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Non-stealth surprise
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<blockquote data-quote="Arial Black" data-source="post: 7119318" data-attributes="member: 6799649"><p>You don't need to break the 5E rules in order to adjudicate this scene in a sensible way; you can do that by following the rules.</p><p></p><p>In this case the rule in question is "the DM determines who is surprised". <em>How</em> the DM determines surprise is not a rule, although a suggestion is given for the most common D&D scenario: Stealth/Perception when encountering a creature you didn't know was there. This doesn't preclude scenarios where other methods would be more appropriate, such as when you <em>do</em> know a creature is there but you <em>don't</em> recognise it as a threat.</p><p></p><p>The DM rules that Mr. Armour Pants is surprised and that the goblins are not. The DM doesn't need to roll or ask for rolls. In this case the DM rules that the antics of Twinkle Toes have certainly alerted the goblins and the response of the goblins and the lack of care by Mr. Armour Pants takes away any uncertainty.</p><p></p><p>Since the idiot is surprised then he can't do anything on his turn, even if he wins initiative. The goblins can then shoot him on their first turns.</p><p></p><p>You don't need to break the combat rules in order to have the sensible result of the goblins shooting the idiot before the idiot can do anything.</p><p></p><p>And yes it is against the 5E rules to take the Ready Action In Combat...<em>outside</em> combat. First, Actions In Combat are neither allowed or required to 'do stuff' when you are not in initiative/combat rounds. Second, the Ready Action specifically affects the timing of events <em>in the combat round</em>, so the Ready Action has no function outside of combat rounds.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Arial Black, post: 7119318, member: 6799649"] You don't need to break the 5E rules in order to adjudicate this scene in a sensible way; you can do that by following the rules. In this case the rule in question is "the DM determines who is surprised". [i]How[/i] the DM determines surprise is not a rule, although a suggestion is given for the most common D&D scenario: Stealth/Perception when encountering a creature you didn't know was there. This doesn't preclude scenarios where other methods would be more appropriate, such as when you [i]do[/i] know a creature is there but you [i]don't[/i] recognise it as a threat. The DM rules that Mr. Armour Pants is surprised and that the goblins are not. The DM doesn't need to roll or ask for rolls. In this case the DM rules that the antics of Twinkle Toes have certainly alerted the goblins and the response of the goblins and the lack of care by Mr. Armour Pants takes away any uncertainty. Since the idiot is surprised then he can't do anything on his turn, even if he wins initiative. The goblins can then shoot him on their first turns. You don't need to break the combat rules in order to have the sensible result of the goblins shooting the idiot before the idiot can do anything. And yes it is against the 5E rules to take the Ready Action In Combat...[i]outside[/i] combat. First, Actions In Combat are neither allowed or required to 'do stuff' when you are not in initiative/combat rounds. Second, the Ready Action specifically affects the timing of events [i]in the combat round[/i], so the Ready Action has no function outside of combat rounds. [/QUOTE]
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