More on the Surprise Round

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Quad_Hund

Dec 18, 2014 10:19:20

Question came up about the surprise round.  Wizard rounds a corner and is ambushed by a doppelganger.  DM calls for initiative rolls.  Doppelganger gets higher result than wizard.  First, surprise round.  Doppelganger attacks.  Wizard suprised, unable to move and take an action.  2nd round, doppelganger attacks, is wizard still surprised?  

 

For those who don't know, the doppelganger has an ability that if the creature they are attacking is surprised that they get advantage.  

#2

AaronOfBarbaria

Dec 18, 2014 10:28:32

First for clarity, there is no such thing as a "surprise round." Surprised is something which someone can be during the first round of combat, not a special round that precludes normal rounds of combat.

 

Second, the answer, shown as clearly as possible:

 

Round 1: Doppleganger goes first and attacks the wizard who is surprised. The wizard's turn comes, but because the wizard is surprised they cannot move or take actions. Now that their turn has ended, however, they could take reactions if there were other events going on in the round after their turn.

 

Round 2: Since it is not the first round of combat anymore, no one is surprised. The doppleganger takes its turn, then the wizard takes their turn.

#3

Plaguescarred4

Dec 18, 2014 10:32:58

As Aaron said, there is no surprise rounds. If the wizard is surprised during the 1st round, it is until its first turn has passed and then it can act. i.e taking reactions. When the 2nd round comes up, no one is surprised and all can acts normally.

#4

Noctaem

Dec 18, 2014 10:31:58

AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
#5

Plaguescarred4

Dec 18, 2014 10:37:46

Noctaem wrote:
#6

Coredump00

Dec 18, 2014 12:07:21

While it is not explicitly stated, the consensus I have heard here (and I pretty much agree), is that after the end of the wizards first turn, he is no longer considered Surprised.

 

 

There is technically no defined 'end' to being Surprised, it just doesn't have any effects beyond your first turn/round.

 

 

 

 

#7

Quad_Hund

Dec 18, 2014 12:22:46

Thanks for the clarification(s).

#8

jonathonhawke

Dec 28, 2014 23:15:39

Plaguescarred4 wrote:
#9

Plaguescarred4

Dec 29, 2014 2:43:00

I hadn't looked it up so i missed that thanks.