Confounded Rules! Spotlight: Surprise Rules in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeoneers Guild Games

Mar 17

1 min read

Updated: Oct 13

Surprise in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons affects encounter distance, combat timing, and the actions characters can take. This guide explains the First Edition rules with examples and reference tables. This article analyzes and clarifies the rules concerning combat surprise in First Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

By R. Nelson Bailey

A barbarian with horned helmet faces multi-headed hydra in dark dungeon, holding an axe. Torch-lit walls create an intense, dramatic scene.

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4 Comments

GVaughn

Aug 17

I think this is a well researched and fantastic article to a very murky topic. It taught me a lot as soemone who has played a lot of 1e over the years. Very informative.

Dungeoneers Guild Games

Aug 18

Replying to

Thanks, George. I am glad you like it.

Unknown member

May 11

"If you rolled a 1 and the DM rolled a 6, they would have had 5 surprise segments and could have gotten in a total of 60 attacks" This is just wrong. If the gargoyles rolled a 6 they were not surprised. If the PCs rolled a 1, they were surprised for 1 segment. Net result 1 segment of surprise, not 6. This is a mistake, exaggerated by repeating here: "The table below shows the number of “lost” segments in the surprise round when both parties are surprised." where the emphasis should be on "IF BOTH PARTIES ARE SURPRISED". "The presence of light, failure on an open doors roll, or being distracted are a few examples." Light and failure on an op…

Dungeoneers Guild Games

May 13

Replying to

My responses to all of Rick’s points.

Rick: Quote: "If you rolled a 1 and the DM rolled a 6, they would have had 5 surprise segments and could have gotten in a total of 60 attacks"

This is just wrong. If the gargoyles rolled a 6 they were not surprised. If the PCs rolled a 1, they were surprised for 1 segment. Net result 1 segment of surprise, not 6. This is a mistake, exaggerated by repeating here: "The table below shows the number of “lost” segments in the surprise round when both parties are surprised." where the emphasis should be on "IF BOTH PARTIES ARE SURPRISED".

Reply to Rick: Yes, the example is wrong, as…