Re: mechanics of surprise

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:39:00 -0800, gleichman hath written thusly
(in article <1172104740.290655.9240@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>):

> 
> My answer is as usual, useless as it applies to my own game and really
> no others.
> 
> In AoH, the group with the surprise advantage gets a free round of
> actions. But the surprised do still get their defensive rolls (if at a
> negative modifier).
> 
> In addition I determine surprise in a uncommon way. The game calls for
> a surprise roll against the group (representing one of them alerting
> all) and then if the group fails- each individual member gets an
> individual roll that only determines his own condition (surprised or
> not).
> 
> As a result, I don't have the problems you've noted and battles
> typically play more like the source material with one or two people
> getting whacked and then a normal battle playing out.
> 
> HERO is a little more troublesome, but I tend to run it the same way.
> 
A free round of actions for just one side can be devastating to the 
other. In a case where attacking side gains complete surprise over 
defending side, attackers should probably get a "partial round" to act, 
typically meaning a single attack or a relatively simple attack 
routine, and getting off any effects (spells or other supernatural 
effects) that can be unleashed quickly. Defenders should still be 
allowed to act, but mostly this would be defensive action. Let them 
attempt to fend off the attack, but give them a penalty to their 
defenses that reflects the fact that they were caught with their guard 
down.

I recently reread the surprise rules in 3.5e D&D, and discovered I'd 
been running it incorrectly for a while (D'oh!). IIRC, those rules 
don't allow completely surprised individuals to take any actions at all 
in the surprise round. In the case of partial surprise...I guess I need 
to read that section yet again, because I don't recall whether they're 
treated as flat-footed and still get partial actions that round or not. 
In any case, I prefer that the defending side be allowed to do 
something, instead of nothing...unless that side was asleep at the 
start.

- E


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