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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 2114642" data-attributes="member: 2011">That's called metagaming.I won't bother to explain it to you since I know you already know the concept, but suffice to say that there are no "rolling inits" from the point of view of characters.Now, this is a good point.The answer has been talked around before in the thread, but it is getting a bit long, so I'll reiterate.First, this can only be done when you are aware of your opponents. The rules prohibit it if you are not aware of your opponents.Second, this can only be done when neither side immediately initiates combat.Third, the very act of readying an action itself might initiate "real combat" immediately. For example, if I ready to fire my crossbow at the head of the Thieves Guild, every thief in the guild will see me lift up my crossbow and point it at hiim. The ready action has to be more subtle or the opponents will notice. And, even then the DM might require a Spot roll. This might be more useful when one side spots the other but are not seen in return, and has multiple rounds to act first.Fourth, most PCs and NPCs are incapable of doing Attacks of Opportunity without having weapons drawn. So, although this maneuver might prevent the Dex loss and sneak attacks, it will often not gain AoOs unless the characters already had melee weapons drawn.Fifth, this cannot be used to ready an action all day long. The DM has to decide how long it is reasonable to ready an action. For example, as soon as they get into the Thieves guild, one PC stands in the corner and has a knife held behind his cloak ready to throw it (or, he might have gone into the guildhouse invisible or something). If none of the thieves notice, the DM might rule that this is like concentration and it is reasonable that the PC can be ready to throw for the entire 15 minute conversation. Another DM might rule that he can do it for 10 rounds, but that is why we have DMs.Sixth, a player must explicitly declare this intention. It doesn't happen automatically.Seventh, yes, NPCs can do this as well. But with the constraints one through five listed above (six does not matter to NPCs), it shouldn't happen a lot. If the DM allows this, he must explain it to his players carefully so that they know what to expect when NPCs do it to them.So, I suspect that this will not be used too often. However, it does avoid the problem of flot-footed in round one for some unique circumstances. It does not solve it completely. And, it does it fairly for both sides. The PCs will not be flat-footed, but then again, neither will the NPCs. You don't just gain something here, you give something up too.</blockquote>

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