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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pickaxe" data-source="post: 2111318" data-attributes="member: 10812">They're not prepared, they're anticipating; they're aware. That doesn't mean they get to act first or react preemptively, in the game or in RL. The game mechanic simulates a special advantage to acting before any of your opponents, an advantage you lose once everyone is acting. Ever play the game where you put your hand out and someone else has to slap it before you pull it away? That's a game of intitiative; you're both "prepared" as you would say it, but that ensures success for neither of you. Combat starts with the slap game, then moves into arm wrestling.You also get your Dex bonus to your Hide and Move Silently checks, as well as to lots of other things. Why should the mechanic for avoiding a trap or hiding be the same as that for combat?Consider the circumstances under which this will occur. If this happens, it's due either to:1) Luck (i.e., die rolls)2) Large differences in initiative bonuses3) Combination of bothIn addition, the unlucky party must be unaware of its attacker.If we take all of the examples listed in this thread and assume that all of the participants are average humans (Dex 10), then it's luck. The would-be assassin lunges for the king, roll initiative. If he beats all of the guards and the king, he gets his sneak attack. His chance of success is small. Do you deny that there should be any chance of success?Now give the assassin an 18 Dex and Improved Initiative. Yes, he will probably beat everyone on his initiative roll, but his Dex is exceptional for a human, and he has a feat, a remarkable ability, so his chance of success is much greater. But why shouldn't it be? If he can beat 10 guards on initiative, then he gets his chance. That means 10 rolls of 8 plus the assassin's roll or lower for a happy assassin, assuming no Dex bonus for the guards. That's by no means automatic.Fine. He approaches the king; roll intiative. If the guard wins, his "readied" action goes off. But he only gets to act on his initiative roll.I'm surprised that you have a problem with this. Aren't the guards doing exactly what you wanted to happen when you started this thread? They are "prepared" for an attack, they see someone drawing a sword, and (if they roll well) they get to attack him at advantage.--Axe</blockquote>

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