Interrupting the BBEG to Start Combat

[Olaf the Stout]

Does not matter, he can't ready outside of combat. As most others have already said: Everyone is aware of each other, as soon as someone starts to fight it's time to roll initiative.

The only exception would be if someone is hiding somewhere and he's not been noticed yet.

Somehow this reminds me of the movie "The gamers"...

It immediately made me think of "The Gamers". I plan on showing the movie to my group and I'll quickly be pointing out who the elf at the ambush scene reminds me of!

Where is there the rule that says you can't ready out of combat?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Ok, it looks like the general consensus here is roll for initiative if someone does something hostile. That's what I'll go with from now on.

Thanks to everyone for their help and opinions.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Arnwyn]

Why isn't he rolling for initiative just like the rest of the party?

At any rate, we have a standing "rule" in our games. There's always time for villain monologues and witty banter during combat.

That's exactly what we do.

If the speech will affect the mechanics, then we'll let the mechanics take over. But until then... there's always room for Jello, er, villain monologues and witty banter.

 

[Gort]

As others have said, yeah, interrupting the BBEGs monologue simply results in rolling initiative, no special bonuses. In a way it's win-win if your players interrupt your BBEG - you've clearly engaged them emotionally. Unless of course, they're just thinking, "Look, a thing! We must kill the thing!" then you just have to make their character suffer a little. Have your BBEG humiliate them a little to make them angry, then their final victory over the BBEG will be all the sweeter. Anyway, I digress.

If they insist on interrupting the BBEG in his monologue, simply have him do it in his round in combat. My players talk at great length during combat - more than 6 seconds would allow, and CERTAINLY more than 6 seconds while concentrating intensely on something life-threatening (combat) would allow, and it's too much of a pain to stop them. Just let the BBEG get in through that loophole.

 

[irdeggman]

The whole reason everyone in this situation normally just gets to roll initiative is that they are aware of and can see what each other is doing. So, clearly making sure the BBEG is not aware ought to be part of that - and Slight of Hand is all about keeping other people unaware of what you're actually doing...

There are multiple possibilities, depending on the details of the situation. F'rex: if the character didn't have their weapons ready, I'd call for a Slight of Hand to do it surreptitously, and then a Bluff/Feint to let them get a shot in before the initiative rolls. This, of course, assumes they are within striking distance before the rolls...

Using this concept opens the door for real abuse, IMO.

A Sleight of Hand check in this manner would also work for weapons like say a great axe.

The skill specifically only addressed easily concealed weapons for this purpose.

Feinting (using Bluff skill) is designed to get a foe off-balance and not for getting an extra action in a round.

 

[Darklone]

It immediately made me think of "The Gamers". I plan on showing the movie to my group and I'll quickly be pointing out who the elf at the ambush scene reminds me of!

I think they will understand... if not at the first shot, then at the second. Or third.

Where is there the rule that says you can't ready out of combat?

Olaf the Stout

It doesn't make sense to use something that refers to the order of initiative without rolling for initiative first. Initiative is rolled as soon as combat starts. So, logically, it doesn't make sense to ready outside of combat.

Or, differently said, as soon as someone wants to ready, it's an aggressive act which lets everyone roll initiative which means he would first have to win initiative to be able to ready at all.

Yet, it's being debated.

 

[Nail]

(At least, I think that's the lesson here.)

I refuse to learn that lesson. (That'll teach you.)

Initiative is a valuable tool. I use it (occasionally, not constantly) for all sorts of action resolution outside of combat.

"Roll Initiative" need not mean "Kill it dead quick!"

 

[KarinsDad]

"Roll Initiative" need not mean "Kill it dead quick!"

You're no fun.

 

[pallandrome]

I'm personally of the opinion that there are occasionally situations outside of combat where it is feasable to ready an action. Not often, mind you, but occasionally. If you really want to stick hardcore to the rules though, this is easy to get around. Simply roll initiative for the party, and not tell them (to be fair, you should probably warn them of the possibility ahead of time, however).

 

[Darklone]

I'm personally of the opinion that there are occasionally situations outside of combat where it is feasable to ready an action. Not often, mind you, but occasionally. If you really want to stick hardcore to the rules though, this is easy to get around. Simply roll initiative for the party, and not tell them (to be fair, you should probably warn them of the possibility ahead of time, however).

In these situations the readying person usually gets more mileage out of a surprise round

And with a little luck another full attack action before the others can act.