DEFEND
EXPLORATION
You move at half your travel speed with your shield raised. If combat breaks out, you gain the benefits of Raising a Shield before your first turn begins.
Again - the CRB tells us that these are the most common exploration modes. This doesn't necessarily mean they can't allow other reasonable exploration modes.
Roleplaying my paladin when asked about exploration mode (several squishy spellcasters around me, we expected possible imminent trouble - I described my paladins exploration activity as 'He has his weapon ready to protect the spell casters'.
My mistake I admit - never spring something surprising on the GM - especially if it involves GM discretion and obscure rulings. Yes you can react before your initiative - but that is at the decision of the GM.
So with some extra time for reflection I thought I came up with a better way to describe it as a better defined exploration mode I call 'Protect'. So my 2 question are
1) Is the following Exploration mode reasonable?
2) Would you change anything in the wording?
PROTECT
EXPLORATION
You don't move. You have your weapon and shield ready to protect against imminent attacks. This allows you to use the retributive strike or shield reckoning reaction as soon as combat breaks out. Any action or feat (apart of flanking) that causes you or the target to be flat footed prevents your reaction.
This exploration mode was written mainly for my paladin - but off course it can be adapted to any other champion or a fighter with AoO. This is mainly for situations where you expect imminent dangers. Sitting on a wagon while passing a possible ambush site. Standing next to a character while he is opening a door behind which you expect enemies. Signs that foreshadow danger (howling animals, a flock of birds suddenly rising up/being disturbed, etc.). A fierce negotiation that could turn violent any moment.