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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Starglim" data-source="post: 3040982" data-attributes="member: 17011">From a design or game-completeness point of view, I think there should be an action "I cover him with my weapon and if he makes any move I stab/shoot him." It's a familiar real-world situation, DM plot device and player desire - so it's useful on both sides of the screen.It's subject (in the real world and gameplay) to exactly the dilemma that you mentioned: if the target attempts a possibly non-hostile action, the attacker must make an instant snap decision either to kill the guy or lose the advantage over him, introducing a great point of tension and tactical decision.I'm not sure how the consideration of in-character phrasing comes into it. Combat actions should be stated by the player and judged by the DM in understandable game-mechanic terms - it would be silly and arbitrary to run a combat according to a D&D character's speeches.Most things that are game-relevant actions are either self-evidently recognisable as an action to other characters (such as starting to turn and run, or draw a weapon) or the Attack of Opportunity rules make it clear that characters can perceive them (such as casting a Still and Silent spell).</blockquote>