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Message: <blockquote data-quote="epithet" data-source="post: 6685879" data-attributes="member: 6796566">Perhaps the rule should be read as "cannot move or take an action on your next turn." It would be the target's first turn after the encounter was initiated, if you consider the surprise attack to the be event that initiates the combat encounter.So, for example, your assassin is undetected and intends to assassinate the target. Initiative is rolled, and the target's initiative is 15, the assassin's is 10. The target is unaware of the assassin and can move and act normally on his turn at initiative 15, continuing to walk his patrol route, make his performance check to play the lute, etc. This is not a turn in the combat, because the combat has not begun.At initiative 10, the assassin strikes. His attack, if it hits, is an automatic critical. The target becomes unable to take reactions at this point.At initiative 15, on round 2, the target gets his first turn in the combat, but cannot move or take an action because of surprise. After that turn, he can take reactions.Now, I know you're going to protest that "the rules" set forth an order--a series of steps to follow when combat begins. That's an example of a narrow framework, by the way. I'm telling you that not every combat should begin in exactly the same way, and that the narrative should be given priority in determining the circumstances when combat is initiated. The rules are guidelines and examples, but cannot contemplate all the strategies of a creative party of murder-hobos. You've got to be flexible and adaptive, and make the rules serve the role-playing.</blockquote>

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