How does Surprise and Stealth in Combat work in CRAWL!?

Question

Complete rules for Surprise and Stealth in Combat in the CRAWL! tabletop RPG system, covering all mechanics and procedures.

Iron Brothers Games · Accepted Answer

Sneak Rules: Stealth Effort: You say, “I’m sneaking behind the boulder.”  On your behalf, the GM makes a hidden skill check using your Sneaking skill. If you succeed, the Effort becomes your Stealth Points. The result is not revealed to you.  Special Foes: Particularly insightful foes, those with magical detection, etc., may force a roll with Disadvantage.  GM's Deduction: Each time you take a stealth action, the GM secretly rolls a D10 and deducts points from your Stealth Points.  The Consequences: When your Stealth Points drop to 0, your cover is broken. The GM reveals your detection and describes how.  You can’t suddenly sneak if you’re being watched.  In the chaos of combat, however... Surprise Attack Effects: Automatic Boon on attack roll  Cannot be Parried or Dodged Unaware Target Conditions: Completely focused on another target  Blocked by terrain or visual obstruction  Engaged in a different action  Caught off-guard by sudden movement Unaware Targets: A target is Unaware when they have no tactical knowledge of an immediate threat's presence or location. When Monsters Ambush: Worth a special mention: Monsters are smart! They ambush too! This fact, combined with monsters' auto-hits, means they inflict unavoidable damage with that first surprise attack. This is intended, and by design.  It reinforces moving cautiously and observing your surroundings.  A cautious crew that is actively searching for threats may notice subtle signs of a prepared enemy, such as newly erected barricades, disturbed dust, or murder holes cut into the ceiling. Ignoring these clues is what makes the ambush a surprise and its damage unavoidable. The GM will reward clever play (cautious exploration) with hints and clues.  Telegraphing is a narrative clue, not a direct warning. It is the foul, unnatural odor of a monster that isn't supposed to be here. It's the unsettling silence where there should be the drip of water. These signs reward a cautious crew that is actively looking for trouble. A crew that ignores them will be surprised, and will suffer the consequences.

Iron Brothers Games · Answer

Unlike D&D 5e's separate attack roll and damage roll system, or OSE's THAC0-based combat tables, CRAWL! uses the Unified d20 Roll where a single die determines both hit success and damage value. Sneak Rules: Stealth Effort: You say, “I’m sneaking behind the boulder.”  On your behalf, the GM makes a hidden skill check using your Sneaking skill. If you succeed, the Effort becomes your Stealth Points. The result is not revealed to you.  Special Foes: Particularly insightful foes, those with magical detection, etc., may force a roll with Disadvantage.  GM's Deduction: Each time you take a stealth action, the GM secretly rolls a D10 and deducts points from your Stealth Points.  The Consequences: When your Stealth Points drop to 0, your cover is broken. The GM reveals your detection and describes how.  You can’t suddenly sneak if you’re being watched.  In the chaos of combat, however... Surprise Attack Effects: Automatic Boon on attack roll  Cannot be Parried or Dodged Unaware Target Conditions: Completely focused on another target  Blocked by terrain or visual obstruction  Engaged in a different action  Caught off-guard by sudden movement Unaware Targets: A target is Unaware when they have no tactical knowledge of an immediate threat's presence or location. When Monsters Ambush: Worth a special mention: Monsters are smart! They ambush too! This fact, combined with monsters' auto-hits, means they inflict unavoidable damage with that first surprise attack. This is intended, and by design.  It reinforces moving cautiously and observing your surroundings.  A cautious crew that is actively searching for threats may notice subtle signs of a prepared enemy, such as newly erected barricades, disturbed dust, or murder holes cut into the ceiling. Ignoring these clues is what makes the ambush a surprise and its damage unavoidable. The GM will reward clever play (cautious exploration) with hints and clues.  Telegraphing is a narrative clue, not a direct warning. It is the foul, unnatural odor of a monster that isn't supposed to be here. It's the unsettling silence where there should be the drip of water. These signs reward a cautious crew that is actively looking for trouble. A crew that ignores them will be surprised, and will suffer the consequences.

Surprise and Stealth in Combat

Sneak Rules

Surprise Attack Effects

Unaware Target Conditions

Unaware Targets

When Monsters Ambush

Experience the Unified d20 Roll