Things you assume from 3.5 / PF1 but are different in PF2!

[mardock]

Gorbacz wrote:

I think we should start with mentioning that surprise rounds are gone, because I've already played two PF2e games where everybody forgot about that :)

not exactly right. the encounter begins when the ambusher attacks so everyone faster than him does nothing in the first round. Also the ambusher uses stealth, or deception, for initiative instead perception.

[Captain Morgan]

mardock wrote:

Gorbacz wrote:

I think we should start with mentioning that surprise rounds are gone, because I've already played two PF2e games where everybody forgot about that :)

not exactly right. the encounter begins when the ambusher attacks so everyone faster than him does nothing in the first round. Also the ambusher uses stealth, or deception, for initiative instead perception.

Nope. Initiative is rolled when the hostilities begin. If the ambusher rolls deception for initiative and other people roll higher, that means those people realized the ambusher was up to something (reaching for a weapon, beginning to cast a a spell, etc) and get a chance to first.

If the ambusher rolled stealth and beat the perception DCs of everyone, but the other people rolled higher on initiative, then the other people still act first and treat the enemy as unobserved but not unnoticed. They can delay until someone reveals themselves, Seek to find the enemy they think is around, raise a shield, cast a spell, etc.

[MaxAstro]

Captain Morgan wrote:

mardock wrote:

Gorbacz wrote:

I think we should start with mentioning that surprise rounds are gone, because I've already played two PF2e games where everybody forgot about that :)

not exactly right. the encounter begins when the ambusher attacks so everyone faster than him does nothing in the first round. Also the ambusher uses stealth, or deception, for initiative instead perception.

Nope. Initiative is rolled when the hostilities begin. If the ambusher rolls deception for initiative and other people roll higher, that means those people realized the ambusher was up to something (reaching for a weapon, beginning to cast a a spell, etc) and get a chance to first.

If the ambusher rolled stealth and beat the perception DCs of everyone, but the other people rolled higher on initiative, then the other people still act first and treat the enemy as unobserved but not unnoticed. They can delay until someone reveals themselves, Seek to find the enemy they think is around, raise a shield, cast a spell, etc.

Thanks for confirming this. I thought this was how it works, but I had a moment of doubt.

[masda_gib]

I found out recently that Bane now forces unaffected enemies to make a new save every time you concentrate to increase the area. This makes it much more reliable than a one-save effect.