Is it intended that an assassin must surprise their target and win initiative to use assasinate?

@JeremyECrawford Is it intended that an assassin must surprise their target and win initiative to use assasinate?

— Daganev (@Daganev) November 17, 2015

Assassinate does require the Assassin to have a higher initiative than the target. #DnD https://t.co/Arsa5i1f79

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 17, 2015