Initiating Combat

Starting Combat

Combat begins when one or more individuals opt to take hostile actions against another in a situation where the other side has the capacity to react and specific combat actions can be taken.

For instance, cutting the throat of a bound prisoner does not force the game into combat as they cannot affect the outcome of it but attempting to cut the throat of a guard would usually do so if the attempt failed. An arm wrestling contest is usually resolved as a skill check but engaging in wrestling might. Firing a shot at a target a mile away or using spells against an unsuspecting individual on the other side of the world likely wouldn't call for combat to begin, but it might if the target has powers that allow them to become aware of their opponent or they become involved in a wizard's duel.

It is usually up to the DM what constitutes as combat beginning.

If it does, usually before any actions are taken but intentions are declared, Surprise or Ambush is tested for.

Surprise and Ambush

When combat begins, the first thing that must be tested is to see if either side is Surprised or if one side has been Ambushed.

Surprise vs. Ambush

Surprise occurs in situations where one party or both have caught the other unaware - for example if a party exploring a dungeon runs into a random patrol, both sides roll Surprise. If the party is already aware that a room contains bandits who are drinking and gambling and they then barge in, the DM might call for only the bandits to roll Surprise.

Ambush only occurs if one side has decided to actively attempt to surprise another. This may occur if a party has hidden themselves, by using terrain to their advantage, by a character with Hide in Shadows coordinating them, through use of the Camouflage skill or otherwise. The party must be able to perceive the locations of their opponents in order to ambush them - they cannot be Flatfooted or Unaware of them. A character who is personally Hiding in Shadows or Moving Silently does not need to test for Ambush - their attack is automatically considered an Ambush.

If only one side is aware of the other but cannot accurately perceive them, it is Surprise. If they can perceive their opponents, it is an Ambush.

In either instance, a Surprise Roll is made.

Surprise Roll

When a side is unaware of others, be it a Surprise or Ambush, they must make a Surprise Roll. This consists of 1d10 + Agility, using either the Agility of the party's nominated Scout or the party's average Agility. The characters must then roll against Surprise Chance to see if they are caught off guard.

Surprise Chance defaults to 3 but is modified by Tags such as Stealthy.

In the case of Surprise, a party or individual is Surprised if they roll less than the Surprise Chance - if they roll greater than this, they are not Surprised. In the case of Ambush, the Ambushing party must roll 1d10 + Agility + any modifiers such as Stealthy. This determines the Surprise Chance. Opponents caught in the Ambush must roll to see if they are Surprised. If they roll less than half the Surprise Chance, they are Ambushed - if they roll between this value and the Surprise Chance, they are Surprised.

A roll of 1 by someone testing for Surprise means they are Surprised - if testing for Ambushed, they are Ambushed. A roll of 1 by someone setting the Surprise Chance in an Ambush means their Ambush has failed and all opponents act normally. A roll of 10 by someone testing for Surprise or Ambush means they act normally. A roll of 10 by someone setting the Surprise Chance increases the effective Surprise Chance value by 5.