Bardic Fascinate ability & combat

[gfunk]

Under the Bardic Fascinate ability, it states,

The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working.

If you get a surprise round and combat has not started, can you use this ability?
If you don't get a surprise round but go first in initiative before any of your allies attack, can you use this ability?

Any of this supported by Sage Advice?

Comments appreciated.

 

[Dross]

Well: The distraction of a nearby combat or other danger prevents the ability from working.

Depending on the situation, a group of heavily armed/armoured people would seem to fit into the "other danger" in most cases to me. I mean, how often does your group get ready for combat as soon as they see someone (or a group of someones) even if they haven't made any overtly hostile moves?

It may be a DM's call. A group of refugee's would think that a group of armed men in the countryside = bandits = danger, but a force of soldiers may or may not (especially given the knowledge that a small group of people could still potentially hurt them badly if combat ensued).

You would have to make an effort to have the situation as non-threatening as possible.