Commander's Strike Surprise

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Tfuture

Jan 20, 2015 19:58:38

Okay, so this may seems like a really odd and specific question but hypothetically if my party is split and seperated and I have a rogue speaking to someone.

 I manage as a Fighter to sneak up on this person and gain a surprise round to attack them.

 

I then use commander's strike and have the rogue attack instead, does the target count as surprised for the purpose of the Rogue's Assassinate ability even though the rogue was in plain sight, ie..does the attack taking place in a surprise round constitute the enemy being surprised or does the actual attacker need to surprise them?

 

Odd i know, im just curious

Thanks in advance

#2

DungeonKrusher

Jan 20, 2015 20:48:53

Without looking it up in the rules, I'd say:

 

Surprise rounds happen under specific game rules, but if the guy has no idea there's a combat starting, I would consider it surprise. 

 

If he's wary at all, and he sees the attacker, then the best you could hope for is the DM allows the Rogue to attempt masking his/her intent using Charisma (Deception) opposed by the target's Wisdom (Insight) check.

#3

Macv12

Jan 20, 2015 21:22:12

So, you're standing in town square, talking to this friendly gent about the price of eggplants recently.

 

Suddenly, an orc bellows from behind you "NOW! GO FOR THE KNEES!!"

 

And just as you're spinning around to see what's shouting, you get a knife in the back of the knee.

 

I would be surprised at that turn of events.

#4

lawrencehoy

Jan 20, 2015 21:42:11

Macv12 wrote:
#5

SilentSin

Jan 21, 2015 2:05:28

The enemy is surprised until after their first turn in combat.

 

Commander's strike gets the rogue to immediately use his reaction to attack.

 

So the rogue gets a surprise attack provided that you didn't also surprise the rogue by using commander's strike (because then he wouldn't be able to use the reaction).

#6

Macv12

Jan 21, 2015 4:24:06

Yeah, I think it's naturally balanced by the fact that you have to adventure with the kind of rogue who isn't surprised when an orc explodes out of the bushes and roars at him to kill things, and his first reaction to such is "stabbity-stabbity" at the nearest source of pleasant conversation.

 

Unless you've set this up in advance. But, then I must ask, when you're brainstorming this little plan: why is the fighter sneaking while the rogue is out in the open??? This plan fails D&D school forever. You're demoted to Candyland while you think about what you've done.

(Reply to #6)

Undrhil

Macv12 wrote:
#8

Yunru

Jan 23, 2015 2:04:36 		It's not like the guard was expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
#9

jonathonhawke

Jan 24, 2015 22:40:14

Yunru wrote: