A few basic rules questions...

[Arravis]

I know that these questions might seem basic and simple, but I suspect our group has been doing it wrong and I want verification one way or another.



Example 1:
Bob's Hero's, a group of adventurers and Grog's Boys', a group of orcs are both facing each other and speaking. If Bob's Hero's suddenly attack the orcs... who goes first? The orcs were expecting a fight at some point, so they aren't surprised. Is initiative rolled normally? Does the individual initiating the action go first? Or the entire group of humans? Do they get a surprise round? Do they get partial actions?

Example 2:
If Bob's Hero's sneak up on Grog's Boy's and surprise them. Exactly how long are Grog's Boy's flatfooted? Until the beginning of a normal non-surprise round, or until their initiative in the normal non-surprise round?

Well, thanks guys!

 

[Crothian]

Example 1:
Bob's Hero's, a group of adventurers and Grog's Boys', a group of orcs are both facing each other and speaking. If Bob's Hero's suddenly attack the orcs... who goes first? The orcs were expecting a fight at some point, so they aren't surprised. Is initiative rolled normally? Does the individual initiating the action go first? Or the entire group of humans? Do they get a surprise round? Do they get partial actions?

Roll iniative as normal since both are expecting a fight.

Example 2:
If Bob's Hero's sneak up on Grog's Boy's and surprise them. Exactly how long are Grog's Boy's flatfooted? Until the beginning of a normal non-surprise round, or until their initiative in the normal non-surprise round?

They are flatfooted until they go which is their iniative number during the non suprise round.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Yes, what Crothian said.

 

[Arravis]

So it's possible for the person initiating combat to actually go last? That makes little sense. If I'm the first to run you through with my spear... how can everyone react to me running you through with my spear when I haven't yet run you through with my spear....

my 'ed 'urts .

 

[Crothian]

So it's possible for the person initiating combat to actually go last? That makes little sense. If I'm the first to run you through with my spear... how can everyone react to me running you through with my spear when I haven't yet run you through with my spear....

my 'ed 'urts .

You ever watch the an old western were you have two people out in the middle of the street readdy to draw on each other? So we have Guy A and Guy B. Guy A goes for his gun, but Guy B is faster. He's able to react to Guy A's movement and shoot him first.

They aren't reacting to you running throw someone with your spear. They are reacting to the first twitch that gives away your movement.

 

[Izod]

Also are you still flat footed if you can see the bad guy attacking you but haven't gone yet. ie bad guys suprise you get a free partial action and use that action to close with you. then since they won init they attack you first. the hero makes his spot check when the bad guy charges into the fray but is he still flatfooted?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Also are you still flat footed if you can see the bad guy attacking you but haven't gone yet.

Yes. You remain flat-footed until your turn in the first round of combat.

 

[Izod]

Yes. You remain flat-footed until your turn in the first round of combat.

so even tho hte hero knows the bad guy is there and attacking he can not raise his shield or even declare that he is going to dodge that target. So basically the hero knowing that there is a nasty orc in his face he can see the orc and even smell his stinky breath he can't defend?

What about free actions. can't these happen at any time during the round? isn't raising an already readyed shield a free action?

 

[RigaMortus]

So it's possible for the person initiating combat to actually go last? That makes little sense. If I'm the first to run you through with my spear... how can everyone react to me running you through with my spear when I haven't yet run you through with my spear....

my 'ed 'urts .

Just because initiave is rolled doesn't necessarily mean the opponents HAVE to attack first. If everyone on the side of Grog's Boy's got higher initiative then everyone on the side of Bob's Hero's BUT Grog's Boys didn't have any intention of attacking, then they wouldn't. That is up to the DM to role-play out.

That is usually how my group handles things.

Example: I'm playing a Paladin right now. He prefers to not just charge into battle everytime he sees an orc (unless the orc is hurting someone of course). He prefers to ask questions first. However, my groupmates are a bit more rash. If they intend to rush off and attack the orc and I end up getting the highest initiative, I'm not going to suddenly start off the fight because that wasn't my intention. So I'd pretty much sit back until my groupmates did something then either tell them "What are you guys doing, this orc isn't hurting anyone"... OR... if I see it was indeed a trap and other orcs were hiding for an ambush, then I would decide to defend my rash groupmates (who coincidentally made the right call in charging, hehe).

Stuff like this happens a lot in the campaign I play in, and that is usually how we handle it.

 

[Crothian]

What about free actions. can't these happen at any time during the round? isn't raising an already readyed shield a free action?

Free actions can only happen on your initiative. However, if you have your shield on your arm and it's in use then it's in use. There really isn't any readying of a shield.