Interrupting the BBEG to Start Combat

[Nail]

All-in-all, allowing readied actions outside of combat is a Bad Idea(tm), since readied actions interupt other actions. If one party is surprised, go for the surprise round....otherwise, "roll init and git on wit' it"!

 

[pallandrome]

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.

Actually, I generally only allow readied actions out of combat when all the combatants are aware of each other, in which case there IS no surprise round. This gives a slight advantage to players with the forsight to guess what the opponant is going to do. After all, readying an action to attack the BBEG doesn't help much when he's just stalling until the guards get there.

I've found with my group that this produces enjoyable "mexican standoff" type situations. I do insist, however, that the players choose a particular TYPE off "trigger" for their redied actions. Waiting for the BBEG to do anything just doesn't cut it. Waiting for the BBEG to attack, cast a spell, summon guards, disappear, or press a button on his BIG CHAIR OF DEATHtm are all acceptable.

 

[Phlebas]

All-in-all, allowing readied actions outside of combat is a Bad Idea(tm), since readied actions interupt other actions. If one party is surprised, go for the surprise round....otherwise, "roll init and git on wit' it"!

hmm

readied action - standard or move action that goes off before opponent can react

surprise round - move or standard action that goes off before opponent can react

probably deliberate design by the WotC so that you can't abuse the system by readying instead of surprising or vice versa

Personally don't see much of a difference... but different games, different DM's etc etc

 

[ainbimagh]

The only thing you can ready an action for outside of combat is..


Readied Action - Roll Intiative

 

[Felon]

I'll reiterate what others have said. Just saying "I shoot" doesn't mean you attack first. Initiating an action and completing the action are two different things. You make that sudden motion to initiate the attack, and everyone who sees you twitch springs into action. Just roll initiative.

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...

It's pretty nebulous. Sleight of hand lets you draw a weapon inobtrusively, that much is laid out in the PHB, but using a Bluff to get in the first strike is iffy at best. Haven't we seen plenty of movies where a character with fantastic reflexes (and not necessarily a high Sense Motive check) is capable of intercepting what would normally be a surprise attack?

Personally, I always thought the surprise round should be replaced with a bonus to initiative checks. IMC, I have a rogue who wields two hand crossbows. Being as crappy as they are, a hand xbow is really only good for delivering a sneak attack. The character likes the idea of sneaking up and firing both xbows into an unsuspecting foe (or foes), but he can only fire one during the surprise round. So, he shoots one and then during the first full round of initiative he just winds dropping the other. Eventually I just told him to forget the surprise round and delay until real initiative begins.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

I agree with Brian Gibbons' remarks.

If they insist on interrupting the BBEG, give the villain a +2 bonus to all d20 rolls for the remainder of the encounter; let the players know that is the price for not letting you talk.

"Sucks to your ass-mar! I got the conch!"

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Well we begin combat and then roll initiative, i.e. a threatening move starts the whole shebang.

Noone would be surprised so everyone rolls initiative once someone gets aggro.

In this intepretation there is no reason for interrupting dialogue except to shortcut to the action. Either/or is fine, unless there is something really important to learn... oh well, that's what speak with dead is for.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I understand the appeal for players to believe their characters are hyper-competent and I understand the benefit of that kind of substance-over-style action in our real world. I just don't care for it in gaming. IMO, players who want to be the cool and dealy loner lethal weapon can always go play Splinter Cell. I want Star Wars, and Indiana Jones, and Ladyhawke.

So, are you a fan of the old Star Wars where Han shot first? Because I think he interrupted Greedo's monologue.... (He tried it on Darth Vader in Cloud City too, but his blaster wasn't good enough to penetrate Vader's armor). I'm not as much disagreeing with your desire for style here as pointing out that the style you appear to like has room for Han shooting before Greedo's monologue is over.

(And, back to the subject of the post, I would definitely say that the mechanics were something like a bluff role opposed by Greedo's sense motive to establish that Han was negotiating with Greedo, followed by a sleight of hand check opposed by Greedo's spot to draw his blaster without Greedo noticing and then Han won initiative .

 

[Jeff Wilder]

So, are you a fan of the old Star Wars where Han shot first?

There's another version?

Because I think he interrupted Greedo's monologue....

That weren't monologin' ... they was conversin', and Han got bored with it.

(And, back to the subject of the post, I would definitely say that the mechanics were something like a bluff role opposed by Greedo's sense motive to establish that Han was negotiating with Greedo, followed by a sleight of hand check opposed by Greedo's spot to draw his blaster without Greedo noticing and then Han won initiative .

More or less, except that Han wasn't exactly bluffing. He did have the money. Or so he thought.

 

[Ciaran]

Wrong + Wrong = ? (the answer is not Right)

Which is what I'm demonstrating.