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This sounds like a textbook case of surprise.

In general:

  1. Determine surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised.
  2. Establish positions. The DM decides where all the characters and monsters are located. Given the adventurers' marching order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are — how far away and in what direction.
  3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns.
  4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order.
  5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Note that during surprise:

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

 

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is:

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc. (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, and proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted, and celebratory debauchery ensues.

This sounds like a textbook case of surprise.

In general:

  1. Determine surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised.
  2. Establish positions. The DM decides where all the characters and monsters are located. Given the adventurers' marching order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are — how far away and in what direction.
  3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns.
  4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order.
  5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Note that during surprise:

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

 

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is:

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc. (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, and proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted, and celebratory debauchery ensues.

This sounds like a textbook case of surprise.

In general:

  1. Determine surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised.
  2. Establish positions. The DM decides where all the characters and monsters are located. Given the adventurers' marching order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are — how far away and in what direction.
  3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns.
  4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order.
  5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Note that during surprise:

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is:

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc. (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, and proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted, and celebratory debauchery ensues.

changed roll20 links to point to DDB instead (due to incorrect capitalization in rules quote from Roll20 Compendium entry); fixed quote formatting to match source
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V2Blast
  • 50.3k
  • 10
  • 223
  • 306

This sounds like a textbook case of Surprisesurprise.

In general:

  1. Determine Surprise.Determine surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised. 2. Establish positions:
  2. Establish positions. The GMDM decides where all the characters and Monstersmonsters are located. Given the adventurers’ Marching Orderadventurers' marching order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the GMDM figures out where the adversaries are̶howare — how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll Initiative:
  3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiativeinitiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. 4. Take turns.
  4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in Initiativeinitiative order. Begin the next round.
  5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Note that during Surprise,surprise:

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a Reactionreaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is...:

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc. (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, and proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted, and celebratory debauchery ensues.

This sounds like a textbook case of Surprise

In general:

  1. Determine Surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised. 2. Establish positions: The GM decides where all the characters and Monsters are located. Given the adventurers’ Marching Order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the GM figures out where the adversaries are̶how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll Initiative: Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. 4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in Initiative order. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends.

Note that during Surprise,

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a Reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is...

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted and celebratory debauchery ensues

This sounds like a textbook case of surprise.

In general:

  1. Determine surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised.
  2. Establish positions. The DM decides where all the characters and monsters are located. Given the adventurers' marching order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the DM figures out where the adversaries are — how far away and in what direction.
  3. Roll initiative. Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns.
  4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in initiative order.
  5. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends. Repeat step 4 until the fighting stops.

Note that during surprise:

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is:

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc. (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, and proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted, and celebratory debauchery ensues.

added 113 characters in body
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Punintended
  • 2.4k
  • 16
  • 18

This sounds like a textbook case of Surprise

In general:

  1. Determine Surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised. 2. Establish positions: The GM decides where all the characters and Monsters are located. Given the adventurers’ Marching Order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the GM figures out where the adversaries are̶how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll Initiative: Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. 4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in Initiative order. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends.

Note that during Surprise,

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a Reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is...

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted and celebratory debauchery ensues

This sounds like a textbook case of Surprise

In general:

  1. Determine Surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised. 2. Establish positions: The GM decides where all the characters and Monsters are located. Given the adventurers’ Marching Order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the GM figures out where the adversaries are̶how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll Initiative: Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. 4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in Initiative order. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends.

Note that during Surprise,

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a Reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is...

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action.

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted and celebratory debauchery ensues

This sounds like a textbook case of Surprise

In general:

  1. Determine Surprise. The GM determines whether anyone involved in the combat encounter is surprised. 2. Establish positions: The GM decides where all the characters and Monsters are located. Given the adventurers’ Marching Order or their stated positions in the room or other location, the GM figures out where the adversaries are̶how far away and in what direction. 3. Roll Initiative: Everyone involved in the combat encounter rolls Initiative, determining the order of combatants’ turns. 4. Take turns. Each participant in the battle takes a turn in Initiative order. Begin the next round. When everyone involved in the combat has had a turn, the round ends.

Note that during Surprise,

Any character or monster that doesn’t notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

If you’re surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of the combat, and you can’t take a Reaction until that turn ends.

In this case, the order of events is...

  1. Combat positions are set up / drawn up / etc (or have already been done)

  2. Everyone rolls initiative

  3. Players each take a single turn. There are a couple of ways to DM this - I couldn't find a RAW interpretation on exactly what order this occurs, since the Wizard may not have the highest initiative but is taking the first action. RAW says initiative, but the DM may want to consider manipulating this so the wizard doesn't get an extra round

  4. Combat enters the normal initiative, proceeds accordingly. Orcs are slain, treasure is looted and celebratory debauchery ensues

added 71 characters in body
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Punintended
  • 2.4k
  • 16
  • 18
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added 387 characters in body
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Punintended
  • 2.4k
  • 16
  • 18
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added 2 characters in body
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Rubiksmoose
  • 95.6k
  • 21
  • 486
  • 580
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Punintended
  • 2.4k
  • 16
  • 18
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