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<blockquote data-quote="raindog308" data-source="post: 5342415" data-attributes="member: 95407">Getting up to speed on 4e combat...some simple DM questions...(1) Initiative order is a 3rd level wizard acting before a group of Orc Raiders.&nbsp; This is round 1.The wizard casts sleep.&nbsp; The attack is INT vs Will.&nbsp; Wizard's INT is 18 (+4).Attack roll is d20 (rolls 12) + 4 + 1/2 level (1) = 17Orc Raiders' Will is 12, so this is a hit.Now...the effect of each spell (p160 PHB) says&quot;Hit: The taget is slowed (save ends).&nbsp; If the target fails its first saving through against this power, the target becomes unconscious (save ends).&quot;So if I read this literally it means:Round 1, Orc turn: they are slowed.&nbsp; At the end of their turn, they make a save.&nbsp; If they succeed, they are no longer slowed.&nbsp; If they fail, they are asleep.Round 2, Orc turn: If they were asleep, if they make a save and wake up, back to normal (not slowed).&nbsp; If they were slowed, if they make a save, they are back to normal.In other words, the &quot;sleep&quot; part of sleep (unconscious) is not instant but rather happens at the end of the Orcs' turn if they fail a save. Practically, this means that the target of a Sleep spell always has one more turn to act.&nbsp; I guess it takes a while to fall asleep.(2) Speaking of initiative, let's say we have a couple groups of monsters - a group of Orc Raiders and some Orc Beserkers with a Dire Boar, attacking the party from two sides.&nbsp; Would you roll each group of monsters' initiative separately?&nbsp; The rules don't really clarify this.&nbsp; I've always played that each distinct group of monsters is a separate initiative slot, so in this case I'd roll initiative for the raiders and initiative for the Beserker/Boar group.(3) From what I can find in 4e, which direction a character or monster is facing really makes no difference.&nbsp; E.g., there's no backstabbing, though Rogues have Sneak Attack which doesn't depend on facing.&nbsp; Am I reading things correctly?(4) Do Rogue First Strike and Sneak Attack powers stack?&nbsp; Let's say the initiative order is 3rd level Rogue, Monster.&nbsp; The rogue has First Strike&nbsp; because the monster hasn't acted yet, which grants the rogue combat&nbsp; advantage.&nbsp; Rogue does a melee attack with a dagger and hits.&nbsp; Does he also get the Sneak Attack +2d6 damage?&nbsp; (Or 2d8 if he has the Backstabber feat)</blockquote>

[QUOTE="raindog308, post: 5342415, member: 95407"] Getting up to speed on 4e combat...some simple DM questions... (1) Initiative order is a 3rd level wizard acting before a group of Orc Raiders. This is round 1. The wizard casts sleep. The attack is INT vs Will. Wizard's INT is 18 (+4). Attack roll is d20 (rolls 12) + 4 + 1/2 level (1) = 17 Orc Raiders' Will is 12, so this is a hit. Now...the effect of each spell (p160 PHB) says "Hit: The taget is slowed (save ends). If the target fails its first saving through against this power, the target becomes unconscious (save ends)." So if I read this literally it means: Round 1, Orc turn: they are slowed. At the end of their turn, they make a save. If they succeed, they are no longer slowed. If they fail, they are asleep. Round 2, Orc turn: If they were asleep, if they make a save and wake up, back to normal (not slowed). If they were slowed, if they make a save, they are back to normal. In other words, the "sleep" part of sleep (unconscious) is not instant but rather happens at the end of the Orcs' turn if they fail a save. Practically, this means that the target of a Sleep spell always has one more turn to act. I guess it takes a while to fall asleep. (2) Speaking of initiative, let's say we have a couple groups of monsters - a group of Orc Raiders and some Orc Beserkers with a Dire Boar, attacking the party from two sides. Would you roll each group of monsters' initiative separately? The rules don't really clarify this. I've always played that each distinct group of monsters is a separate initiative slot, so in this case I'd roll initiative for the raiders and initiative for the Beserker/Boar group. (3) From what I can find in 4e, which direction a character or monster is facing really makes no difference. E.g., there's no backstabbing, though Rogues have Sneak Attack which doesn't depend on facing. Am I reading things correctly? (4) Do Rogue First Strike and Sneak Attack powers stack? Let's say the initiative order is 3rd level Rogue, Monster. The rogue has First Strike because the monster hasn't acted yet, which grants the rogue combat advantage. Rogue does a melee attack with a dagger and hits. Does he also get the Sneak Attack +2d6 damage? (Or 2d8 if he has the Backstabber feat) [/QUOTE]

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