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How do you handle someone who is not surprised but is unaware of any threats?
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<blockquote data-quote="clearstream" data-source="post: 8030974" data-attributes="member: 71699"><p>I liked your discussion above, and having slept on it, I think we can go one better <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Consider "<em>Any character or monster that doesn't notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter</em>" and the Alert colour text "<em>Always on the lookout for danger...</em>" As some posters argued, we can stipulate that Alert causes a character to preternaturally notice danger... while still ruling that this level of awareness falls short of pinpointing a foe's location or breaking its concealment abilities. A DM might like to give hints in the environment - <em>a rustle, a vapour</em> - or they might like their players to choose character-specific narration - <em>the cold touch of your patron's hand runs a shiver down your back</em>.</p><p></p><p>Mechanically, we can hold in mind that we can treat surprise like a condition, and Alert prevents that condition while you are conscious. Even if you are deafened and blinded, if you have Alert and are conscious the surprise condition can't apply to you. (Which argues more in favour of per-character cues, than in-the-environment cues, for my money.)</p><p></p><p>The common case of surprise is that foes are hidden - making stealth rolls that beat party passive perception. The case is common, because if foes aren't hidden they're less likely to qualify for surprise! For assassins and rogues, becing concealed could trigger additional effects. If Alert made characters aware of foes in the mechanically stronger sense (of revealing them), then it would negate their stealth rolls and prevent such effects. That doesn't seem right (and is covered by other feats, like Observant). Instead, we can rule that Alert makes characters aware of foes in a mechanically weaker sense, letting them know combat has started.</p><p></p><p>[USER=6704184]@doctorbadwolf[/USER] [USER=6855259]@auburn2[/USER] [USER=23751]@Maxperson[/USER] I wonder if the above covers your concerns?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="clearstream, post: 8030974, member: 71699"] I liked your discussion above, and having slept on it, I think we can go one better :) Consider "[I]Any character or monster that doesn't notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter[/I]" and the Alert colour text "[I]Always on the lookout for danger...[/I]" As some posters argued, we can stipulate that Alert causes a character to preternaturally notice danger... while still ruling that this level of awareness falls short of pinpointing a foe's location or breaking its concealment abilities. A DM might like to give hints in the environment - [I]a rustle, a vapour[/I] - or they might like their players to choose character-specific narration - [I]the cold touch of your patron's hand runs a shiver down your back[/I]. Mechanically, we can hold in mind that we can treat surprise like a condition, and Alert prevents that condition while you are conscious. Even if you are deafened and blinded, if you have Alert and are conscious the surprise condition can't apply to you. (Which argues more in favour of per-character cues, than in-the-environment cues, for my money.) The common case of surprise is that foes are hidden - making stealth rolls that beat party passive perception. The case is common, because if foes aren't hidden they're less likely to qualify for surprise! For assassins and rogues, becing concealed could trigger additional effects. If Alert made characters aware of foes in the mechanically stronger sense (of revealing them), then it would negate their stealth rolls and prevent such effects. That doesn't seem right (and is covered by other feats, like Observant). Instead, we can rule that Alert makes characters aware of foes in a mechanically weaker sense, letting them know combat has started. [USER=6704184]@doctorbadwolf[/USER] [USER=6855259]@auburn2[/USER] [USER=23751]@Maxperson[/USER] I wonder if the above covers your concerns? [/QUOTE]
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How do you handle someone who is not surprised but is unaware of any threats?
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