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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Zinnger" data-source="post: 6690368" data-attributes="member: 6788910">I can see how this issue can cause some problems and confusion.  It is hard for a DM who plans to have the perfect ambush only to have the party win initiative and kill the goblins before they even get to shoot.  But, I think the rules are pretty clear about ready and reactions.  The ready action needs to have a clear trigger for the act to occur.  If the party sets this up correctly they get to take their action (reaction).  The rules seem very clear about the fact that a reaction completely interrupts some other persons action.  It is instant.  Take for example the shield spell mentioned earlier.  A wizard casts magic missile at the target and as the super accurate missiles are flying toward the target they have the option of quickly and instantly use their reaction to cast shield which then thwarts the magic missiles and the target takes no damage.  Or even the swinging of a sword - the shield spell can be cast as a reaction AFTER the target realizes that they are about to be hit by the weapon.  A reaction, when allowed, is very powerful indeed.So, in my game, if the PC's win initiative they will indeed be able to kill my goblin before it shoots.  But depending on how you do initiative it could still be a problem for the PC's.  If the trigger for the ready action is to "shoot the first goblin I see" and you run the goblins all on the same initiative then the first goblin that moves may have 4 or 5 attacks on it from all the readied actions.  The poor thing might never see it all coming.  But all the remaining goblins would then have no more readied actions to worry about and get a clean shot on the PC's.  Remember that the PC's cannot shoot and then move for better cover on a reaction so they are still visible for any remaining goblins who take their turn. As for cover, I think the goblins would be able to retain some cover benefits unless the DM rules that they have to move completely out of the area to shoot and then return to cover after the attack.  In fact, if the terrain allowed it, both sides could have partial cover (or even 3/4 cover depending again on terrain) from the other side and it would be like the old fashion shoot outs in the western movies.  But as DM, consider having only some goblins attack and others get too scared to act after seeing their buddies get hit with spells and arrows.  Then the party may think they have eliminated all the goblins and when they break cover or no longer have arrows and spells readied... surprise - here comes the remaining goblins with their attacks!Lots of ways to still have a lot of fun with this.  But again, I think the PC's being able to see the goblins will shoot the goblins BEFORE the goblin gets to shoot.  Then if it still lives it can return fire.</blockquote>

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