D&D Basics [BECMI] - The Surprise
Hello.
Im trying to learn the rules of the Basic Rule Set (Red box) from 1983 IIRC, and there is one thing I don't understand about the surprise. In the booklet, it is written :
Quote:
There is more to an encounter than just walking into a room and seeing a monster. For example, you might have sneaked up on the creature — or it might have sneaked up on you! You might turn a corner, and be completely surprised to find a monster right there. But if the monster is surprised, too, then you would both stop for a moment and look at each other. The mutual surprise on both sides would cancel out, for no effect except a short delay.
In group adventures, you roll to see who is surprised, and by how much. A six-sided die (Id6) is rolled for each side, and the results are compared in the following way:
You are only surprised if you roll a 1 or a 2; the same applies to the monsters.
So, if Im sneaking with a thief to a monster who is not aware of my presence, I still have to roll a six-sided die and my thief could be surprised himself If I do a 1 or 2, even if I was planing to surprise the monster ? That would be non-sense, It's not really clear. I suppose normally, only the monster should roll for surprise (in order to see if he is surprised or not by my thief). But the rule states that BOTH side have to roll for surprise. Can you explain to me ?
Regards.