Questions tagged [initiative]
For questions about the rules governing the order of action in turn-based combat systems, commonly known as "initiative".
230
questions
3
votes
1
answer
55
views
In Rolemaster Unified, when in the combat round do persistent spell effects occur?
Using the lvl 4 spell from "Wind Law" Stun Cloud I as an example (Rolemaster Unified Spell Law pg 159), but this question comes up for other spells.
Stun Cloud I – Creates a 5'R cloud of ...
- 6,904
5
votes
1
answer
515
views
In D&D 5e during naval ship combat, do the PCs still roll initiative alongside the ship? If so, even when they are crewmates and not passengers?
I'm using the ship combat rules provided by Ghosts of Saltmarsh, and unless I'm missing it, how initiative works is not very well explained. It explains how a ship's initiative is calculated but ...
- 353
4
votes
2
answers
164
views
On what initiative order do you act after possessing a creature?
In a ongoing campaign I'm playing a character themed around ghosts and possession. I'll later gain access to the Possession spell. But I don't have a grip on how it's supposed to work regarding ...
- 4,063
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does the rogue's Reliable Talent feature apply to a harengon's initiative checks (thanks to the Hare-Trigger trait)?
Rogues gain the Reliable Talent feature at level 11:
By 11th level, you have refined your chosen skills until they approach perfection. Whenever you make an ability check that lets you add your ...
- 32.2k
9
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Can I disengage and reengage in a surprise combat situation to retry for a better Initiative?
There are lots of questions posted about surprise and initative, but one scenario still seems ambiguous to me. If this has been answered, please link, as I couldn't find it.
Scenario: A player is ...
- 1,083
6
votes
1
answer
550
views
When should Death Saves be rolled under the rules for Speed Factor Initiative?
In my new campaign I am using the Speed Factor variant for Initiative (DMG pp. 270-271). We like this a lot but it is confusing concerning unconscious PCs.
This question says that taking Actions while ...
- 16.2k
1
vote
0
answers
42
views
How can I to balance player action narrative with the initiative system? [duplicate]
In my last session, a player attempted to get in an attack on some giants that were not yet aware of him, so we rolled initiative. The giants were surprised, so they didn't get to go first, but the ...
- 24.1k
5
votes
1
answer
217
views
Which editions of D&D had Initiative rules like 5E's Speed Factor Initiative?
D&D 5E has a variant Initiative rule called Speed Factor Initiative which has two differences compared to the standard Initiative rule:
Initiative is rolled every combat round
In addition to ...
- 16.2k
17
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Does a legendary action occur “outside” of a turn?
The rules for legendary actions state:
A legendary creature can take a certain number of special actions — called legendary actions — outside its turn. Only one legendary action option can be used at ...
- 207k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How will this static Initiative houserule affect game balance?
In my current D&D group all the PCs have a static Initiative (8 + Proficiency + Dex + any other bonuses) while enemies and NPCs keep rolling the original way (d20 dice roll + Dex). This enables us ...
- 81
4
votes
2
answers
530
views
Does a party get a full round of readied actions after an enemy comes back from banishment spell?
So our party has a dragon banished. Our plan is to drop the banishment spell right after the dragon's turn in initiative. Can the whole party get a whole round of readied attacks and/or advantage and ...
- 3,111
4
votes
1
answer
977
views
Do initiative bonuses stack?
I am asking this specifically with regard to the bonus from Gift of Alacrity (if two different characters knew the spell and cast it on the same person), but if there is a general rule on stacking ...
- 7,777
7
votes
2
answers
488
views
How to handle prepared actions when you are expecting to see an enemy but you haven't yet?
In my last session my group and I have encountered this situation:
We found a trap that would trigger two hostile creatures to enter our room through a portal each. We knew that because there was a ...
- 221
11
votes
2
answers
344
views
Is there a prescribed method to determine order of combat within the three phases?
My group played our first round of combat in Avatar Legends and definitely stumbled through it.
It went fairly well, but there was a confusing point when we weren't sure how to determine order of ...
- 124k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can you choose to not participate in combat?
The combat rules state, on page 189 PHB:
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the ...
- 97.4k
3
votes
1
answer
516
views
When can new monsters joining a combat act?
My question is if, during a combat, I introduce a second wave of enemies (the party is fighting 10 goblins but then a second party of 5 who were flanking/hiding joins on the second round), when can ...
- 55
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can a Soulknife Harengon add a Psionic Energy Die to Initiative Checks?
I've been searching forums and brainstorming about this idea. I am curious about how many holes can be put in this theory and how many DMs would allow this at their table.
Supporting Evidence
Every ...
- 91
1
vote
2
answers
485
views
When rolling initiative for DM-controlled creatures, does their Dexterity modifier apply?
When the DM is rolling initiative for its monsters, does their Dexterity modifier apply, or does the DM just roll a d20 on its own?
- 35
3
votes
0
answers
115
views
Are there any systems that use a continuous initiative order? [closed]
Essentially, I am wondering if there are any tabletop-roleplaying games in which players are always playing in turns. I am curious about how it impacts the game tempo, the participation of the players,...
- 411
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What are the odds of being able to disrupt a spellcaster?
What are the chances that the opponent is able to get their attack in to disrupt a spellcaster as a function of casting time and weapon speed?
Assume the opponent will hit, and use this summary of the ...
- 2,790
4
votes
1
answer
194
views
What combination of initiative rolls need to occur to disrupt spellcasting with a melee attack?
What initiative roll conditions need to occur for a successful melee attack to disrupt spell casting?
E.g. Wizard is casting a spell that takes X segments to cast. What combinations of initiative ...
- 2,790
9
votes
2
answers
883
views
What ways are there of changing the result of your initiative roll before the initiative order is set?
For a lot of PCs, initiative order doesn't matter that much (beyond 'higher being better'). But for some, it matters a lot - I am thinking at the moment in particular of healers/buffers, who want to ...
- 19k
4
votes
1
answer
688
views
Does an Initiative Roll imply combat?
I am wondering if a initiative roll means combat started, for the purpose of perks like the Assassin rogue's Assassinate which states
You have advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn'...
- 51
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When a character regains consciousness mid-fight after their initiative passed, do they get a turn?
I have a problem understanding regaining consciousness. From what I know, a creature that loses its consciousness during the battle needs to have its HP to be raised above 0 once again. But what if ...
- 161
4
votes
1
answer
182
views
How to improve the initiative of a familiar
As a Wizard I have a quite high Initiative (at level 9 +18). My improved familiar (in this case a faerie dragon) has an initiative value of 3. Since I would like to do spell combos with him I am ...
- 6,527
5
votes
0
answers
85
views
How does "hold action" work in EABA?
For EABA ("End All Be All" game system), you can "hold action" (page 8 of the quickstart rules) to act preemptively to a specific trigger (e.g. shoot if they try to shoot).
How ...
- 91
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Our GM has us roll new initiative every round. Just how broad of a change is this?
I am playing in a campaign based on Pathfinder 2nd edition rules. My GM decided to introduce the house rule of rolling initiative every round, basically altering one of the base concept of the game.
...
- 398
12
votes
1
answer
558
views
Can a Bard's Superior Inspiration be used on the initative roll that generated it?
I'm curious of the timing around the bard's level 20 Superior Inspiration.
Superior Inspiration simply states:
At 20th level, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Bardic
Inspiration left, you ...
- 3,572
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Am I allowed to double-dip on my mount's turn, granting it extra dashes?
Here's a very silly situation that I'm sure would be easy to rule around, but as an exercise to understand the rules better, I'd still like to know how this works. It might even just be a variation of ...
- 13.3k
3
votes
1
answer
518
views
Can you become first in initiative by taking the Delay action?
The Delay action says that you can return to the initiative order as a free action triggered by the end of any other creature’s turn. Can you ever become first in initiative by taking said action? ...
- 2,417
6
votes
1
answer
250
views
How do you abort an action in M20 if there is no declaration phase?
In other editions of the old world of darkness games, there is a declaration phase during combat rounds, where every participant declares what he intends to do in the next turn, from lowest to highest ...
- 3,616
9
votes
1
answer
747
views
Eyes of the Eagle and Initiative
Eyes of the Eagle gives a bonus to Perception checks "that involve sight". Usually, a Perception check can be used for Initiative.
When does Initiative not involve sight?
- 62.5k
5
votes
2
answers
758
views
How does initiative work for the giant constrictor snake from the Staff of the Python magic item? [duplicate]
The description of the Staff of the Python magic item reads:
[…] The staff becomes a giant constrictor snake under your control and acts on its own initiative count. […]
As the DM, I’ve been making ...
- 153
24
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the impact of moving a fallen PC in the initiative order?
If you receive more damage than your current hitpoints, you are Knocked Out. Among other things, "You immediately move your initiative position to directly before the turn in which you were ...
- 62.5k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What happens when an unnoticed creature rolls Stealth for initiative and fails the check?
Suppose the adventurer Alice is moving stealthily and using the Avoid Notice exploration activity, and then tries to sneak up on an enemy Bob. Alice rolls a Stealth check for initiative versus Bob's ...
- 31.4k
24
votes
11
answers
7k
views
If I start combat by making an attack, does a high-initiative enemy see it coming?
This is a follow-up question I had after reading the accepted answer in this related question.
A player is talking to an NPC and then decides to stab the NPC. Let's assume the tension is high enough ...
- 2,214
35
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Ambushed while Sleeping (with a Watch)
The party goes to sleep around the campfire, and one member volunteers to take the first watch. A couple of hours later, a dozen bullywugs try to stealthily ambush them.
The DM makes stealth rolls for ...
- 445
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
what are the issues with rolling initiative every round, looking for mechanical reasons rather then opinion [closed]
A friend of mine has mentioned he is thinking of trialing rolling initiative at the start of every round in combat, vs 1 roll at the start of combat for his table.
This sounds like a really bad idea ...
- 6,256
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
On an initiative roll in Cyberpunk Red, can you roll a critical success or a critical failure?
On an initiative roll in Cyberpunk Red, can you roll a critical success or a critical failure?
The Cyberpunk Red Jumpstart Kit rules read, "When you roll a natural roll of 10 on your d10, you've ...
- 213
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does a stunned creature roll Initiative with disadvantage?
Part of our group got stunned before Initiative was rolled:
Stunned
A stunned creature is incapacitated (see the condition), can’t move, and can speak only falteringly.
The creature automatically ...
- 10k
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
When do the objects animated by the Animate Objects spell take their turn?
The Animate Objects spell description says:
You decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a ...
- 5,136
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
When should initiative be rolled during a surprise attack?
This question does a good job explaining how surprise attacks work for the most part, but I'm not sure how such an attack would actually play out, here is what happened in my last game:
There was a ...
- 3,616
3
votes
1
answer
307
views
Can my Primal Companion roll initiative instead of my character?
In Tasha's Primal Companion feature it doesn't say that the beast doesn't roll initiative, just that it acts during the player's turn. Is that enough to mean that it's the player that has to roll ...
- 160
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is Initiative a check?
Inspired by debate on this question's answer, are the rolls made for Initiative considered checks (for purposes such as Conditions affecting them)?
- 41.8k
10
votes
2
answers
685
views
Does Battle Cry happen before or after Initiative is rolled?
The Feat Battle Cry reads
When you roll initiative, you can yell a mighty battle cry and Demoralize an observed foe as a free action. If you’re legendary in Intimidation, you can use a reaction to ...
- 41.8k
5
votes
1
answer
371
views
What's the deal with readying a swift action?
From Combat
Readying an action is a Standard Action
You can ready a Swift Action.
Interrupting someone with your readied action places your initiative just ahead of that person for the next round.
...
- 1,698
-8
votes
1
answer
298
views
How should one interpret the word "identical" in the initiative rule?
The rule for initiative in PHB read (emphasis mine)
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in ...
- 24.1k
4
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Is this house-rule that has each monster/NPC roll initiative separately (even when there are multiple creatures of the same kind) game-breaking?
The rules for initiative in PHB read (emphasis mine):
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in ...
- 24.1k
5
votes
1
answer
205
views
How do stunned and delay interact?
Character A takes the delay free action at the start of their turn, planning to act later. Afterwards, before Character A has acted, Big Bad Monster B inflicts stunned 3 upon Character A. Can ...
- 13.8k
3
votes
2
answers
123
views
When does initiative happen after a failed sleight of hand check?
If someone uses sleight of hand and gets noticed, can they still take their movement or swift action before initiative is rolled? Or is initiative rolled as soon as they fail their check? (assuming ...
- 5,844