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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Flamestrike" data-source="post: 6776084" data-attributes="member: 6788736">And its up to the DM to give the players ebnough information to know why initiative has been called for and that combat has started.The merchant stading 10' away from you whom you were just speaking to goes to draw his sword with a look of evil in his eyes. Roll initiative.As you walk along the forest path, you hear the chattering of the familiar sounds of the goblin language, about 30-40' to the north of the trail. You are all surprised. Roll initiative.You stand up and take aim with your bow from your position of hiding against the unsuspecting orcs. They're surprised. Roll initiative.You hear the sharp inhalation of breath next to you, and the air swirls around giving you some indication of a presence nearby that is not visible but coming right for you. You're surprised, roll initiative.You open the door revealing an Ogre standing 20' away. It bellows in anger and charges you. Roll initiative.As you stand in the warehouse reading your map and trying to locate the secret passage marked on it, the whistle of arrows fills the air. Instinctively you sense movement coming from around you near the darkened corner of the building behind some crates. You're surprised, roll initiative.Your trusted companions face twists into a sneer for some inexplicable reason. With a snarl, he lunges at you. Roll initative.You creep up to the drow mage under the effects of your invisibility, and draw back your bow to assasinate him. His ears prick up at the sound of your bow cocking back. He's surprised. Roll initiative.Heis eyes narrow and he starts casting a spell. Roll initiativeIts really not that hard to narrate almost any situation you can think of.People need to remember combat in 5E is super deadly and rarely lasts more than 3-5 rounds. As written, surprised critters can get two whole rounds of full attacks levelled against them by the entire opposing side before responding (every creature in 5E has 3E pounce). TL;DR: Initiative is rolled when a hostile action is declared. That hostile action is very broadly narrated to commence (but is not yet resolved till the persons turn, and they can always change their minds which is then narratted accordingly). This makes it clear to everyone why combat has started, and by whom.</blockquote>

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