Rules of the Game: Sneak Attacks

[Darklone]

A group of friends uses a houserule that everyone says what he wants to do that round in one sentence, then they roll initiative (each round). If you change what you wanted to do (because something else happened), you get a -2 penalty to everything.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I have heard it said that no one can keep alert 24 hours a day, and that's what it means (to me anyway) when we roll initiative. Everyone concentrates on the matter at hand (usually combat) and acts in as effective manner as possible to resolve the situation (again usually trough combat).

The city guards in this example had been ordered by their commander to "keep alert", "double the patrols" (hence such large patrols) and "to arrest any suspicious looking people". They had probably been doing just this for several hours of the night already, and had had nasty incidents before this one. So, in my mind they would be open to the possibility of an attack from their target, and watching out for it.

On a regular night the patrol would probably have been surprised by the burst of violence from this guy walking around in the night.

This is a bit that sticks with me as well.

I think if a target is alert, expecting a fight and just waiting for it to start then, imo, sneak attacks shouldn't happen as a matter of course....

If the sneak attacker manages a missdirecting bluff or disgues, then that's a different matter. Similar for an ambush or suprise attack.

I agree with you about this situation, I think initiative should effectively have been rolled when the guards saw the suspicious guy wandering around on this particular night...

 

[Darklone]

This is a bit that sticks with me as well.

I think if a target is alert, expecting a fight and just waiting for it to start then, imo, sneak attacks shouldn't happen as a matter of course....

There's still a difference between fighting positions or simply doing something, even if you may expect a fight.

 

[DarkMaster]

I would have allowed the sneak attack in that case from what you said the effect on the game was almost null since a single blow killed one of the guard anyway. But this is not the reason why I would allow it. The difference is I would have apply a circumstance bonus or penalty to the initiative roll depending on different factor, type of weapon used, where the weapon is stored, the guard attitude towards the particular event, the various feat like quick draw.

It is much easier to sneak attack those guard with a daguer hidden in your sleave with the quick draw feat than with a 2handed sword strapped on your back.