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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ridley's Cohort" data-source="post: 2200870" data-attributes="member: 545">In general, I do not think there should be Surprise unless one group can potentially attack and the other group cannot before start of combat.  Usually this would be because one side is Invisible or otherwise hidden. Surprise should be awarded for a very clearcut tactical advantage.  If you are trying to rationalize Surprise with guesses about the state of mind of the characters, then the tactical advantage is apparently not obvious enough.The spectre cannot attack the party until the door is opened.  If he cannot attack, then we are outside of Initiative.  If we are outside of Initiative there no possibility of Readying.If one sides seems definitely more prepared for combat than the other, the appropriate thing to do is give a circumstance bonus to Initiative.</blockquote>