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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 8400107" data-attributes="member: 97077">I think this is a fine ruling. The game seems to establish that the order of combat is uncertain by default (and there's a meaningful consequence for failure - your opponent gets to act before you do!), but initiative is still an ability check and all the rules for ability checks apply. If the uncertainty the game establishes is removed from the equation by some reasonable circumstance in the fiction, there is no ability check and the DM simply narrates what happens: The PC or NPC goes first, no roll. Everyone else rolls.The only concern here is that this is going to be an usual call at many (most?) tables, so making it clear to players in advance that this may occur is key, as is taking into account any investments the player may have made in the area of initiative or surprise avoidance.</blockquote>