Handling this specific Surprise sequence.

[AxeMental]

BTB how would you handle this situation.

A group of PCs are surprised by a group of 5 monsters for 3 segments. However, one PC has an 18 Dex (with +3 reaction adjustment) while the other 4 PCs have average Dex. Do you:

1. Role initiative between only the one PC against the monsters (incase he can act first) and then have the monsters attack the rest of the group with 3 attacks. Thats how we have done it in the past, but this came up in a game last weekend and I'm looking for BTB.

2. Give the bonus to the group (rather then just that specific PC).

3. some other way?

Lets say in one situation the PC with an 18 dex is an MU with several sleep memorized (and he's fighting low HD monsters), and in the other case its a fighter armed with a long sword and long bow.

If none of the party had a reaction adjustment bonus, then the monsters would get 3 attacks each before initiative is rolled (so simple enough). But how do you deal with the extra fast guy (due to his natural high dex) blow by blow.

Thanks in advance.

[T. Foster]

It's a corner-case hole in the system, so you have to make a ruling and be prepared to either stick with it or modify it as feels appropriate in each situation.

The most straightforward way to handle it is probably to have the non-surprised PC roll initiative against the monsters, resolve that action if it's something that takes place fully within the surprise period (e.g. a short spell), otherwise give the monsters their actions against the surprised PCs but don't let them target any attacks at the unsurprised character (except their normal per-round attack, the timing of which would be resolved using the normal initiative rules).

Here's how I'd probably do it:

5 PCs (1 with 18 Dex) are surprised for 3 segments by 5 bugbears who are 20' away. The DM decides that one of the bugbears will charge to attack the unsurprised PC, 3 will charge to attack the surprised PCs, and the 5th will charge past the party to block their retreat. The unsurprised PC will cast a Sleep spell. The surprised PCs don't get to declare any actions yet. Both sides roll initiative - the party rolls a 3, the monsters roll a 2.

Segment 1: the bugbears all charge 18' (without looking it up I'm assuming they have a 9" move rate - if they have a 12" move then assume they were 30' away), which doesn't quite bring them to the PCs.

Segment 2: the unsurprised PC starts casting his spell. Bugbear #1 reaches him and attacks - if he hits the spell is ruined; if he misses he's done acting for the round. Bugbears #2-4 reach and attack the surprised PCs. Bugbear #5, if there's enough room for him to not pass within 10' of the unsurprised PC, continues past the party for another 18'.

Segment 3: if the unsurprised PC's spell wasn't ruined it goes off. By now the bugbears are in melee with the party so targeting the area of effect is going to be tricky. If bugbear #1 is in the AOE of the spell he drops; otherwise he doesn't get to do anything this segment. If bugbears #2-4 are in the AOE they drop (because the party won intiative); otherwise they each get another attack on the surprised PCs. If bugbear #5 is in the AOE he drops; otherwise he can move up to another 18' or raise an alarm or whatever else (except attack the unsurprised PC).

Segment 4: surprise wears off and we resume normal, round-based activity with a 6-segment round. The initiative roll that was made in segment 1 still applies so the party has initiative. The unsurprised PC and bugbear #1 have already done their actions for the round so they don't get to move again, but everybody else who hasn't been dropped by the Sleep spell - both the surprised PCs and the bugbears who weren't interacting with the unsurprised PC - get to. If one of the surprised PCs wants to cast a spell this round it will start casting on segment 5 (effectively counting segment 4 as being segment 1 for that character).

Sooner or later there will be a more complicated situation where some extra wrinkle arises that the above rule-of-thumb and example doesn't cover. When that happens, make a judgment call. If everything seems to work out pretty well based on that judgment call try to remember it and do the same thing the next time a similar situation arises.

[T. Foster]

Same deal if the unsurprised PC is a fighter with a bow instead of a spellcaster:

Segment 1: no change

Segment 2: no change for bugbears #2-5. Unsurprised PC gets a shot off against bugbear #1 before he reaches him (since he won initiative). If bugbear #1 is still standing he gets an attack on the unsurprised PC.

Segment 3: Bugbear #1 and the unsurprised PC have done their actions for the round so they don't get to do anything else this segment, unless the unsurprised PC dropped bugbear #1 with his first shot, in which case he will get another shot later in the round (post-surprise). Bugbears #2-4 each get another attack on the surprised PCs (but don't get to do anything that would affect the unsurprised PC). No change for bugbear #5.

Segment 4: no change - the unsurprised PC and bugbear #1 are done for the round (unless, as noted above, the PC is unengaged, in which case he'll get his 2nd shot - roll 1d4(+3) for the exact segment if it matters, otherwise just assume "after melee is resolved for everybody else"); everybody else resolves a normal (but shortened) round of combat.

EDIT: Actually, I forgot that the PC's 18 Dex also gives him an initiative bonus with his bow. So his first shot will go off on segment 1. Roll 1d4 for the timing of his second shot. If it's a 1 his second shot will go off on segment 2, before the charging bugbears reach the party. If it's a 2+ he only gets the second shot if his first one dropped the bugbear who was charging at him (and, unless he wants to fire into melee, can only target bugbear #5). Having an 18 Dex is a pretty good deal!

[T. Foster]

Oh yeah, one more thing. Your option #2 (18 Dex PC's bonus applies to the entire group) is definitely not correct BTB.