Last game I played I happened to be using elite Trandoshans.

I made an ranged attack that failed to hit, but still had a couple of surge results, one of the surge abilities was Focus, now I wanted to spend the surge and take the Focus (for next attack) although here it was said that I wasn't able to take the Focus because I hadn't actually hit.

I think it was related to this - If a figure has the "Focus" keyword it may become focused after attacking. If the target suffers one or more 'damage', the attacker becomes Focused after the attack resolves. Focus, Page 12, rule ref guide. (although it seems like you could become focused if you hit or not with these two sentences. Then also the elite Trandoshans don't have a straight out Focus ability as you must pay a surge.)

Though I thought I could use the surge ability as - A 'surge' ability that relates to a keyword, such as Blast, Cleave, or a condition, applies after the attack resolves. Surges, Page 24 rule ref guide. (and the fact that I should be able to spend the surge at step 5) of the attack.)

Anyway can you lot enlighten and point me the right way.

Cheers.

RRG 9 "When an attack uses a condition as a keyword, the condition is applied using the following rules: the target of the attack must suffer one or more damage for the condition to apply."

When you surge it gives the attack that keyword so whoever said you couldn't focus the trandoshans when you missed was correct.

All condition keywords (Hide, Focus, Weaken, Bleed, Stun) need that the target suffered damage to apply the corresponding condition (hidden, focused, weakened, bleeding, stunned).

Also, note that miss is a weaker condition for attacker effects than not suffering damage. An attack can miss due to not reaching the required accuracy, or by a dodge rolled, but not suffering damage from the attack can also happen if the defense pool has at least an equal number of (unpierced) blocks that there are hits/damage in the attack pool. A miss automatically causes the defender to suffer no damage from the attack.

Cool thanks.