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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lonely Tylenol" data-source="post: 3217596" data-attributes="member: 18549">That's pretty much right.  The problem I posted above is not covered by these examples either.  In the situation I posted, the unaware side is acting like they're aware in order to maybe strike first against the aware side.  The aware side legitimately gets at least one, maybe two crossbow attacks on a character who is in the middle of charging around a corner and into the room, sword ready to smack whomever he reaches first.  That the character needs to move less than 30 feet to do so seems to run up against the realities of firing, loading, and firing a crossbow in a short duration of time.  However, by the rules, you can't get the drop on someone you're not aware of, no matter how sure you are that they're there, and in fact they can get the drop on you instead.  This tends to break suspension of disbelief, which leads to player-DM conflicts.The solution to this problem is, I suggest, allowing the aware side to have an action readied, and dispensing with the surprise round in exchange.  The PCs can never act before an aware opponent that they are unaware of, but gain something for acting carefully and decisively: they can't be surprised if they act as though an attack is certain.</blockquote>