D&D 5E (2024) How do you handle surprised but won initiative?

[Lanefan]

But casting a fireball involves speaking out a magical incantation and waving around a piece of batshit, it's not instant like pulling the trigger on a rifle.

In 5e those things take the same amount of time: one action.

 

[SableWyvern]

I could be wrong, but I think Viva La Dirt League did do a sketch about initiating combat but rolling lower for initiative than the target of your attack. I know I have definitely seen a comedy sketch about that at least, might have been a different group though.

You may be thinking of "Not My Turn," where the archer is waiting for the half orc (with lower initiative) to move out the way in order to take a shot.

They also did "Turn Based" about initiative generally.

I don't recall and can't find any skits about surprise specifically. There could be something in one of their actual plays; I don't watch any of those.

 

[Horwath]

In 5e those things take the same amount of time: one action.

but narrative is different,
it would be similar if sniper would have to chamber a round before shooting and sniper is in hearing distance.

you knpw what they say about bullets; you hear the bullet that misses you.