I think you do a disservice to Ammann and his approach. The point is simply that (particularly in 5e) monsters are designated as having specific abilities. Those abilities have to be either instinct or training. Whichever they are, it makes sense for the monsters to rely on them. If goblins can attack and then hide as a special thing, they should be looking for opportunities to do that. The goal is actually to make the world more naturalistic. One of the things Ammann emphasizes over and over is that monsters (mostly) aren't murder machines, and the GM should bear that in mind when deciding how a monster behaves. If a monster's ability suggests ambush predator (e.g. special attack jumping out of a tree) then consider how ambush predators behave in the real world when running it. Have it attack stragglers, have it break off and flee if it can if the ambush doesn't work and it finds itself in a real fight, don't have it pursue runners if it's secured its meal, etc.
I think you do a disservice to Ammann and his approach. The point is simply that (particularly in 5e) monsters are designated as having specific abilities. Those abilities have to be either instinct or training. Whichever they are, it makes sense for the monsters to rely on them. If goblins can attack and then hide as a special thing, they should be looking for opportunities to do that. The goal is actually to make the world more naturalistic. One of the things Ammann emphasizes over and over is that monsters (mostly) aren't murder machines, and the GM should bear that in mind when deciding how a monster behaves. If a monster's ability suggests ambush predator (e.g. special attack jumping out of a tree) then consider how ambush predators behave in the real world when running it. Have it attack stragglers, have it break off and flee if it can if the ambush doesn't work and it finds itself in a real fight, don't have it pursue runners if it's secured its meal, etc.
What are they doing?
1. Sleeping (automatic surprised)
2. playing games/talking among themselves (players have advantage on perception checks)
3. drinking/carousing (disadvantage on perception checks)
4. Eating/cooking/preparing a meal.
5. Searching the area/ looking around (advantage on perception checks)
6. They see you and you see them so roll initiative, oops.
Thank you for a well written and interesting article.