FrancisBean
2019-03-29, 05:55 PM
This thought came to me via another thread, but I didn't want to hijack it for this question.
I've long thought that surprised should be handled in 5e as a combat condition, just like restrained, incapacitated, etc. One of the few differences is that combat conditions are things a PC can impose, while only the DM adjudicates surprise. So let's play with that.
Suppose we had a spell, Momentary Amnesia, which briefly made a target forget where they were and what they were doing and why. Not for long, just for a round. Say, Enchantment school, 30' range, Components VSM but no cost, instantaneous duration, single target you can see, Wisdom Save to nullify; and the spell imposed the surprised condition for that target's next turn. (No reactions until after that turn; no action, movement nor bonus action for that turn.) I'm thinking Wizard, Bard, Warlock, and maybe Sorcerer spell lists.
Just how powerful would that actually be? I.e., what level would you put on that spell?
I'm not sure what other situations might also impose the same penalty. 5e surprise makes it impractical to give the benefits of surprise to a new combatant unexpectedly entering the fray, for example. (I've sometimes given advantage to a new attacker arriving out of the blue.) I could see a few specialized magic items, but it's hard to come up with good justifications for them. Any ideas?
I've long thought that surprised should be handled in 5e as a combat condition, just like restrained, incapacitated, etc. One of the few differences is that combat conditions are things a PC can impose, while only the DM adjudicates surprise. So let's play with that.
Suppose we had a spell, Momentary Amnesia, which briefly made a target forget where they were and what they were doing and why. Not for long, just for a round. Say, Enchantment school, 30' range, Components VSM but no cost, instantaneous duration, single target you can see, Wisdom Save to nullify; and the spell imposed the surprised condition for that target's next turn. (No reactions until after that turn; no action, movement nor bonus action for that turn.) I'm thinking Wizard, Bard, Warlock, and maybe Sorcerer spell lists.
Just how powerful would that actually be? I.e., what level would you put on that spell?
I'm not sure what other situations might also impose the same penalty. 5e surprise makes it impractical to give the benefits of surprise to a new combatant unexpectedly entering the fray, for example. (I've sometimes given advantage to a new attacker arriving out of the blue.) I could see a few specialized magic items, but it's hard to come up with good justifications for them. Any ideas?