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<blockquote data-quote="cooperjer" data-source="post: 7111920" data-attributes="member: 6862150">Matt Coville has an interesting commentary on the DMs control of time.&nbsp; In the scene you gave initially there is a question about the guards noticing the barbarian reaching for it's weapon.&nbsp; With the control of time, the DM may say something like &quot;As you reach for your weapon the guards ready themselves for the attack.&nbsp; Roll initiative.&quot;&nbsp; The same could be said to the players.&nbsp; On the other hand the DM could say &quot;You quickly reach for your weapon and in the same motion bring it up into the guards face.&nbsp; Roll for initiative.&nbsp; All the NPCs and PC are surprised.&quot;&nbsp; The DM has control of the timing and can break the motions down as they see fit prior to initiative.&nbsp; With regards to an assassin attacking from a hidden position and losing initiative, the player declared their action to attack the target.&nbsp; The DM may say something like, &quot;You pull your short bow up and aim carefully.&nbsp; You release the arrow.&nbsp; Roll initiative.&nbsp; The guard is surprised.&quot;&nbsp; If the guard has higher initiative than the assassin, then the guard gets their reaction prior to the declared action of the assassin.&nbsp; On the assassin's initiative the arrow is released and the attack roll is made.&nbsp; Another way to think about this is, there are no action declared take backs by the assassin.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="cooperjer, post: 7111920, member: 6862150"] Matt Coville has an interesting commentary on the DMs control of time. In the scene you gave initially there is a question about the guards noticing the barbarian reaching for it's weapon. With the control of time, the DM may say something like "As you reach for your weapon the guards ready themselves for the attack. Roll initiative." The same could be said to the players. On the other hand the DM could say "You quickly reach for your weapon and in the same motion bring it up into the guards face. Roll for initiative. All the NPCs and PC are surprised." The DM has control of the timing and can break the motions down as they see fit prior to initiative. With regards to an assassin attacking from a hidden position and losing initiative, the player declared their action to attack the target. The DM may say something like, "You pull your short bow up and aim carefully. You release the arrow. Roll initiative. The guard is surprised." If the guard has higher initiative than the assassin, then the guard gets their reaction prior to the declared action of the assassin. On the assassin's initiative the arrow is released and the attack roll is made. Another way to think about this is, there are no action declared take backs by the assassin. [/QUOTE]

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