D&D How to Play: Combat

Question 1

What does each participant do during a round of combat?

Answer 1

Each participant in battle takes a Turn.

Question 2

Once every participant in combat has taken a turn, the Round is complete. How long is a Round?

Answer 2

A Round represents about 6 seconds in the game world.

Question 3

What are the first three steps to setting up combat? (The DM handles most of these.)

Answer 3

1. Determine Surprise
2. Establish Positions
3. Roll Initiative

Question 4

When Combat is being started, how does the DM determine who is surprised?

Answer 4

To determine who is surprised:

1. Anyone who is hiding at the start of Combat rolls a Dexterity-(Stealth) Check.
2. The outcome is compared with the passive
   Wisdom-(Perception) score of each creature on the opposing side.
3. A creature whose passive Wisdom-(Perception) is beaten is Surprised at the start of the encounter.

Question 5

If you are Surprised, what happens?

Answer 5

If you are Surprised, you can’t move or take an action on your first turn of combat. You also cannot take a reaction until that turn ends.

Question 6

What is Initiative and how do you roll for it?

Answer 6

Initiative determines the order of all combatant’s turns.

To roll Initiative make a Dexterity Check.
(d20+Dex)

Question 7

On your Turn in a Round of Combat, what are the two main things every character can do?

Bonus: What are the two Free things every character can do?

Answer 7

Main:
-You can Move (up to your speed) and take one Action. -These can be taken in either order.
-You can break up your movement.

Free:
-You can Communicate with brief utterances and gestures.
-You can interact with one object for free.

Question 8

There are two unique types of Actions a character can take, but ONLY if their feature, ability, or spell states that you can.
What are they?

Answer 8

1. A Bonus Action
2. A Reaction

Question 9

How many Bonus actions can you take on your turn?

How many Reactions can you take on your turn?

Answer 9

1. You can take 1 Bonus action on your turn.
2. You can take 1 Reaction per turn.

Question 10

There are 11 Actions available to all characters, though some special features can offer more.
Name as many as you can!

Answer 10

1. Attack
2. Cast a Spell
3. Dash
4. Disengage
5. Dodge
6. Help
7. Hide
8. Ready
9. Search
10. Use an Object
11. Improvise an Action