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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 8724797" data-attributes="member: 29398">Is having a surprise mechanic worth it?  Very much yes.Is 5e's method of "there's-no-surprise-in-this-system-so-let's-fake-something-close" worth keeping or even seriously considering?  Largely no.1e had a good underlying system - simple group checks on d6 - but then of course had to overcomplicate it with Monks and a few other corner cases that came up far more often than a corner case ever should.  But that underlying system is solid, and also neatly builds in how much the surpriser(s) get to do before the surprised can react or get defenses up*.  It also allows for movement as part of surprise; instead of free attacks you might get free movement so as to close with the foes before they get their guard up (meaning the foes don't get any time for preparatory spells or missile attacks etc.).Worth noting also that surprise in 1e is segment by segment rather than round by round.  That said, the round length in 5e is way shorter, so it probably cancels out.* - to me that's a key aspect of surprise: that a surprised foe (or a surprised PC) should have no active defenses.  No shield, no parrying, no dodging.  You don't know anything's about to hit you until after it's already hit you.  Passive defenses, e.g. armour, of course work fine.</blockquote>