Octavious
March 24th, 2018, 08:23
I would like some feed back on how the surprise round is actually done and when it is not .There is a couple of paragraphs on this in the rule book ..
from what I can tell it falls into 2 types of surprise categories..
On page 238 it states " 3. Surprise Round: If some but not all of the characters are surprised, combat begins with a surprise round, during
which only characters who aren’t surprised can act and their choice of actions is limited (see Surprise below)"
Then on page 239 it states "If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents when combat breaks out, a surprise round takes
place before normal combat rounds begin. In order of the characters’ initiative results (highest to lowest; see Initiative
below), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents can each take either a standard or move action
during the surprise round. Characters can also take swift actions during the surprise round.
If no characters or all characters are aware of their opponents,no surprise round occurs, and combat proceeds as normal."
Surprised Combatants: During combat, combatants who are
surprised at the start of battle have the flat-footed condition.
so what I am seeing here is if some but not all are surprised then a surprise round occurs and surprised combatants cannot act at all , no movement reaction or action(page 238) and are flatfooted (page 239) and npc's and pcs who are not surprised take limited actions.
but if ALL are surprised then normal combat round is engaged and no surprise round occurs and NPC and PC take normal actions and movements but the surprised just take a flatfooted condition and that's all.
This makes no sense to me at all .. If no characters are aware of the opponents then no surprise round occurs?? if they are not aware are not they surprised? and why if all are surprised then why are they flatfooted and can move or take actions but if part are surprised they cannot move or take actions? ..
Flatfooted condition says nothing about not being able to take an action or move it only states a decrease in AC and cannot take reactions..
Any clarifications on this would be helpful .. thanks for any help ..
from what I can tell it falls into 2 types of surprise categories..
On page 238 it states " 3. Surprise Round: If some but not all of the characters are surprised, combat begins with a surprise round, during
which only characters who aren’t surprised can act and their choice of actions is limited (see Surprise below)"
Then on page 239 it states "If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents when combat breaks out, a surprise round takes
place before normal combat rounds begin. In order of the characters’ initiative results (highest to lowest; see Initiative
below), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents can each take either a standard or move action
during the surprise round. Characters can also take swift actions during the surprise round.
If no characters or all characters are aware of their opponents,no surprise round occurs, and combat proceeds as normal."
Surprised Combatants: During combat, combatants who are
surprised at the start of battle have the flat-footed condition.
so what I am seeing here is if some but not all are surprised then a surprise round occurs and surprised combatants cannot act at all , no movement reaction or action(page 238) and are flatfooted (page 239) and npc's and pcs who are not surprised take limited actions.
but if ALL are surprised then normal combat round is engaged and no surprise round occurs and NPC and PC take normal actions and movements but the surprised just take a flatfooted condition and that's all.
This makes no sense to me at all .. If no characters are aware of the opponents then no surprise round occurs?? if they are not aware are not they surprised? and why if all are surprised then why are they flatfooted and can move or take actions but if part are surprised they cannot move or take actions? ..
Flatfooted condition says nothing about not being able to take an action or move it only states a decrease in AC and cannot take reactions..
Any clarifications on this would be helpful .. thanks for any help ..