What happens when a weapons expert is surprised?

[Mike P.]

Played some TFT over Thanksgiving break and the following occurred; The party of adventurers, which included one weapons expert, were surprised by mongreloids. During the free surprise round, are the mongreloids -1 DX to hit the weapons expert? We decided that the monsters were not subject to the penalty for the initial round, as the expert was caught off guard. I am curious as to how everyone else would play this situation.

[hcobb]

I'd say an expert's trained reflexes would operate. They just wouldn't have their surprised act together enough to choose a defend option.

Just like walking up behind a UC-V fighter.

[platimus]

Mike,
That ruling is not unreasonable or ludicrous but I would have probably let the -1 DX against the weapon expert stand. My justification: the weapons expert's muscle memory would kick into gear as almost instinctual. The surprised party would still suffer because they would not get a chance to "defend" as their action/option. I think maybe this is what Hcobb was trying to say. Not sure though.

[larsdangly]

If their weapon is ready I'd say the modifier applies; if not it doesn't.

[Mike P.]

Originally Posted by larsdangly

If their weapon is ready I'd say the modifier applies; if not it doesn't.

That was my initial reaction. Then I read up on Surprise, p. 105 of ITL; "The best way to handle surprise is to give the side which achieved surprise one free turn – that is, they get one chance to move and strike before the other side can react at all." That last part, "before the other side can react at all" made me change my mind. Actually I could go either way on this issue. Like I said in my original post I was just curious about how everybody else would handle this situation.

[hcobb]

The surprised party isn't choosing any combat options, but they aren't helpless targets dispatched with auto-hit auto-kills.

[Chris Rice]

Originally Posted by hcobb

The surprised party isn't choosing any combat options, but they aren't helpless targets dispatched with auto-hit auto-kills.

Exactly. Their armour and shields still absorb damage, so I'd give the expert their bonus.