Roll Surprise!

[Frostmarrow]

Does anyone else miss the surprise roll in D&D? I miss it so bad it hurts. There is much satisfaction in yelling "Surprise!" at your players that the whimper of "Everbody, roll spot!" just can't grant.

Why, oh why did they remove this from the game? -It was sacrificed on the altar of streamlined mechanics I tell you. And that's sad. I mean Monte Cook kept the Sanity rules for CoC d20 so why did they kill the suspense of... "SURPRISE!".

 

[Li Shenron]

I don't know how the surprise roll works, but Spot & Listen in 3ed are covering the issue entirely...

If you're concerned simply about the fact that it's not as fun because the players know too early that something's coming well you can roll Spot for them instead of letting them roll, or alternatively you can yell "surprise" and have the monster appear and only THEN call for rolls to see who gets to fight already and who gets to watch

 

[delericho]

well you can roll Spot for them instead of letting them roll

Yep, do that.

 

[Gold Roger]

I resolve the necessary notice rolls at somewhat random times. I've never used surprise, but I'd say screaming "initiative!", or better jet "combat!" at a party that doesn't know when combats would happen because we already resolved all notice/initiative rolls at the begin of the session/after the last combat, should work just as well.

 

[Henry]

On the Initiative Cards we use, there's a blank for Spot and Listen check numbers, as well as some other useful secret rolls (like Hide and Move Silently). Sometimes I ask for spot checks, especially when the table's a bit on the bored side, to spice it up, but mostly I roll for them in secret, and announce the results.

"As you are making camp, you are suddenly surprised by a black-shafted arrow sticking out of Thlivvuus' arm for the tune of 5 damage. A whooping war-cry fills the camp area as three orcs emerge and each attack, (roll) wounding Elfangor with a light slash for 2 points, and Thlivvuus again for another 4 points! OUCH! But the last one missing Kona entirely.

Everyone, roll inits. You've just been surprised by an Orc War-band."

 

[Arnwyn]

Does anyone else miss the surprise roll in D&D?

Yeah I do, a little.

I'm a little unhappy that Spot and Listen are the new surprise rolls now, as I have a bit of a problem with certain classes such as fighters (read: guards) that are fundamentally easier to surprise.

Bleh.

 

[Presto2112]

Yeah I do, a little.

I'm a little unhappy that Spot and Listen are the new surprise rolls now, as I have a bit of a problem with certain classes such as fighters (read: guards) that are fundamentally easier to surprise.

Bleh.

This has always been a slight bone of contention with me. Fighters are supposed to be elite warriors, and elite warriors should have fairly keen senses, especially if those elite warriors are on guard duty or something.

I'm actually thinking of making Spot and Listen automatic class skills for every character class.

 

[Kormydigar]

Yeah I do, a little.

I'm a little unhappy that Spot and Listen are the new surprise rolls now, as I have a bit of a problem with certain classes such as fighters (read: guards) that are fundamentally easier to surprise.

Bleh.

This why Spot and Listen are class skills for everyone in my campaigns

 

[an_idol_mind]

Why not just put the surprise roll back in? Have people roll 1d6 (or 1d10, if that floats your boat), with a 1 or 2 meaning you're surprised. It's not like it's completely incompatible with the rules.

 

[Presto2112]

Why not just put the surprise roll back in? Have people roll 1d6 (or 1d10, if that floats your boat), with a 1 or 2 meaning you're surprised. It's not like it's completely incompatible with the rules.

It's completely incompatible! This is a d20 system, dangit! You can't just throw d6 mechanics around willy-nilly!