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Is my DM being fair?
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<blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7415139" data-attributes="member: 97077"><p>Are we operating from different meanings of the word "ambush" perhaps? I see it as a surprise assault from attackers who are hiding, and the standard rules allow that to happen. The wizard cannot Ready to Cast a Spell outside of combat. But, if the wizard and the fighter (and whoever else) are trying to be stealthy, then the DM determines surprise before establishing positions and rolling for initiative. If they wizard both beats the monsters' passive Perceptions score with his or her Dexterity (Stealth) check, then the monsters are surprised. The wizard gets to blast the monsters before they can do anything (unless the wizard's initiative roll is lower than the monsters' initiative in which case the monsters could take a reaction if they have one). There's your ambush.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>False Appearance allows for the rug to remain in plain sight and not necessarily be obvious as a threat, meaning that the PCs may be on top of it before it attacks. I think it would be reasonable for the DM to grant advantage to the rug's Dexterity (Stealth) check to determine surprise as well. After all, "The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or another and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result." But even without that, this means that the DM determines surprise, establishes positions, and calls for initiative. The rug might surprise one or more PCs or it might not. It might get to take action before they do or it might not.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>First, let's not forget that Feats are optional rules. Nobody is forcing anyone to use them, except perhaps AL. Second, I've addressed how to handle passive Perception, even with Observant PCs, right <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?557166-Is-my-DM-being-fair&p=7413520&viewfull=1#post7413520" target="_blank">here</a>. I encourage you to read that post. Under that interpretation which takes into account the rules for activities while traveling (which includes pace in minutes and feet, not just hours and miles), the Observant PC can only devote his or her attention to one task at a time unless he or she is a ranger in favored terrain. That means the Observant PC is probably not going to be surprised and, if in the front rank, will notice the traps; however, he or she will not be able to perform any other task that distracts from Keeping Watch. This might even include, at the DM's discretion, noticing secret doors. Observant makes you really good at only one thing at a time, not <em>all</em> the things.</p><p></p><p>As for "every single NPC group and enemy group" doing the same thing, they do what the DM says they do for whatever reason the DM says they do it, so if you're a DM and you don't want NPCs or monsters with high passive Perception scores then... don't do that?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="iserith, post: 7415139, member: 97077"] Are we operating from different meanings of the word "ambush" perhaps? I see it as a surprise assault from attackers who are hiding, and the standard rules allow that to happen. The wizard cannot Ready to Cast a Spell outside of combat. But, if the wizard and the fighter (and whoever else) are trying to be stealthy, then the DM determines surprise before establishing positions and rolling for initiative. If they wizard both beats the monsters' passive Perceptions score with his or her Dexterity (Stealth) check, then the monsters are surprised. The wizard gets to blast the monsters before they can do anything (unless the wizard's initiative roll is lower than the monsters' initiative in which case the monsters could take a reaction if they have one). There's your ambush. False Appearance allows for the rug to remain in plain sight and not necessarily be obvious as a threat, meaning that the PCs may be on top of it before it attacks. I think it would be reasonable for the DM to grant advantage to the rug's Dexterity (Stealth) check to determine surprise as well. After all, "The DM can also decide that circumstances influence a roll in one direction or another and grant advantage or impose disadvantage as a result." But even without that, this means that the DM determines surprise, establishes positions, and calls for initiative. The rug might surprise one or more PCs or it might not. It might get to take action before they do or it might not. First, let's not forget that Feats are optional rules. Nobody is forcing anyone to use them, except perhaps AL. Second, I've addressed how to handle passive Perception, even with Observant PCs, right [URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?557166-Is-my-DM-being-fair&p=7413520&viewfull=1#post7413520"]here[/URL]. I encourage you to read that post. Under that interpretation which takes into account the rules for activities while traveling (which includes pace in minutes and feet, not just hours and miles), the Observant PC can only devote his or her attention to one task at a time unless he or she is a ranger in favored terrain. That means the Observant PC is probably not going to be surprised and, if in the front rank, will notice the traps; however, he or she will not be able to perform any other task that distracts from Keeping Watch. This might even include, at the DM's discretion, noticing secret doors. Observant makes you really good at only one thing at a time, not [I]all[/I] the things. As for "every single NPC group and enemy group" doing the same thing, they do what the DM says they do for whatever reason the DM says they do it, so if you're a DM and you don't want NPCs or monsters with high passive Perception scores then... don't do that? [/QUOTE]
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