Zero phase action question...

[Gary Ciaramella]

Steve, do zero phase actions happen before all initiatives or before a character acts at his own initiative?

[Steve Long]

Characters can perform Zero-Phase Actions at the beginning of a Phase or after performing a Half Phase Action (5E 233). A character's Phase begins on his DEX in the Segments indicated by his SPD (5E 232). Thus, Zero-Phase Actions don't happen "before initiative," but at the very beginning of a character's Phase.

For example, supposing Defender (DEX 25) and Sapphire (DEX 23) both have Phases in Segment 10, Defender can perform a Zero-Phase Action when his Phase begins on DEX 25 in the initiative order. Sapphire can't do so until the initiative order reaches DEX 23.