Surprise?

[Coffeedragon]

In the Combat Chapter, under Overview, it states "• Before the first round, the judge rolls for surprise."

Can anyone tell me what the mechanic is for surprise in DCCRPG, or is it (wait for it...) a surprise?!
I can't find any other mention of it in the Beta rules.

[Stainless]

I think you'll find surprise mechanic is a purely qualitative one, viz. "If the characters were not aware of their opponents (or vice versa), they are surprised." rather than a quantitative one (involving dice rolls and a DC).

[fjw70]

I think you'll find surprise mechanic is a purely qualitative one, viz. "If the characters were not aware of their opponents (or vice versa), they are surprised." rather than a quantitative one (involving dice rolls and a DC).

I agree. The rules should read " . . . the judge determines suprise." But that is really nitpicky.

[Coffeedragon]

Real Homer Simpson moment there for me: I'm still so brainwashed by 3.5 thinking that I overlooked the obvious.
It doesn't NEED a mechanic, you can use Common Sense!
Enlightenment comes, one revelation at a time