Straight forward question. If a player is eliminated in action window 3.1A or 3.2A, does that player still count towards the number of cards to be flipped during staging?
When do you determine the number of players for staging?
AFAIK, the # of cards revealed is determined at the outset of framework step 3.3. So, while it is known that player elimination during staging does not change the # of encounter cards—e.g., this ruling —I think elimination beforehand means that fewer are revealed.
(BTW, that shorthand of "3.1A" is excellent, and I will adopt it from now on.)