I don't seem to be able to set up surprise rounds reliably. Even when I spread my party out around the room, have them all Hidden, and attack from Hide. We get a surprise round in some fights, but not others. Like the Paladins of Tyr to the west of the Emerald Grove. Even if I enter the building from the top floor with everyone stealthed, and they don't even know we're there, I can't get a surprise round. I can hit from stealth and if I re-stealth, combat isn't triggered. But if I fail the stealth AFTER I hit Anders, initiative is triggered and there is no surprise round. Are there some mobs that are immune to surprise rounds or something? Or am I doing something wrong?

[Linked Image from coloden.com]