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General Tabletop Discussion
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Is Surprise worth it as a mechanic?
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<blockquote data-quote="toucanbuzz" data-source="post: 8724275" data-attributes="member: 19270"><p>I like rewarding players for doing something other than charging in like maniacs, so surprise is a great way to do that.</p><p></p><p>Normally surprise is easy because common sense prevails. I don't need a check. But when I do, the rules get a bit janky.</p><p></p><p><strong>Group Checks.</strong> A poor way to do it that doesn't make sense. If 2/4 folks beat enemy passive perception, but #3 and #4 are wearing loud plate mail and playing flutes, the check still succeeds technically because half made it.</p><p></p><p><strong>Individual Checks. </strong>Better, but can get tricky to track on a foe-by-foe basis (e.g. some PCs are noticed and some aren't by some enemies). For me, it's usually all or nothing. If even one enemy notices one of you, they'll do something that will alert others to trouble.</p><p></p><p>Beyond that, I've stumbled across a proposal that maybe certain PCs can "take lead point" on physical activities, such as sneaking ahead and giving pointers to other PCs. Translation: if they succeed, other PCs get advantage on the check. Another alternative was to add a modifier based on the lead PC's roll, up to +2 or -2 based on how good or bad they rolled.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="toucanbuzz, post: 8724275, member: 19270"] I like rewarding players for doing something other than charging in like maniacs, so surprise is a great way to do that. Normally surprise is easy because common sense prevails. I don't need a check. But when I do, the rules get a bit janky. [B]Group Checks.[/B] A poor way to do it that doesn't make sense. If 2/4 folks beat enemy passive perception, but #3 and #4 are wearing loud plate mail and playing flutes, the check still succeeds technically because half made it. [B]Individual Checks. [/B]Better, but can get tricky to track on a foe-by-foe basis (e.g. some PCs are noticed and some aren't by some enemies). For me, it's usually all or nothing. If even one enemy notices one of you, they'll do something that will alert others to trouble. Beyond that, I've stumbled across a proposal that maybe certain PCs can "take lead point" on physical activities, such as sneaking ahead and giving pointers to other PCs. Translation: if they succeed, other PCs get advantage on the check. Another alternative was to add a modifier based on the lead PC's roll, up to +2 or -2 based on how good or bad they rolled. [/QUOTE]
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Is Surprise worth it as a mechanic?
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