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How Does Surprise Work in D&D 5E?
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<blockquote data-quote="Dain Butler" data-source="post: 8410600" data-attributes="member: 7032506"><p>Surprise is a problem because it oversimplifies the circumstances under which opposing forces come into contact with each other and what constitutes the beginning of hostilities. Why are the bugbears hiding, do they just hide there 24/7 or are they aware of the approaching PCs somehow? </p><p></p><p>If they are aware of the PCs then combat has already started, its just that no one has attacked anyone yet. </p><p></p><p>If they are not aware of the PCs why are they presumed to be more prepared than the PCs? </p><p></p><p>A more common situation than a ranger and fighter walking up a corridor would be a ranger sneaking ahead of the big noisy fighter. The ranger's player is going to wonder why they bothered investing in stealth and perception when knowing the bugbears are there he can't surprise them because they are hiding from the fighter who is nowhere near them. The rules accept that some members of a group can be surprised while other members are not but do not cover the possibility that some members might surprise another group while some are surprised. In this case the ranger should surprise the bugbears and the bugbears should surprise the fighter.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dain Butler, post: 8410600, member: 7032506"] Surprise is a problem because it oversimplifies the circumstances under which opposing forces come into contact with each other and what constitutes the beginning of hostilities. Why are the bugbears hiding, do they just hide there 24/7 or are they aware of the approaching PCs somehow? If they are aware of the PCs then combat has already started, its just that no one has attacked anyone yet. If they are not aware of the PCs why are they presumed to be more prepared than the PCs? A more common situation than a ranger and fighter walking up a corridor would be a ranger sneaking ahead of the big noisy fighter. The ranger's player is going to wonder why they bothered investing in stealth and perception when knowing the bugbears are there he can't surprise them because they are hiding from the fighter who is nowhere near them. The rules accept that some members of a group can be surprised while other members are not but do not cover the possibility that some members might surprise another group while some are surprised. In this case the ranger should surprise the bugbears and the bugbears should surprise the fighter. [/QUOTE]
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How Does Surprise Work in D&D 5E?
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