How surprise is handled in 5.0

[Bellberith]

Do you make a perception check before combat to avoid being surprised?

With certain creatures like gargoyles is there still such a perception? like that move and combat begins or is it instantly surprise every time no matter what because of false appearance?

This is without Alert feat

[Slipperychicken]

It's right there on PHB 189, "Surprise"


The DM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they automatically notice each other. Otherwise, the DM compares the Dexterity (Stealth) checks of anyone hiding with the passive Wisdom (Perception) score of each creature on the opposing side. Any character or monster that doesn't notice a threat is surprised at the start of the encounter.

[Bellberith]

It's right there on PHB 189, "Surprise"

I am guessing that means everyone without alert is automatically surprised by things like gargoyles then....

[Shaofoo]

I am guessing that means everyone without alert is automatically surprised by things like gargoyles then....

Well if the party knows about Gargoyles they might want to try and smash the Gargoyle statue in question to be safe.

Of course it does say that anyone with a good Perception can notice the duplicity (a Gargoyle might be perched in such a way that it betrays how a normal statue would look). So the guy that notices the Gargoyle could in turn attack and surprise the Gargoyle itself or warn his friends so that the round can commence with no surprise.

[SharkForce]

Well if the party knows about Gargoyles they might want to try and smash the Gargoyle statue in question to be safe.

Of course it does say that anyone with a good Perception can notice the duplicity (a Gargoyle might be perched in such a way that it betrays how a normal statue would look). So the guy that notices the Gargoyle could in turn attack and surprise the Gargoyle itself or warn his friends so that the round can commence with no surprise.

all statues represent danger just waiting to leap on an unsuspecting victim. only rarely should you consider not assaulting them, and never should your reasoning be that it's just a harmless statue. there is no such thing as a harmless statue. there are statues that are traps, statues that will animate and try to kill you, statues that are the result of people failing to account for petrification effects and assuming the statues in this unusual museum are nothing special, and various other statues. all are dangerous.

if you see an unfamiliar statue* and do not treat it as a sign of imminent danger, you may wish to reconsider your life as an adventurer. alternately, you might be visiting a powerful being in their home and do not wish to offend them by smashing their expensive murderous devices with a large blunt object. in this case, it is acceptable to behave as if the statues are not there to murder you so long as your host does not draw attention to them (it's impolite to tell someone they're trying to murder you when really they might be trying to murder someone else, after all). however, note that while proper etiquette requires that you not act on your knowledge outwardly, it is still advised that you be prepared for the "harmless statues" to attempt to murder you, most likely at a time when you might have been expected to be paying attention to something else.

* an unfamiliar statue being any statue which you personally do not have the means to control. in much the same way as it is always wise to treat a gun as if it is loaded, however, it is still wise to be prepared for the statue to have been subverted from your control.

[Xetheral]

all statues represent danger just waiting to leap on an unsuspecting victim. only rarely should you consider not assaulting them, and never should your reasoning be that it's just a harmless statue. there is no such thing as a harmless statue. there are statues that are traps, statues that will animate and try to kill you, statues that are the result of people failing to account for petrification effects and assuming the statues in this unusual museum are nothing special, and various other statues. all are dangerous.

if you see an unfamiliar statue* and do not treat it as a sign of imminent danger, you may wish to reconsider your life as an adventurer. alternately, you might be visiting a powerful being in their home and do not wish to offend them by smashing their expensive murderous devices with a large blunt object. in this case, it is acceptable to behave as if the statues are not there to murder you so long as your host does not draw attention to them (it's impolite to tell someone they're trying to murder you when really they might be trying to murder someone else, after all). however, note that while proper etiquette requires that you not act on your knowledge outwardly, it is still advised that you be prepared for the "harmless statues" to attempt to murder you, most likely at a time when you might have been expected to be paying attention to something else.

* an unfamiliar statue being any statue which you personally do not have the means to control. in much the same way as it is always wise to treat a gun as if it is loaded, however, it is still wise to be prepared for the statue to have been subverted from your control.

It's far more fun as a DM to subvert the trope... I never have displayed suits of armor or statues come to life. The party is paranoid about them anyway . Someday, after they get used to the pattern... *then* I'll have the statues come to life.

[TheOOB]

I generally try not to punish players for playing the game. Random unavoidable traps for walking into a room are not fun for the whole party.

[Slipperychicken]

It's far more fun as a DM to subvert the trope... I never have displayed suits of armor or statues come to life. The party is paranoid about them anyway . Someday, after they get used to the pattern... *then* I'll have the statues come to life.

And this is why we have threads like these (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?413320-Paranoia-is-the-most-boring-character-trait-(for-a-PC)&p=19207306).