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Chapter 8: Tactical Rules / Defining Effects

Range

Source Starfinder Core Rulebook pg. 271
An effect’s range indicates how far from you it can reach. An effect’s range is the maximum distance from you that the effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which you can designate the effect’s point of origin. If any portion of the effect’s area would extend beyond this range, that area is wasted. If a range is based on level, this means caster level for spells, class level for class features, and item level for weapons and equipment. Standard ranges include the following.

Personal

An effect with a range of personal is limited to and affects your person only.

Touch

If an effect has a range of touch, you must touch a creature or object to affect your target, which requires you to hit with a melee attack roll (against EAC unless the effect says otherwise) if you are touching an unwilling target. A touch effect that deals damage can score a critical hit just as a weapon can. Some touch effects allow you to touch multiple targets. You can touch up to six willing or unconscious targets as part of the activation of such an effect, but all targets of the effect must be touched in the same round that you finish activating the effect. If the effect allows you to touch targets over multiple rounds, touching up to six creatures is a full action.

Close

An effect with a range of close reaches as far as 25 feet + 5 feet for every 2 levels you have.

Medium

An effect with a range of medium reaches as far as 100 feet + 10 feet per level you have.

Long

An effect with a range of long reaches as far as 400 feet + 40 feet per level you have.

Planetary

An effect with a range of planetary can reach anywhere on the same planet. This also covers targets in orbit around the planet, such as moons and artificial satellites.

System-Wide

An effect with a range of system-wide can reach anywhere in the same solar system.

Plane

An effect with a range of plane can reach anywhere in the same plane of existence.

Unlimited

Some effects, mostly high-level spells, can reach anywhere, even onto other planes. Effects with ranges of unlimited are often very powerful, and they can be difficult or impossible to access until you reach a high level.

Range Expressed In Feet

Some effects have no standard range category, just a range expressed in feet. In this case, the specific effect lists exactly how far its range extends.

Range Increment

Some effects, especially weapons, have a range increment. The weapon can generate an effect at many multiples of this range, but you take penalties if the target is more than one range increment away (see Range and Penalties on page 245).

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