Fleeing condition and reaction

[JMFerg]

The fleeing condition specifically states "on your turn you must use all your actions to flee" so I would reason that when it isn't your turn you can use reactions like shield block or opportune backstab, but I can find nowhere that this is addressed.

Can I freely use my reaction when it isn't my turn or if I use a reaction must it be used to flee, like "goblin skuttle"

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

Reactions are actually a type of action (see CRB pg 17), so you're still stuck fleeing.

[SuperBidi]

Per strict RAW, you have no limitations on your reactions. But from RAI, the first sentence of the condition is rather clear: "You're forced to run away due to fear or some other compulsion.".
I'd personally allow reactions used to flee, as I think it's both RAW and RAI, and defensive reactions like Shield Block as I consider it's not against RAI. But I'd definitely not allow other types of reactions like Reactive Strike or Recognize Spell.

[breithauptclan]

Shield Block would be difficult to use if you haven't used Raise Shield.

As for balance concerns, remember to consider if you want enemies to be able to do that to you.

[JMFerg]

So the "on your turn" portion is that not a limit to the effect of fleeing? Really looks like they added that for a reason.

If you were limited when it were not your turn then it would have said "until fleeing ends", or "until you are no longer fleeing".

The question is related to the part of the statement "on your turn"

As for Balance, how is it unbalanced reactions are not very powerful. So I am totally fine with enemies using their reactions while fleeing.

[breithauptclan]

The thing is, the difference between 'action', 'action', 'action', and 'action' in the rules is one of the bigger standing problems. So I really can't tell you if the intent of the rules is to specify only what you use for your actions (the three units of 'ability to do things' that you get at the start of your turn) or to prevent you from using any other actions (the things you can do, including actions, activities, reactions, and free actions) as well.

Instead you and your table have to decide what the intent of the Fleeing condition is.

And I personally think that what actions are available and what reactions you can use should be ruled on a case-by-case basis. It doesn't make much sense to say that because of a loophole in the Fleeing condition rules that a character could cast Brine Dragon's Bile or Shadow Projectile while Fleeing. But it does seem reasonable that they could cast Sudden Shift, Feather Fall, or Air Bubble in order to help them get away.

[SuperBidi]

JMFerg wrote:

As for Balance, how is it unbalanced reactions are not very powerful. So I am totally fine with enemies using their reactions while fleeing.

It's not a balance issue, but a verisimilitude one. A fleeing enemy who uses Reactive Strike would definitely raise a lot of negative reactions around my tables. The same enemy who uses Shield Block may raise questions but I don't think anyone would care (attacking a fleeing enemy is a rather strange action anyway).

[Ryze Kuja]

I'd allow Reactions to Flee or Defend while Fleeing, but I wouldn't allow Reactions to do anything otherwise.