D&D 5E Non-stealth surprise

[fil512]

Say the party is being escorted by neutral guards to the throne room and they do not suspect the party to be hostile, but on the way there, the impatient barbarian attacks a guard. Is that a surprise round?


Sent from my iPad using EN World mobile app

 

[Kobold Stew]

The guard has one job.
No. Roll initiative.

 

[fil512]

So the guards could all kill the barbarian before he even attacked? But they weren't expecting it. I would assume at a minimum the barbarian would get his attack in before anything else happened.


Sent from my iPad using EN World

 

[mellored]

If someone doesn't expect it, then yes, they are surprised.

That said, guards are supposed to be on guard.

 

[Hriston]

If the guards have noticed any member of the party before the barbarian attacks they are not surprised when he does.

 

[Horwath]

If the guards have noticed any member of the party before the barbarian attacks they are not surprised when he does.

I would not be so strict with the letter of the law, go with the spirit of the law.

I would give barbarian and any member of the party that has hostile intentions to roll deception vs. guards insight.

If guards are really suspicious they get an advantage on insight roll.

It's not that hard to get "sucker punch" on target.

 

[Hriston]

I would not be so strict with the letter of the law, go with the spirit of the law.

I would give barbarian and any member of the party that has hostile intentions to roll deception vs. guards insight.

If guards are really suspicious they get an advantage on insight roll.

That isn't the spirit or the intent. You don't need to suspect a threat to notice one.

It's not that hard to get "sucker punch" on target.

"Sucker punch" is not surprise. "Sucker punch" is winning initiative.

 

[Prakriti]

If the guards are surprised, then so is everyone else in the party.

 

[Pathkeeper24601]

I would not be so strict with the letter of the law, go with the spirit of the law.

I would give barbarian and any member of the party that has hostile intentions to roll deception vs. guards insight.

If guards are really suspicious they get an advantage on insight roll.

It's not that hard to get "sucker punch" on target.

Alternately you could go with Slight of Hand vs. Passive Perception (+5 for Advantage if they have reason to suspect something). A watchful guard could just be quicker on the draw if he sees the Barbarian make his move. Whatever mechanism for surprise, I would apply that to the Barbarian's party as well if they weren't expecting an attack either.

Now, if they did beat the Barbarian's initiative, I would probably have them either holing an attack or dodging until the Barbarian actually attacks. That way the Barbarian gets a chance at a "just kidding" moment instead of a "they started it".

 

[Harzel]

That isn't the spirit or the intent. You don't need to suspect a threat to notice one.

So are you saying that the guards somehow automatically 'notice' a threat before the barbarian acts? If so, why is that a certainty? Or did I misunderstand your comment?