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<blockquote data-quote="BoldItalic" data-source="post: 6820162" data-attributes="member: 6777052">A problem that DMs create for themselves if they try to strike at the PCs before rolling initiative, is that the players are not (yet) bound by combat turns. They can do anything they like by way of a response, including thwarting the attack or obviating the situation entirely.DM: Suddenly, a monster crashes through the floor and bites you. Take 24 damage.Player1: We kill the monsters and take all their stuff, heal up and move on.Player2: We are travelling at fast pace. What's round the next corner?DM: Hold on ...Surprising the players as a dramatic effect can be fun for everyone. 'Surprise', as applied to PCs, has no effect whatever except in the first round of combat. And until combat is declared and initiative is rolled, there are no rounds. Outside of combat, the players are not limited to taking actions in turns. And monsters do not get turns either. They can't take the actions listed in their stat blocks. They can't take attack actions. They can't roll to hit. They can't inflict damage.That's how it is in 5e. If you want your monsters to hurt the PCs, you have to declare combat first.If you really want to play evil DMs, use traps.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BoldItalic, post: 6820162, member: 6777052"] A problem that DMs create for themselves if they try to strike at the PCs before rolling initiative, is that the players are not (yet) bound by combat turns. They can do anything they like by way of a response, including thwarting the attack or obviating the situation entirely. DM: Suddenly, a monster crashes through the floor and bites you. Take 24 damage. Player1: We kill the monsters and take all their stuff, heal up and move on. Player2: We are travelling at fast pace. What's round the next corner? DM: Hold on ... Surprising the [u]players[/u] as a dramatic effect can be fun for everyone. 'Surprise', as applied to [u]PCs[/u], has no effect whatever except in the first round of combat. And until combat is declared and initiative is rolled, there are no rounds. Outside of combat, the players are not limited to taking actions in turns. And monsters do not get turns either. They can't take the actions listed in their stat blocks. They can't take attack actions. They can't roll to hit. They can't inflict damage. That's how it is in 5e. If you want your monsters to hurt the PCs, you have to declare combat first. If you really want to play evil DMs, use traps. [/QUOTE]

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