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<blockquote data-quote="Jon Gilliam" data-source="post: 8037390" data-attributes="member: 6920404">Maybe we do have a disagreement.&nbsp; I think the right interpretation of the rules as written is that &quot;noticing a threat&quot; is absolutely meant to be read exactly the same as &quot;noticing an opponent&quot;, regardless of what the creature doing the noticing believes about that opponent.&nbsp; We addressed our reasons for believing that in the following FAQs:<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Can I initiate surprise by deceiving an adjacent opponent into believing I'm actually an ally and then suddenly attacking?&nbsp; No, since surprise requires hiding and you would not be hidden from your opponent because they could notice that your attack was coming.&nbsp; This would be an initiative roll, but if your opponent who had been successfully deceived previously (Insight vs Deception check) wins initiative, they may choose to do nothing to counter your attack on their turn if they momentarily believe the initiation of your action is due to something else other than commencing an attack.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Can I initiate surprise by deceiving an adjacent opponent into believing I'm actually an ally and concealing my dagger thrust as I attack?&nbsp;&nbsp; No, because you would have to be hidden to initiate surprise, and if you were able to conceal your attack this way for surprise purposes, you would in effect be hiding in plain sight, which is a special ability of 10th level rangers.&nbsp; Per the rules, most creatures stay alert for signs of danger all around, and without any special ability or trait indicating otherwise, any concealment of your thrust during attack is included in your bonuses and modifiers on your to hit roll.&nbsp; Note that even the Assassin rogue archetype's &quot;Assassinate&quot; ability doesn't automatically assume you have surprised a creature (since it provides an additional benefit if that is the case), and it doesn't require a Stealth check.&nbsp; Similarly, the rogue's &quot;Sneak Attack&quot; ability doesn't presume you have surprised the target, only that you have advantage on the attack roll.</li>
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[QUOTE="Jon Gilliam, post: 8037390, member: 6920404"] Maybe we do have a disagreement. I think the right interpretation of the rules as written is that "noticing a threat" is absolutely meant to be read exactly the same as "noticing an opponent", regardless of what the creature doing the noticing believes about that opponent. We addressed our reasons for believing that in the following FAQs: [LIST] [*][B]Can I initiate surprise by deceiving an adjacent opponent into believing I'm actually an ally and then suddenly attacking?[/B] No, since surprise requires hiding and you would not be hidden from your opponent because they could notice that your attack was coming. This would be an initiative roll, but if your opponent who had been successfully deceived previously (Insight vs Deception check) wins initiative, they may choose to do nothing to counter your attack on their turn if they momentarily believe the initiation of your action is due to something else other than commencing an attack. [*][B]Can I initiate surprise by deceiving an adjacent opponent into believing I'm actually an ally and concealing my dagger thrust as I attack?[/B] No, because you would have to be hidden to initiate surprise, and if you were able to conceal your attack this way for surprise purposes, you would in effect be hiding in plain sight, which is a special ability of 10th level rangers. Per the rules, most creatures stay alert for signs of danger all around, and without any special ability or trait indicating otherwise, any concealment of your thrust during attack is included in your bonuses and modifiers on your to hit roll. Note that even the Assassin rogue archetype's "Assassinate" ability doesn't automatically assume you have surprised a creature (since it provides an additional benefit if that is the case), and it doesn't require a Stealth check. Similarly, the rogue's "Sneak Attack" ability doesn't presume you have surprised the target, only that you have advantage on the attack roll. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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