D&D 5E Can Someone Please Clarify Surprise?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

It makes things easier if you use group checks for the characters or groups of enemies who are trying to be stealthy and surprise.



So in a party with a couple heavy armor clad warriors and a rogue expert in stealth and a couple high dex light or no armor using people it all averages out.

I would think for things like group stealth you would roll off the worst stealth roll or something like that, the quiet guys don't muffle the racket a man makes walking around in plate armor.

 

[KarinsDad]

I would think for things like group stealth you would roll off the worst stealth roll or something like that, the quiet guys don't muffle the racket a man makes walking around in plate armor.

A group check for stealth is not really any different than a group check for climbing a cliff face. Everyone uses ropes and they assist those who are lousy climbers over the tough spots.

In the case of group stealth check, the rogue-like guys hand signal the plate guys when to move forward, they stuff a few rags in the seams of the armor, they rub some dirt on the armor to make it less visible, they make some natural sound in one area to mask the sound in the direction of they guy in plate, etc. It's a group activity done slow and quietly. The only reason heavy armor make noise is because of movement. No movement, no noise. If a PC in plate is hiding behind a rock and not moving, as DM I am not giving him disadvantage on his stealth check to be spotted. His plate armor is not shining like the sun. I only give disadvantage on stealth in heavy armor for actually moving and trying to stay quiet. I also remove that disadvantage if the PC has heavy armor and Boots of Elvenkind. He does not need both Boots of Elvenkind and a Cloak of Elvenkind to remove disadvantage and move stealthy in my game. The boots work against sound, the cloak works against sight.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'm far less lenient than you.

 

[KarinsDad]

I'm far less lenient than you.

Actually, you might not be.

The only reason I go with group stealth checks is because gsc plus passive perception (or especially gsc plus active perception) works mechanically a whole lot better than the rule as written. The rule as written is pretty darn bad due to lack of frequency (i.e. it's the opposite of fun).

 

[Athinar]

Groups normal don't travel in one tight group, the Stealthy types go out in front some distance and move stealthy will the Tanks stay in the back, but if they do travel in one tight group the weak link in the chain would be the tank and it's roll for stealth would be used