Surprise (game mechanic): Difference between revisions

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(Edited to make it fit with the tone and style of the wiki. Added mention that you need line of sight to surprise an enemy. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAf_13RjJU)
 
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== Surprised ==
{{cond|Surprised}} is a special [[Conditions|condition]] that can affect [[List of Creature Types|creatures]] during the first round of combat.  
{{cond|Surprised}} is a special [[Conditions|condition]] that can affect [[List of Creature Types|creatures]] during the first round of combat. When one side of a combat encounter is unaware of the other side, they may be '''Surprised'''. A '''Surprised''' creature cannot take any [[Action]]s or [[Reaction]]s for one combat round. Characters with the [[Alert]] feat, the [[Feral Instinct]] feature or under the effects of certain items (like the {{RarityItem|Elixir of Vigilance}}) cannot be '''Surprised'''.  


Certain combat encounters, especially ones that occur after an in-game cutscene, are set to always {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party. These can usually be countered by utilizing conditions such as {{cond|Invisible}} or hiding in heavily obscured areas with spells such as {{SAI|Darkness}} before triggering them.
== Overview ==
When one side of a combat encounter is unaware of the other side, they may be '''Surprised'''. A '''Surprised''' creature cannot take any [[Action]]s or [[Reaction]]s for one combat round. Characters with the {{SAI|Alert}} feat, the {{SAI|Feral Instinct}} feature or specific items (such as the {{RarityItem|Elixir of Vigilance}}) cannot be '''Surprised'''.  


Surprising a group of enemies can be challenging and kind of unintuitive. To simplify it:
Certain combat encounters, especially ones that occur after an in-game cutscene, are set to always {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party. These can usually be countered by utilizing the aforementioned features or else conditions such as {{cond|Invisible}} or hiding in heavily obscured areas with spells such as {{SAI|Darkness}} before triggering them.


* First, put the ENTIRE party in stealth including pets. If a member pulls before you and is noticed, your entire party maybe noticed.
== How to Surprise Enemies ==
* Second, break up the party, including pets, and move the surpriser into position, make sure your pets don't follow you.
* Third, with your party and pets behind, your surpriser needs to first approach the enemy while [[Stealthy]] and while outside enemy vision cones. Fire a ranged attack while you are within sight of them but not within the vision cone. Apparently, the game does a [[Stealth]] check vs [[Perception]] the enemy: if you are successful, the enemies will not notice you and start panicking and running around until they find you, if they do, you will NOT trigger [[Surprised (Condition)]]. If you fail the check, the enemy will notice you and trigger surprised (assuming they don't have the alert feature). If you manage this in melee range, it seems it will always trigger surprised (not tested).


This means that if your [[Stealth]] is way too high, you may fail to trigger [[Surprised (Condition)]]. However, this opens some ranged builds where, if you manage to stay hidden from the enemy, you can get several shots before being pulled into combat, even allowing you to assassinate a creature without retaliation. This can be achieved by having a high [[Dexterity]] score, having [[Proficiency]] and [[Expertise]] in stealth, [[Advantage]] in dexterity or stealth checks, and, if you have it in your party, using the spell [[Pass Without Trace]].
The key to {{cond|Surprised|surprising}} enemies is line of sight: they must have a clear line of sight to the character surprising them. If they do not, then they will begin searching for that character and will NOT be {{cond|Surprised|surprised}} once they find them and begin combat.


Other observations with the stealth and surprised mechanics are that they will also apply to some spells. If you cast from enough distance from outside the vision cones of the creature and your [[Stealth]] is high enough, you may get either get a surprise round or even a free cast without being pulled into combat (by way of the [[Stealth]] vs [[Perception]] check), particularly useful with Area of Effect spells, whether damage or control.
This can make it challenging and counter-intuitive to successfully surprise a group of enemies. Precautions such as the following may aid in the process:


If you really, really want to trigger surprise and don't want to build a high [[Stealth]] character, you can always use [[Invisibility]] to open the fight, weather by using potions, the spell, or items (like [[Shadow of Menzoberranzan]]) and surprise will always trigger. Invisibility from the [[Quasit]] and [[Imp]] pet will also work, but be advised that, if a creature has [[Alert]], they will react to your pet and most likely kill it before you can benefit from surprised. The druid [[Wild Shape: Panther]] will also help, but in the same vein, you will need to make sure your druid survives the retaliation from the creatures with alert.  
* 1) Use {{SAI|Hide}} to put the ENTIRE party into stealth, including pets.
* 2) Ungroup the party, including pets, then select one party member as the ambusher and move them into position to trigger the surprise.
* 3) Keep the other party members and pets some distance away while the ambusher approaches the enemy from outside their vision cones. If they cross a vision cone in a {{Cond|Clear Area}} then they will instantly be spotted, but if they are {{Cond|Lightly Obscured}} or {{Cond|Heavily Obscured}} then they must succeed a [[Stealth]] roll against the enemy's [[Perception]] check. On a successful roll the enemies will not notice the character, but on a failed roll they will initiate combat without being {{cond|Surprised|surprised}}.
* 4) The ambusher MUST initiate combat from within line of sight of the enemy. If they do, then the enemy should be {{cond|Surprised|surprised}}. However, if they are out of line of sight then the enemies will begin searching for the party member and will NOT be {{cond|Surprised|surprised}} once they find them and begin combat.
* 5) Once the enemy is {{cond|Surprised|surprised}}, the rest of the party can be moved into position to join the fight. They will be drawn into the fight once they either enter an enemy's vision cone or attack them.


Once surprised is trigger, you can start moving up your group, one by one, into the fray. Be wary of vision cones: once a member of your party is within the vision cone of creature, if they fail the [[Stealth]] check, they will be pull into combat. This can be used to your advantage, before entering a vision cone, you can use jump, fly or teleportation ([[Misty Step]] effects) to start combat wherever you want your unit to be. If you avoided detection altogether, you could even cast a spell or attack before being pulled into the initiative order. This will aid you to kill an enemy even before the surprise round is over. Moreover, you can even cut vision of the enemy by using [[Fog Cloud]], [[Darkness]], [[Arrow of Darkness]] and [[Blinded (Condition)]] (from many sources), allowing free passage to reach priority targets. Remember you can stop concentrating in spells whenever you want, so once everyone is in position you can release concentration on Fog and Darkness, and if you avoided detections casting it may have even not costed you an action.  
If a character's [[Stealth]] is high enough then enemies will sometimes fail to notice them even as their allies are being attacked and killed from a distance. This can even work with Area of Effect spells such as {{SAI|Fireball}} as long as the party member casting it remains hidden. The enemies will run around in a desperate search for the party member but be unable to find them. This can be accomplished with a high [[Dexterity]] score, [[Proficiency]] and [[Expertise]] in stealth, {{Advantage}} in dexterity or stealth checks, and certain spells and abilities such as {{SAI|Pass Without Trace}}.
 
=== Triggering Surprised from Invisibility ===
The most reliable way to {{cond|Surprised|surprise}} an enemy is to become {{Cond|Invisible}} and attack them. This invisibility can come from any source (e.g {{MdRarityItem|Potion of Invisibility}}, {{SAI|Invisibility}}, {{SAI|Greater Invisibility}}, or {{MdRarityItem|Shadow of Menzoberranzan}}). The [[Quasit]] and [[Imp]] pets will also work, as will {{SAI|Wild Shape: Panther}}.  


== List of Surprise encounters ==
== List of Surprise encounters ==
=== Act 1 ===
* Sneaking into the [[Overgrown Ruins#Refectory|Overgrown Ruins Refectory]] will leave [[Andorn]] {{cond|Surprised}}.
* Sneaking into the [[Overgrown Ruins#Refectory|Overgrown Ruins Refectory]] will leave [[Andorn]] {{cond|Surprised}}.
* Interacting with certain caskets in the cave inside the [[Apothecary's Cellar]] will cause an [[Agile Guardian]] to burst out and {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party.
* Interacting with certain caskets in the cave inside the [[Apothecary's Cellar]] will cause an [[Agile Guardian]] to burst out and {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party.
* Attacking the bloated [[hyena]]s along the [[Risen Road]] will leave them {{cond|Surprised}}.
* Attacking the bloated [[hyena]]s along the [[Risen Road]] will leave them {{cond|Surprised}}.
* [[Magma Mephit]]s will {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party if they approach the mithral vein closest to the [[Adamantine Forge]].
* All [[Mimic]] combat encounters will always {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party when interacting with them in their disguised form. Attacking them from range will start the battle without being surprised.
* In the [[Underdark]], approaching the [[Underdark#Petrified Battlefield|Petrified Battlefield]] will initiate combat with a [[Spectator]], triggering a cutscene which leaves the party {{cond|Surprised}}.
* In the [[Underdark]], approaching the [[Underdark#Petrified Battlefield|Petrified Battlefield]] will initiate combat with a [[Spectator]], triggering a cutscene which leaves the party {{cond|Surprised}}.
* Approaching the [[Underdark#Beach|Underdark Beach]] will trigger a conversation with a Duergar. If attacked immediately, the whole Duergar party will be left {{cond|Surprised}}. If [[Gekh Coal]] is called and he turns hostile, the player's party will be {{cond|Surprised}} instead.
* Approaching the [[Underdark#Beach|Underdark Beach]] will trigger a conversation with a Duergar. If attacked immediately, the whole Duergar party will be left {{cond|Surprised}}. If [[Gekh Coal]] is called and he turns hostile, the player's party will be {{cond|Surprised}} instead.
*  At the end of "[[Dribbles]]'" performance at the [[Circus of the Last Days]], the party will be left {{cond|Surprised}} unless the ambush is observed through passive [[Perception]] checks, in which case the ambushers will be {{cond|Surprised}} instead.
* In the [[Grymforge]], attacking the 3 [[Mimic]]s will always {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party when interacting with them in their disguised form. Attacking them from range will start the battle without being surprised.
* [[Magma Mephit]]s will {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party if they approach the mithral vein closest to the [[Adamantine Forge]].
 
=== Act 2 ===
* In the [[Shadow-Cursed Lands]], 3 separate encounters with [[Blight]]s can {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party if they get too close to them.
* In [[Moonrise Towers]], attacking the [[Mimic]] will always {{cond|Surprised|Surprise}} the party when interacting with them in their disguised form. Attacking them from range will start the battle without being surprised.
 
=== Act 3 ===
*  At the end of "[[Dribbles]]'" performance at the [[Circus of the Last Days]], the party will be left {{cond|Surprised}} unless the ambush is noticed through passive [[Perception]] checks, in which case the ambushers will be {{cond|Surprised}} instead.


[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]]
[[Category:Gameplay mechanics]]


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Latest revision as of 07:11, 16 June 2024

Surprised Surprised is a special condition that can affect creatures during the first round of combat.

Overview[edit | edit source]

When one side of a combat encounter is unaware of the other side, they may be Surprised. A Surprised creature cannot take any Actions or Reactions for one combat round. Characters with the Alert Alert feat, the Feral Instinct Feral Instinct feature or specific items (such as the Elixir of Vigilance) cannot be Surprised.

Certain combat encounters, especially ones that occur after an in-game cutscene, are set to always Surprise Surprise the party. These can usually be countered by utilizing the aforementioned features or else conditions such as Invisible Invisible or hiding in heavily obscured areas with spells such as Darkness Darkness before triggering them.

How to Surprise Enemies[edit | edit source]

The key to surprising surprising enemies is line of sight: they must have a clear line of sight to the character surprising them. If they do not, then they will begin searching for that character and will NOT be surprised surprised once they find them and begin combat.

This can make it challenging and counter-intuitive to successfully surprise a group of enemies. Precautions such as the following may aid in the process:

  • 1) Use Hide Hide to put the ENTIRE party into stealth, including pets.
  • 2) Ungroup the party, including pets, then select one party member as the ambusher and move them into position to trigger the surprise.
  • 3) Keep the other party members and pets some distance away while the ambusher approaches the enemy from outside their vision cones. If they cross a vision cone in a Clear Area Clear Area then they will instantly be spotted, but if they are Lightly Obscured Lightly Obscured or Heavily Obscured Heavily Obscured then they must succeed a Stealth roll against the enemy's Perception check. On a successful roll the enemies will not notice the character, but on a failed roll they will initiate combat without being surprised surprised.
  • 4) The ambusher MUST initiate combat from within line of sight of the enemy. If they do, then the enemy should be surprised surprised. However, if they are out of line of sight then the enemies will begin searching for the party member and will NOT be surprised surprised once they find them and begin combat.
  • 5) Once the enemy is surprised surprised, the rest of the party can be moved into position to join the fight. They will be drawn into the fight once they either enter an enemy's vision cone or attack them.

If a character's Stealth is high enough then enemies will sometimes fail to notice them even as their allies are being attacked and killed from a distance. This can even work with Area of Effect spells such as Fireball Fireball as long as the party member casting it remains hidden. The enemies will run around in a desperate search for the party member but be unable to find them. This can be accomplished with a high Dexterity score, Proficiency and Expertise in stealth, Advantage Icon.png Advantage in dexterity or stealth checks, and certain spells and abilities such as Pass Without Trace Pass Without Trace.

Triggering Surprised from Invisibility[edit | edit source]

The most reliable way to surprise surprise an enemy is to become Invisible Invisible and attack them. This invisibility can come from any source (e.g Potion of Invisibility, Invisibility Invisibility, Greater Invisibility Greater Invisibility, or Shadow of Menzoberranzan). The Quasit and Imp pets will also work, as will Wild Shape: Panther Wild Shape: Panther.

List of Surprise encounters[edit | edit source]

Act 1[edit | edit source]

Act 2[edit | edit source]

  • In the Shadow-Cursed Lands, 3 separate encounters with Blights can Surprise Surprise the party if they get too close to them.
  • In Moonrise Towers, attacking the Mimic will always Surprise Surprise the party when interacting with them in their disguised form. Attacking them from range will start the battle without being surprised.

Act 3[edit | edit source]

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