@SageAdviceDnD @mikemearls hobgoblin surprise attack. Do I need to be in a surprise round or just my first attack and coming from stealth?
— David Clark (@Makuzi) September 29, 2017
it does specify that the creature must be surprised; but, as DM you could rule that a creature is surprised by the bugbear after 1st rd
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 29, 2017
balance-wise, as long as the bugbear uses it no more than once per battle it should work out
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) September 29, 2017