diff --git a/scenes/main.gd b/scenes/main.gd
index 9200620..ffd3d31 100644
--- a/scenes/main.gd
+++ b/scenes/main.gd
@@ -759,6 +759,10 @@ func _start_game():
 		if LobbyManager.game_mode == "Tekton Doors" and portal_mode_manager:
 			portal_mode_manager._randomize_connections()
 			
+		# STOP N GO: Rotate players to face East BEFORE countdown
+		if LobbyManager.game_mode == "Stop n Go" and stop_n_go_manager:
+			stop_n_go_manager.rotate_players_to_start()
+			
 		await _start_pre_game_countdown()
 		
 		GameStateManager.start_game()
@@ -1507,7 +1511,7 @@ func _deferred_set_player_goals(player_id: int, goals: Array):
 			ui_manager.update_playerboard_ui()
 
 
-@rpc("any_peer", "call_local")
+@rpc("any_peer", "call_local", "reliable")
 func sync_playerboard(player_id: int, new_playerboard: Array):
 	# Find the player and update their playerboard
 	var player = get_node_or_null(str(player_id))
diff --git a/scenes/player.gd b/scenes/player.gd
index 27677ee..f39c1cb 100644
--- a/scenes/player.gd
+++ b/scenes/player.gd
@@ -935,12 +935,22 @@ func on_stop_phase_violation():
 	# New Indefinite Freeze until phase ends
 	rpc("sync_stop_freeze", true)
 	
-	# Scatter items
-	var items_to_scatter = []
+	# Scatter only 3 random items (User request)
+	var occupied_indices = []
 	for i in range(playerboard.size()):
 		if playerboard[i] != -1:
-			items_to_scatter.append(playerboard[i])
-			playerboard[i] = -1
+			occupied_indices.append(i)
+	
+	if occupied_indices.is_empty(): return
+	
+	occupied_indices.shuffle()
+	var scatter_count = min(occupied_indices.size(), 3)
+	var items_to_scatter = []
+	
+	for i in range(scatter_count):
+		var idx = occupied_indices[i]
+		items_to_scatter.append(playerboard[idx])
+		playerboard[idx] = -1
 	
 	rpc("sync_playerboard", playerboard)
 	
@@ -2006,7 +2016,10 @@ func _highlight_adjacent_playerboard_slots():
 
 @rpc("any_peer", "call_local", "reliable")
 func sync_rotation(new_rotation: float):
-	if not is_multiplayer_authority():
+	# Apply rotation if we are NOT the authority (syncing others)
+	# OR if the server (ID 1) is forcing a rotation (start of match)
+	var sender_id = multiplayer.get_remote_sender_id()
+	if not is_multiplayer_authority() or sender_id == 1:
 		rotation.y = new_rotation
 		if movement_manager:
 			movement_manager.target_rotation = new_rotation
diff --git a/scripts/managers/stop_n_go_manager.gd b/scripts/managers/stop_n_go_manager.gd
index 71a5784..6a4a8c3 100644
--- a/scripts/managers/stop_n_go_manager.gd
+++ b/scripts/managers/stop_n_go_manager.gd
@@ -213,6 +213,15 @@ func start_game_mode():
 		# activate_client_side() can be called when first sync arrives
 		pass
 
+func rotate_players_to_start():
+	"""Force all players to face East (towards finish line). Called before countdown."""
+	if not multiplayer.is_server(): return
+	
+	var all_players = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("Players")
+	for p in all_players:
+		if p.has_method("rpc"):
+			p.rpc("sync_rotation", PI/2)
+
 func _start_phase(phase: Phase):
 	current_phase = phase
 	phase_timer = float(LobbyManager.sng_go_duration) if phase == Phase.GO else float(LobbyManager.sng_stop_duration)
@@ -226,7 +235,14 @@ func _start_phase(phase: Phase):
 			# --- STATIC SAFE ZONE: Penalize players outside the zone ---
 			var all_players = get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("Players")
 			for p in all_players:
-				if not _is_in_safe_zone(p.current_position):
+				# POSITION SYNC FIX: If player is currently moving on their client, 
+				# the server's 'current_position' might still be the old one.
+				# Use 'target_position' if they are moving.
+				var check_pos = p.current_position
+				if p.get("is_player_moving") and p.get("target_position") != Vector2i(-1, -1):
+					check_pos = p.target_position
+					
+				if not _is_in_safe_zone(check_pos):
 					_scatter_player_tiles(p)
 			
 			# Refresh power-ups every STOP phase
@@ -550,7 +566,12 @@ func _is_in_safe_zone(pos: Vector2i) -> bool:
 		gridmap = get_node_or_null("/root/Main/EnhancedGridMap")
 	if not gridmap: return false
 	
-	# Check Layer 2 (Overlay layer) for Safe Zone tile
+	# 1. Check Floor 0 for Start (3) or Finish (3) lines
+	var floor_tile = gridmap.get_cell_item(Vector3i(pos.x, 0, pos.y))
+	if floor_tile == TILE_START or floor_tile == TILE_FINISH:
+		return true
+		
+	# 2. Check Layer 2 (Overlay layer) for Dynamic Safe Zone tile
 	var overlay_tile = gridmap.get_cell_item(Vector3i(pos.x, 2, pos.y))
 	return overlay_tile == TILE_SAFE
 
@@ -715,7 +736,11 @@ func _scatter_player_tiles(player_node: Node):
 		main.rpc("sync_grid_item", drop_pos.x, 1, drop_pos.y, tile)
 	
 	# Sync cleared playerboard to all clients
-	main.rpc("sync_playerboard", peer_id, playerboard)
+	# Sync cleared playerboard via the player's own RPC (more robust than Main lookup)
+	player_node.rpc("sync_playerboard", playerboard)
+	
+	# FREEZE FIX: If they were caught outside, they should also be frozen like a movement violation
+	player_node.rpc("sync_stop_freeze", true)
 	
 	# Notify the player
 	SfxManager.rpc("play_rpc", "tile_scatter")
@@ -725,7 +750,7 @@ func _scatter_player_tiles(player_node: Node):
 	if player_node.has_method("trigger_screen_shake") and can_rpc():
 		player_node.rpc("trigger_screen_shake", "heavy")
 	
-	print("[StopNGo] Scattered %d tiles from Player %d" % [tiles_to_scatter.size(), peer_id])
+	print("[StopNGo] Caught outside: Scattered %d tiles from Player %d" % [tiles_to_scatter.size(), peer_id])
 
 # =============================================================================
 # OLD STATIC SAFE ZONE LOGIC (Retained for Reference)