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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 524660" data-attributes="member: 4937">The basic sequence in combat is thus:1) Is everyone aware of everyone else's precence (through spot and listen checks).  If yes, start a normal round.  If no, start a surprise round. 2) Surprise Round: Everyone that is aware of thier foes is not surprised.  If you are not surprised, roll initiative.  If you are surprised DO NOT roll initiative, because you do not get an action this round.  Everyone who is not surprised may on thier initiative take a partial action.  Everyone who has not yet acted, is flat-footed and thus subject to a sneak attack.3) First Regular Round: If you do not yet have an initiative, roll initiative.  Everyone may on thier initiative take a regular action.  Everyone who has not yet acted, is _still_ flat-footed and thus subject to a sneak attack.For example:  Through stealth, Lidda (7th level Rogue) surprises a troll.   Lidda and the Troll are the only combatants.  Lidda rolls a 10, but modified by dex and improved initiative, this becomes an 18.  Lidda takes her action, and fires her +1 light crossbow at the troll, hits and applies sneak attack damage: 1d8 + 1 + 4d6 = 20 damage.  Bam!  The troll doesn't get to act, because he's totally surprised to find a crossbow bolt sticking out of his throat.  This ends the surprise round.  The troll now rolls his initiative: a 13.  This isn't good enough to beat Lidda's 17, so Lidda goes again.  Because the Troll still hasn't taken an action it is still flat footed.  Lidda cocks and fires faster than the Troll can stagger toward her, and hits again.  This time she scores a critical hit for 2d8 + 2 + 4d6 damage = 28!  The troll has now taken 48 damage, and finally gets a chance to rend that scrawny halfling limb from limb.</blockquote>

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