BEST Initiative System for DC20 and D&D 5e

Does this change how YOU will use Initiative in your DC20 and D&D Combat? ⏬ More Content ⏬
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0:00 Intro
1:01 Core Initiative System
2:10 Initiative checks made
4:39 PCs roll as a team
11:42 Live Play Example #1
15:54 Live Play Example #2
17:59 Pros and Cons Survey
20:39 Alternate Options
22:38 Closing
#dc20

[@Scrut89]

Sounds exactly like how in Pathfinder 2E when the PCs have an Exploration activity the DM can have the PCs roll for initiative using whatever ability they were using during the Exploration phase instead of the normal ability score. For instance in PF2E if you're using the "Avoid Notice" activity you use your Stealth for initiative instead of the normal stat Perception.

[@someusername9591]

He probably took inspiration from that and modified and added to it until he liked

[@Kheldul]

Came here to say this. The ability check for initiative is what PF2e does. Except when you’re not doing a skill your default is PERCEPTION, a wisdom skill - compared to D&D’s agility. I’m not in favor of alternating; it feels complex when it’s not even and going first is an advantage some characters really want and can use. For expediency, I’d be fine with enemies having a fixed value that shapes their order. Roll one d20 for all of them and each just add their modifiers.

[@Elkay_J]

I love the direction here. One downside ive seen, and we saw it in your youtuber stream, is the whole concept of rolling with the action you want to do in combat, like the example of rolling with a grapple. It leads to this really weird moment of "why do i need to reroll this grapple check that I just rolled for initiative? Was I graplling them or not?" And that is almost exactly what happened during the stream.

[@MrNicster]

I think what is meant is you roll a grapple/atheltics check to see how fast your attempt will be, to show how fast you can move in, get positioning and THEN make the attempted grapple. As he said, it's not a free gapple attempt. This also means that once shit hits the fan, you can adjust and maybe not grapple anyway once it's your turn, because the room has played out differently than you hope.

[@dfrost303]

I agree. Keeping grapple as an example, as soon as it's either the player or their target's turn, the enemy should roll an opposed check to see if the grapple was successful, and that's where their turn starts. But do you charge them an action point for it?

[@dfrost303]

​@@MrNicsterthis makes sense, yeah

[@EdsonR13]

I agree rolling the same check twice just feels weird and unnecessarily clunky. And if you commit to the action that your initiative is based on, it could also alleviate some of the issue of trying to always roll the optimal initiative number.

[@JKevinCarrier]

As a DM, I'm generally against anything that requires me to do more work, and this seems like a LOT of extra work. Instead of a cut-and-dried process that everyone can do without having to think too much, now the DM has to make a bunch of judgement calls: Setting a DC (based on what?), determine (or adjudicate, if the player suggests something) which roll each character will use, and then decide what order the enemies will go in. Have pity on my tiny, already-over-burdened DM brain.

[@Xorgrim]

Agreed, the DM now has to decide the order in which his team goes. Than can be narratively rewarding on occasion but is a lot of extra decision making required from the DM, unless they go for a random (roll-based) order anyway. And if they do the latter, then what's the point of setting the alternating order for each team?

[@jasonp9508]

Surprised how many positive comments this idea got. I agree this system sounds convoluted and cumbersome, with negligible upside. Sorry DC, it’s a miss IMO.

[@LeFlamel]

You call it double dipping, i call it transitional elegance. If you roll low on a grapple initiative check and the enemy moves away before your turn, it's a failed grapple (but notably you don't lose the action point for the attempt). If you succeeded you pay AP for the grapple as per usual. I wouldn't let players change their mind to not pay the cost because that'll encourage more min maxing behavior, so you're commiting yourself to your first turn's action but not being punished if it fails.

[@rickeydeyoung9096]

I like this solution a lot

[@TheDungeonCoach]

Honestly going to be switching to this being the default. A lot of good points have been made, yours being one of the stronger points 👍🏼 well said!

[@LeFlamel]

@@TheDungeonCoach glad I could help!

[@CaptnJack]

A grapple should be simple. Its an attack (I would then call this a grapple DC), if you succeed, you can inflict X damage if you want to the target (which you could if you just hit them normally). The grappled can use skill or attribute to break free vs the original attack rolled made (Grapple DC). If successful they are free but used their action. Added effect, the grappler can, if successful, not inflict damage to the target but could raise the Grapple DC some (+1 or perhaps +Prof Bonus) by focusing on holding the target. This is simple, and clear for both sides and easy to resolve I think. I also think there should be defined grapples. Meaning the attacker needs to state the effect of their grapple. 1. Restrain limbs/Movement (arms or Legs) 2. Crushing (for damage) or Silencing (to prevent speaking or breathing) *too often I have seen someone try and grapple a target and then have to decide how they are grappled and the GM has to decide how or what is affected.

[@thecompletejake]

Maybe the initiative DC should just be a stat on the enemy stat block so the GM doesn't have to create a situational initiative DC on the fly.

[@smippycis6285]

Could use Passive Initiative via 5e style (10 + DEX + Relative Mods). I'd add or remove 5 if ambush or surprised just like passive checks rules too.

[@caurd]

Too predictable and boring

[@freelancerthe2561]

@@caurd it depends. Some chonky creatures should be lowered on the turn order by virtue of their slow nature. there needs a hybrid approach where the roll size is smaller, and the base DC and modifiers push up the average. This would demand more system wide focus, but I'd be more inclined with there being more obvious advantages for manipulating turn order. That way the choice of skills to get you at specific spots in the turn order, and be able to shift your spot in the turn order by reverse lapping. The trouble though is that actions would need more commitment, and forward thinking.... where as action economy with most TTRPGs are all reactive.

[@caurd]

@@freelancerthe2561 If the creature is slow, you make it have a small or even negative bonus to the initiative roll and that's it.

[@BestgirlJordanfish]

Ah, the classic vibe of “fix D&D5E by making it either closer to 4E or PF2E”. I absolutely prefer using enemy “readiness/initiative” DCs and clump like enemies together. So smooth and fast.

[@Blobby3822]

That looks extremely complicated.

[@quincykunz3481]

I like setting an initiative dc for the enemies, then anyone who rolls higher goes first, then enemy, then low rollers, then minions and reinforcements if one side massively outnumbers the other.

[@filkearney]

very simple system, and works with PF2 ability check system for initiative as well. This one is pure gold.

[@ShawnLearn]

I love this idea, I would likely suggest having a fall back initiative of agility though. That way if when you ask what the player character was doing and the player says “I don’t know” you can quickly just tell them what to roll and keep the game moving. Also it allows using agility if the action the player was doing doesn’t make narrative sense as to why it would matter for initiative.

[@WolforNuva]

PF2e does this exact thing, but their default is Perception, the idea being you'll jump into action easier the more you're aware of the coming threats. I kind of like that better than dexterity, but even if I was houseruling these skill check initiatives into D&D I would keep the default as dexterity. PF keeps Perception as its own thing that scales up with your class levels, not a skill check since it already is super valuable and would only become more of a must have skill tax if it became the default for initiative.

[@khavens293]

I wonder if Alertness (Prime modifier) may be more RP & character building friendly than Agility as the default. "What check will you roll for initiative?" "I was just being Alert for any possible combat"

[@ShawnLearn]

@@khavens293 , ya since I posted this I have changed my mind. Since reactions are so easy in DC20 and initiative can be so boring and kill momentum (even if you ask people what they were doing) I think initiative should be replaced with one player (selected by the dm based on the narrative) rolling to see if players or the monsters go first then alternate (player, monster, player, etc). Players can still work together with combos based on their reactions.

[@BigBrain05]

As someone who has not play tested this systems. I like the idea of this initiative system not having the GM roll for initiative but setting a DC seems a lot smoother than my experience with rolling initiative in DnD as a DM. I like the idea of making a ability check for initiative, but it might feel bad rolling a low bonus check for initiative. I love the team based initiative. It can be a idea to have a floating order in the teams.

[@ivangreengaming2395]

I really like the transition this system promotes. The only thing I didn't really like, based on the one-shot with the youtubers (awesome btw), was when players had to repeat their checks for whatever they were doing and then for initiative, it made things slower and confusing in case the rolls were very different. Ex: If I passed the grapple but then I'm last in initiative did I really grapple? if I fail the grapple but then I'm first in order I'd just try again probably, so in the end it can all boil down to adv/disadv which is basically 1 AP and wouldn't really affect the battle too much if you "double dip" on the roll. In most cases, unless the party is full of min-maxers, the rolls would be things like stealth checks, social stuff or a flashy entrance which, at most, would make the DM give adv/disadv to some players so every way I see it things balance out naturally.

[@donbutto]

most of the time when a group is moving around, the DM asks for a marching order. So the DM knows who is in front and who is in the back of of the group, especially in a narrow path situation. I just have the leader of the groups marching order the guy in front, roll initiative. Then the DM rolls for initiative. The PCs initiative order IS the marching order, that they didnt have to roll for at all. Then just back and forth alternate the PC and Enemy as needed. Much less pausing/rolling and more control to the PCs.

[@davidlindsay5905]

This is a good variant. And I think providing multiple variations for initiative rules helps the game reach a wider audience, because initiative mechanics are very divisive. Upvoted!

[@w4iph]

I think there should be some sort of abilities that just add a bonus to whatever initiative check you do. Kind of like the alertness in D&D that gives you a plus. 5, having pizza abilities or possibly an agility bonus that lets you increase your initiative. If you want to specialize in it, that applies to whatever initiative check you do

[@ivansmashem]

Michelangelo would always have the best initiative. All his abilities are pizza abilities.

[@OnlineSarcasmFails]

What a delicious initiative.@@ivansmashem

[@kamchatmonk]

Can't say I like taking turns with the enemy team in the initiative order. It worked that way in Divinity: Original Sin games, and it kind of made it feel unfair, because even if you have a band of lightning-fast ambushers attacking two turtles, your initiative and swiftness is rendered absolutely meaningless because the two slow turtles make their turns right after your superfast speedsters no matter what. It just feels bad when the order is like: - Monk, initiative roll of 25 - Lethargic zombie, initiative roll of 2 - Rogue, initiative roll of 24

[@OnlineSarcasmFails]

Hmm this is a good point, but how often do such extreme matchups actually happen in play? With the regular d20 it's the same as you rolling 1-3s and the turtles rolling 17-20 If you can explain away one you can explain away the other as well. Distraction, complication, etc.

[@ryanbeckett2313]

This to me is the only major flaw with the initiative system. I love the concept of DC20 for the most part but I would definitely homebrew initiative order to work like 5e but use the DC20 initiative check system. I like the variability of not having a set order of back and forward to the game.

[@tambarlas5248]

I need to remind myself that things like "initiative" is only to organize combat (which actually takes place simultaneously) to make it turn-based for ease of organization. With that said: - I don't like needing to make the same roll twice - first for initiative and then for the action roll (ex: "drop kick"). This also freezes each player's first round actions. If the last player in the round sees everyone's actions (party and enemy) before them, do they still have to do what they declared at the beginning? What if that no longer makes sense? If they want to change their mind, does that re-arrange the initiative order? - I like the idea of an encounter "Initiative DC" to determine who goes first and how the party and enemy swap turns. I think the DC20 manual needs a bit more to help account for non-matching numbers of players vs enemy. - The DC20 manual describes the "Initiative Help Action". If the initial roll is to beat an encounter initiative DC, why would the party not always do this? - As you (briefly) mentioned, DEX is OP. There is a difference between quickness of mind/thought, mental reaction, hand-eye coordination, physical reaction and steadiness of aim - yet that is all lumped up in DEX. Perhaps the skills should not be determine solely from one attribute - ex: Medicine is some kind of a combination of Intelligence and Agility. PS: you mis-spelled "NOT like" for "NOTE like" in two of your survey questions

[@eloisepasteur]

No, it doesn’t fix their actions, it’s what they were doing just before combat started. In the video clip the reason the barbarian and wizard completed their drop-kick and whip attacks is that they were each carrying their pre-combat action into a surprise action. Essentially that happened before combat and initiative kicked in. As they went into normal combat, the treant didn’t stand there being a tree for its first action, it moved from that into reacting to the fight. However, what worked really in that example was everyone was really clear what the treant was doing - standing there like a tree - nothing more, until it spent an AP.

[@davidlindsay5905]

I like your last point. My groups have often homebrewed intelligence for initiative, because 1) mental quickness is a factor in deciding what to do under duress, and 2) taking something from DEX and adding it to INT actually does a lot to balance out D&D 5E's issues.

[@CaptnJack]

Thats why I like FifthWorld system, beside using cards each round for initiative, you can choose to spend your action points (another FifthWorld system) to inprove that draw.

[@rickeydeyoung9096]

The biggest thing that i dont love about it, is that it doesnt make a lot of practical sense. Why would Stought Trunk pretending to be a tree allow him to have a better initiative? Why would a different character investigateing a book get a big bonus to going first? It just doesnt make a ton of sense. That said, i do like how it fleshes out what each player is doing before combat.

[@CaptnJack]

I found I like using a Deck of cards for initiative. round count goes from 10 to 1 (ace). Suits have precidence, where Spades goes before hears, goes before diamonds, goes before clubs. Each suit gives a minor modifier for that round. (Clubs are +1 Damage, Hearts are recover +1 HP, etc. ) Face cards have preset initiative numbers (Kings 7, Queens 9, Jacks 5) and each face card has an enhanced suit modifier(still minor). Everyone draws a card, the Count begins from 10, and thats it. End of the round, the cards are put in discard pile and every draws another card. The players are wild over it, because initiative changes each round which keeps them focused and the minor modifiers are also nice. -Side not, I leave in Jokers, when drawn allows a player to go whenever they want, even interrupting another's action.

[@boldnotbald3705]

Yeah PF2E uses a dynamic check for initiative like this. I really like that. I also like the other parts to this system.

[@Mr_Kyle_]

I LOVE this, it is brilliant! It is NOT clunky to weave initiative into the narrative - that is the biggest benefit I see here, and like you said it prevents some min max, because a) it's not just Agility based and b) THE DM ASKS FOR THE CHECK and the check is based on WHAT THE PLAYERS WERE DOING BEFOREHAND

[@ghostbeadhunter36]

I’ve been using back and forth initiative for about a year. I love it!

[@PuppetSquid]

I love the DM picking the npc order and will probably use that in my own games. It also strips a lot of power out of one player having a massive +5 init buff. I'm not sure I like the ability checks though. If a player is using an investigation or w/e while reading a book I wouldn't expect them to be massively prepared for an attack, but they're bringing a huge modifier with them? The flavour is great, though, and I do think just using agility is sucky. As a counter offer, how about something like; When you start combat you roll a d20 and gain a point of advantage; you can use that point at any time during the combat, including on the initiative roll. You can also give yourself disadvantage on the initiative roll to gain an extra point of combat advantage. You must state your intention before you roll. This lets the players choose if they want to act fast and recklessly or slow and methodically. As a DM you can use this to guage when the enemies move better; they're all hanging back to horde advantage? Fine, all the badguys move first.

[@Wolvesofthenight]

I think I'm definitely going to try this team initiative next time I play D&D. I like the facts of letting the players decide based on their roles which ordering initiative they do and I choose when I want the monsters to go. I hope it'll also encourage them to work together.

[@Tysto]

Here's what I did in 90s, and it still works. If one character in particular initiates combat, that character has seized the initiative; no rolls needed. Otherwise, each side rolls 1d10, higher roll wins; some bonus might apply for greater numbers, higher level, or better prepared (NOT dexterity). The winning side decides who among them goes first, then that character's opponent goes. Go back and forth; the DM decides when extra characters and non-combatants go, whenever it makes sense.

[@TheDungeonCoach]

Ooooo thanks for sharing! love that

[@luiscabral9194]

Sounds like a great system that incorporates some role-playing to initiative. I especially like the back and forth between characters and enemies. That has always been a flaw when you have a group of optimized initiative bonouses on the player's side (as my group always do).

[@sesimie]

gonnah share this with all my RPG folks Coach...let's say I'm taking initiative ;) Excellent stuff as usual!! Facilitates combos and synergies!

[@TheDungeonCoach]

I see what you did there lol!

[@louis1372]

I would restrict the checks to ability check and not allow to make an attack check. A dexterity-based attack initiating an Attack would be an acrobatic check. This change would reward players picking those check proficiencies. Not sure how this would work for spell caster.

[@GrandOldDwarf]

One other alternative that I am likely to try in my next test session is to use a deck of playing cards. If you have the same card as someone else, those players can go together. If the tie is between player and GM, use the suit to break the tie (spades -> hearts -> diamonds -> clubs). The downside to this method is that it doesn't use the narrative transition.

[@bitspersecond2006]

Taking20 posted a vid awhile back about how the ping pong initiative method, exactly how Coach described it, fixed all of his problems with the Challenge Rating system and making encounters much closer to what they were supposed to be (easy, hard, deadly, etc).

[@emperortime4380]

My rule of thumb for DMing combat has always been monsters go last, unless there’s a surprise round. This method intrigues me because I was sort of already doing team initiative.

[@thecompletejake]

What I don't like about the "what you were doing" becoming your initiative is if what I was doing was grapple or attack or whatever, then my character doesn't do that because that became an init role instead. Then when my turn comes up, what if I don't want to do that grapple or attack anymore, based on what else has happened in that encounter? Just feels a little clunky. It should just be a prime check so that my initiative is determined by what my character is most apt to lean on. Did my high mental stat help me perceive what was happening and react quickly? Did my high agility help me physically react quickly? Did my high might mean that I was already tense and ready to pounce? That's way cooler.

[@AgentForest]

Initiative DC is neat, I'm still brainstorming how to handle initiative in my system. I also really like alternating teams. It's something a lot of new game systems are incorporating for good reason. It has some self-balancing mechanics too, and helps close out combat faster. Instead of bosses having legendary resistances, because they'll have more turns per "round" anyway, so 3 turns of fear ends after 3 players act, while a horde of weak enemies get locked down longer.

[@damoncranston9364]

What I do and will continue to do: all enemies roll and all players roll, highest roll wins and that sides goes first. After that order doesn't matter, the teams can combo and coordinate on the fly to make things more interesting. From that point it's just pc turn and npc turn, back and forth. A bonus to the initiative roll might be given to either side depending on the environment; surprise actions are stand alone and start combat, they don't make their side automatically win initiative. This system makes combat run so much smoother, makes initiative go so much faster, and allows for way more interesting combos by both players and npcs, this system really encourages a high degree of team work.

[@hatac]

Player, " I'm going to hide among the barrels." GM pulls out the mimic stat sheet.

[@dungeondr]

Great system! I like the flavour of actions defining initiative but I think in practice I worry about it slowing progress to the first action. But that's conjecture, playtest will determine this! Otherwise all the measures described sound like big improvements.

[@holy_knight]

*Rolling for initiative* DM: ...and that settles the cleric, alright. Rogue, what are y- Rogue: Stealth. DM: Of course... And you're first. Impressive.

[@kymaeraa8631]

I really like the back-and-forth rule to balance out rounds

[@chrisg8989]

I have been using Side Initiative, but it is very swingy. I like this alot. I think I'm gunna try out this style of Initiative.

[@CaptnJack]

Not a fan of side initiative at all, seems to just fake the flow of interactive combat.

[@chrisg8989]

@CaptnJack its not bad. It's way faster than standard initiative. As long as you build the encounter properly its alot of fun. And it allows the players to pull off some really cool combos. I think this system is the best of both. You get into combat way faster and still maintain the proper flow by having the enemies go in between each player. Rolling initiative for each monster is such a time sink/ waste of time, IMO.

[@jtjames79]

Novel idea. Players can trade initiative order. This represents them being a competent adventuring team. I also give my players a copy of the monster manual because I always figured it would probably be more common than the dictionary in any game world. So YMMV.

[@Scrut89]

Pathfinder 2E's initiative lets players "Delay" by taking themselves outside of the initiative order and then inserting themselves into the initiative order directly after any NPC or PC takes their turn. So if PC A rolls a 25 for initiative but wants to take their turns after PC B who is right in the middle of initiative. PC A can "Delay" and then after PC B takes their turn PC A jumps back in and for the rest of the fight is now after PC B.

[@jtjames79]

@@Scrut89 I've tried that, back when I had a stronger preference for simulationism. Now I'm old and lazy. Been playing cooperative board games lately. Goonies in particular, is the best D&D game I've ever played. It was a one player go, monsters go, system. But each turn the players got to pick their own order. It worked really really good. And even though we each had separate characters, we all worked together to try to optimize each other's turns as a team. Less paperwork, less keeping track of things, and no time to get out your cell phone because everyone's turn is also your turn. But I have a very very very very very chill group of only three middle aged adults. So it might not work for everyone.

[@Scrut89]

@@jtjames79 I run a PF2E game via a VTT because we have people out of state. So it makes tracking all this stuff easy. The initiative part is different but the system itself promotes the party working together to optimize each others turns as well. Whether that is using actions to demoralize or trip NPCs to give the other PCs advantages. Its very tactical. We are also a group 5 people 30-40ish.

[@minimoose7890]

I like the second half of the system: with setting order, the DC, the back and forth, and no roll by GM. The first half with the PC rolling for what they are doing seems confusing and awkward, as well as potentially slow, rather than smooth and streamlined. A lot of things in DC20 seem designed to be smooth and streamlined, but that "what were you doing? roll X for that thing. But that's actually not for doing X, it's just your initiative and you still need a separate other roll for X after/before this initiative roll," seems rough. I'll still playtest it myself, but I am very skeptical about that portion of it. My gut tells me to just have the players roll with their prime-modifier instead for initiative using similar justification as other instances of Prime usage.

[@jf649]

Love this. Bit of a mix of Lazy DMs super lazy method (Ini 12), ICRPG simplicity and a touch of Dungeon World storytelling style.

[@dfrost303]

The big change I'd make is to also let the players choose whatever order they go in. Once you've established whether PCs or Enemies go first, just have player or NPC slots. Each round, any player can take any player slot. This way, the combat is even more dynamic and allows the players to be tactical with their action points beyond just reactions.

[@FilCieplak]

Why not use Awareness as the standard Initiative roll? It already uses the Prime stat, so it's not inherently better for some characters over others (like Dex). Maybe other types of Checks could be used in more fringe cases, like Stealth for an ambush, etc.

[@benjaminkeller9391]

I agree with this 100%. It also makes thematic sense in most cases, and gives players who want to have good initiative checks a way to boost them.

[@rickeydeyoung9096]

This would be a simple way to do it, but you do lose a bit of flavor.

[@CatFish21sm]

As a DM i tend to assign initiative. For example if the players and enemies were talking and a player attacks out of nowhere then that player goes first then the rest roll for it. If one player was distracted i might rule that they go last in the order. Overall i like the highest stat method i think ill combine the two.

[@jeremybooth933]

I have mixed feelings about this. I really like the flavor and narrative possibilities for a full contextual check, and as a GM not having to roll for all of the monsters sounds really nice (The Initiative DC and no more "BOSS" monsters rolling a nat 1 is an AMAZING idea for those key cinematic combats), but I have a few concerns 1st narratively, by not having the randomness of the monsters responses, you loose out on the easy opportunities, for that "one crazy monster" that reacts Way faster than expected putting pressure on the players because of it's nat 20 initiative (For instance your rogue was silent as death itself as it crept into the camp, successfully slipped behind the watch and silenced him almost instantly but the scent of blood however faint, triggered the sleeping gnoll, who lept up and released a snarl blindly swinging towards the source ). Or the hilarity when your fighting the Imposing ogre mage who is ready to weave a frightful curse upon the brave adventures but (rolled a nat 1) bit his tongue in his over eagerness leaving the party an opening to turn the tide in their favor. 2nd strategically, being able to make sure that my crowd control spell caster (lich, orc shaman, ogre mage, evil wizard, enraged druid, priest of the dark order, etc.) gets to go at least 2nd, would be devastating. Being able to always choose the best turn order, round 1, as the GM leads to much more lethal combats. Players prioritize their initiative stats so that they can go earlier and make powerful 1st round decisions to give them an edge, and monsters (at least in 5e), especially casters are often balanced with their initiative modifier, making some of the more powerful monsters at each level (CR) most likely go later in the round. 3rd mechanically: Having what you are doing lead into a contextual check for combat is great, I find it really frustrating that in most systems the initial reaction round 1 (which often could be seen as an agility check) dictates the pacing for every round of combat even if you are ambushing targets. When you set an ambush, your agility is usually not what determines if you act first. So I support different checks for initiative definitely, but my concern is having TOO MUCH context options. To use the examples given in the video, a treant trying to be as tree like as possible, in my opinion, should not give an advantage to acting faster in combat, in fact it should make them slower to react because they would be so focused on being a tree and not on the statues all of the sudden becoming hostile, they simply weren't alert. Having different checks based on reaction speed or how well someone was able to maintain their focus so they can act a precise time, or not be overwhelmed by surrounding influences makes a lot more sense to me, while giving bonuses or penalty's to the role based on what each player was doing when combat triggered, would likely allow the narrative moments to flow as you decide which check to use and if you are distracted or alert, but trying to figure out what check you should use because you are stuck under a rock seems excessive. In general I really like what you are going for, I did the survey and the lowest I ranked anything was a 3, because I don't really dislike any of these ideas or objectives, but I think a bit more tuning needs to happen, and to be fair I think that a great GM could handle all of my concerns effectively, with the system as it is now, and spicing up each combat with randomness that they aren't forced to have with a D20 roll, but just because they can see that it would make the encounter better, but I know that I am not that good at GM'ing, and I also know that most of the GM's that I have actually played with aren't that good either. Even something as simple as a random table to stick on the GM screen to have something to spice up the start of combat in an unforeseen way (when you are open to something unforeseen) could reduce the GM's roll burden to 1 roll, instead of 1 for every monster group and still give a bit of extra flair, and still accomplish the goal of streamlining the back end. (I recognize that I could also make such a table myself and there are probably better fixes, but it is still a suggestion)

[@ForestFWhite]

Long video, but back and forth is a great shorthand to make things fast and interesting.

[@stevenphilpott4294]

New subscriber to the channel, but it's all been great so far

[@TheDungeonCoach]

Welcome 💜 and thank you!

[@hatac]

I got though the Australian army boot camp in 1989 thanks to my real world critical rolls on initiative, twice. A flash bang went off as we were marching along. I dove for the spot where the bomb went off because smoke and dust is cover and you can't put a second bomb there. Everyone else dove into the ditch with a box marked claymore in it. Look up a claymore mine. I was notionally the only survivor. Later we were navigating and I noticed we were off by an increasing amount. An officer came up to talk to us. I said. "You forgot to correct for grid to magnetic error in the task." He said "Yep" and walked off. So my first initiative was munitions knowledge roll and may second was bush fire brigade navigation skills. I was a lousy soldier though.

[@steelmongoose4956]

Nah, you were just an Int-based soldier instead of Dex- or STR-based. 🙂

[@JJV7243]

In my experience having all the players (or enemies) go in 1-large block makes combats EVEN more swingy. You'll get scenarios where monsters (or players) are burst down in one round without having much say. I'd rather the winning team elects a player to go first, then it AUTOMATICALLY rotates to the losing side who selects an enemy to move (and then a player) etc. This would stagger the combat between sides.

[@pantheraleo2820]

Your proposition is indeed what the dc20 rules do 😅

[@WilliamMolnar3]

I thought that Awareness check would be what initiative should be based off of. How aware of the situation is your character regardless of what is going on. In the military we called it situational awareness.

[@veldryn01]

I totally agree with you on that. I like most of the systems that coach is putting on the table. But not that one. In his exemple, it doesn't make sense that the tree could go first by doing a tree pose and rolling a nature check. That guy isn't prepare to fight at all. That said if he rolls an awareness roll and gets a high score while doing his action, that could justify a good roll that makes him act first. Like feeling the energy that begins to animate the armor before it could act.

[@Vigilluminatus]

That would make Awareness the absolute essential god skill that EVERY character always will have maxed or be punished in combat for not having it maxed. Not a fan.

[@alderaancrumbs6260]

Has anyone thought about the PCs slotting turns like the GM does? GeneSys does this, setting initiative slots based on “PC” or “NPC”, then the players and GM choose who goes when on those slots each turn. It creates epic moments.

[@LuckDragonLair]

I don't know that I'd say it's really "Out there" I really like the idea! :)

[@TheDungeonCoach]

I thought poeple might freak out when I said the DM didnt roll for initaitive lol

[@dbenciveni]

I really like the alternating teams, just not as much as I hate the "who's next" moments. And those would happen a lot without grouping enemies. I hope there is a fix for that.

[@Xorgrim]

I am only 9 minutes into the video, but so far I have a few questions/concerns regarding the alternating order of team members in initiative: 1. What if there are more than two teams? Allies or neutrals? or what if the players stumble into a conflict of two NPC factions battling each other? 2. What if one side heavily outnumbers the other? Example: 3 PCs 6 enemies... I would probably let two enemies go have their turn between PCs. 3. What if reinforcements arrive on let's say turn 3 of the battle? When do they go? Do you split up their turns as well or will they share the same initiative?

[@smokinyou4312]

I LOVE split initiative for teams. I’ve been playing Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters, a turn-based strategy game like X-COM, and it’s team-based combat. I just wish there was a way for all members to act at the same time. For example, you want to run down a hallway the size of one person, a guy is in your way that takes 2 hits to kill but you need to press a button at the end of the hallway or else you die. Player 1 goes first and runs to hit the enemy, total 2/4 AP. But he can’t get past the enemy, so he pauses his turn to allow for Player 2 behind him to finish him off mid-combo with an arrow, then Player 1 is free to continue down the hall and press the button.

[@guamae]

I primarily use the 5e initiative system, but I've taken to "unsticking" the d20 rolls from the villains. If there are 4 villains, I roll 4 dice, and give the highest roll to the villain that I want to go first, and so on. I think it makes opening combats more cinematic, and let's me tune the difficulty (I often have the Big Bad go last, as they are surveying the combat from the far side of the room). The more I think about it, the more I like the DC value and taking turns... Removing my extra Paperwork at the start of an encounter also sounds enticing 😝

[@Paradox-es3bl]

The problem with this is what if the player who initiated "combat" / the "initiative roll/check" with the grapple gets a really low Initiative roll? The person they would've in theory surprised with the grapple, may go first and move away? Despite Initiative being started BY them being grabbed? Bare minimum, you have to go against what you said about not ruling that as a surprise. It doesn't need to be an auto-success, but it needs to START the Initiative. The player can still get a different Initiative Roll and have their turn differently, but the action that starts the check needs to happen before you resolve Initiative.

[@mikeyg348]

The beauty of what i have read with DC20 is the simplicity and ease to add or adjust rules were necessary depending on the table. I've personally used one suit of tarot cards (swords), players draw a card each and thats the order the players go, and what ever is felt over is where your monsters fall. Player with highest agility draws first, and players with advantage draw two cards and choose one of those cards drawn. But unfortunate this only works when physically sitting round a table, so falling back to asking "roll for initiative" has become a go to. Ive also read other games that give two different options for initiative rules, and im always out for looking for other more interesting ways to run initiatives. I personally love the ideas of story based initiative check, what are you doing in the moment before combat starts, but knowing some people ive played with, your always going to get one player that will probably make themselves out to "always be ready for combat" which lets be honest isn't the spirt of how the ruling is meant to be played. Some players just need a definitive 'rule or roll' to stop any arguments.

[@quantum_ogre]

Fun video, cool ideas for DC20! Initiative is one of those things that I don't believe needs to be reworked, but it IS fun to toy around with. Individual initiative is not the worst, but it can be clunky (on the DM's side). Group 'blocked' initiative is swingy, but d20 systems are intentionally, so I've never found an issue with that. The Alexandrian blog has my favorite new variant: 'miss-initiative'. Heroes are assumed to always go first, but a failed roll 'actives' an enemy to act next, so you still get that narrative tug of war in combat.

[@DorsonKieffer]

INITIATIVE D6: 1-3 Enemies begin 4-6 Player Characters begin -- Mork Borg

[@SamuelDancingGallew]

I personally also like the initiating character going first that round, regardless of Initiative. Of course you can allow the initiating character to take an additional turn that Round, though I personally think that encourages bad behavior. But the really cool thing is that everyone else can roll and calculate Initiative while the initiating character takes their turn. I believe I've already made a comment on this kind of thing (which you might remember), but these ideas for initiative that you've shared are excellent for Static-Initiative systems like yours. Can't really use it in a Dynamic-Initiative system like mine... but that's okay. It's good to have options. Edit: for the one-shot inspirations (in the sponsored segment), I personally struggle with Sci-Fi campaigns. Might not help that D&D really doesn't have anything for Sci-Fi encounters.

[@zixserro1]

The one thing I'd do different from what you did in the clip you showed is, rather than say "Now we're rolling for initiative," you instead just have them each make the roll for what they're doing, and before announcing the outcome of each roll, tell them that was the initiative roll, and then resolve each roll on their turn in initiative order before they make their actions for the turn. That makes it flow into combat a little bit more fluidly. I also would've counted the two attack checks that were made for initiative as their attack rolls for their surprise round, since they made the checks based on what they were doing, and if it was revealed that initiative was being rolled after each person rolled their check, they would've expected to hit. Imagine if they'd rolled, like, a 22 attack roll for their initiative, then rolled a second attack check for their surprise attack and got a 4 or something. It would waste a high attack roll for the purposes of damage for the sake of giving them good initiative, when the roll could serve both purposes.

[@yellowmanmoo]

I do like this but the issues is the people at my table have different opinions on what initiative should be. One guy insists that an initiative check means how quickly you can switch to combat mode which means it has to be dex/reaction speed. I do like the idea of using skill checks for initiative, but I don't think this will be the best option all the time. For our group, combat itself takes so long that initiative as it is now isn't too bad. Having to do the skill check thing would make it take longer. I do like not rolling for monsters personally. But I am afraid of initiative being too samey. With it always being player than monster, it could feel too much like a video game. Then you get into the issue where if multiple players roll very high, not all of them can go before the monsters and that might feel bad.

[@wesleyjudson599]

If you want to encourage players to build towards a high initiative, in addition to things like class features or feats, you could have the skill they are taking modified by an ability For example, a nature check to be a tree might add the character's DEX or WIS modifier, in addition to their INT(?) modifier. That way you can still have the flavor to the initiative, while letting a stat or skill act as a "initiative" stat/skill.

[@evanbasnaw]

I do like the back & forth because I hate having to roll 12 different d20s and adding DEX for all of the various enemies on my side. I have too many things to keep track of already as DM. I might roll for the boss, but I switched a while ago in my games to the back & forth method and it's more streamlined. Instead of a total combat initiative determined ahead of time, sometimes I do just roll a number of d20 and add my highest DEX from the enemies to determine when the first one goes because sometimes you can get 3 PCs to start the first round of combat before the back & forth starts if it's going well for them.

[@whitewolfiv7610]

How about adding a clash system? Instead of setting a DC number to beat, it would be even more dynamic. The player team get to choose which player goes first and the check they make, but the enemy picks an enemy to rolls a check to counter and the higher one wins. Then it snakes to the enemy, makes a check and the players get to choose who and a check to counter. It goes on until all the players get to make a check, and you count who got the most wins, that team get to go first. If you tie, the players get to choose a player to roll and to try to Clutch against an enemy. A Few Notes: If damage is done, you deal your prime attribute as damage. No mana is used for spells.

[@marcos2492]

After playing a game without initiative, I realize you don't need initiative at all. Whoever wants to go first, goes first, no need to "transition" into combat because it just flows the same way you were flowing anyways

[@steelmongoose4956]

I’m working on something where combat happens simultaneously, where “initiative” relates more to mental stats. I’m hoping it works out like I’m picturing, because I’d love to design around the traditional slow, turn-based sequential system.

[@MrOwen817]

This gives the Gamemaster freedom to design the experience for the players. Some DM‘s get a kick out of the randomness and rolling with those punches. I would rather design my experience. players can be random enough.

[@grehsoul]

i agree its a good way to hide/ subtly blend initiative but calculate it at the same time rather then pausing and saying roll initiative it goes oh yeah those last 4 things you were doing was the initiative against the armor

[@nathanaelthomas9243]

I reaeaally like the 2nd half of the initiative system for structuring turn order and that’s how I’ve been doing it for the past several sessions. I’ve tried about 4 other initiative system fixes and so far, this has been my favorite. I don’t so much mind the other system for determining what skill to use, but I think making a Nature check for how quickly you act in combat feels a little silly and in the grand scheme of things, you can probably find a skill that makes sense to use for most combats that is the same as your prime modifier anyways so I’m not sure in the end there’s much distinction. I feel that if I implemented this part into my game that half of my players would just try to take advantage of it and find a way to use their best skill everytime and the other half of my players would be totally lost and overwhelmed with the choices and unable to make a quick decision as they weren’t thinking about what their character was doing. I think I’d have to come up with what skill everyone should use each time and then there might be arguing. What I’ve seen in other systems that might work for yours is to give multiple options for skills that can be used for initiative so you can pick your best one or surprise combats use the awareness skill and combats you saw coming use the cool skill. You could do something like that or just keep it to the prime modifier and I think I’d like it even more.

[@gpeschke]

Best initiative is hackmasters- everyone rolls, gm counts, players interrupt. Inherently gives you the 'ticking clock' people need to focus their attention and eliminates the paperwork.

[@joshuawinestock9998]

Hey man, i really love the first look at DC20 (like many others do)! I bought the alpha, might become my go-to! BUT, since this is an alpha, there are some big issues that really need to be worked out: - Vulnerability vs Vulnerability X is SUPER confusing for an non rules-nut. Probably one needs to go - whats the difference between DR and resistance X? - manouvres vs teqniques are confusing; if i read it more im sure ill understand the difference, but they seem sorta similar concepts to a newcomer and probably one needs to leave. - having your spell shut down with a spell duel by an enemy caster could feel very shitty, considering how easy it is for them to spam - the classes appear really late in the phb for how important they are Sorry to be so arrogant, but i figure you probably read comments and playtests are all about feedback. Love your game!!

[@alexc007]

I haven't yet actually played 0.4 yet, although I have read through the rulebook. Maybe it works out a lot better in practice (as seen in the examples), but I can't help but feel a bit iffy about it. My biggest criticism with the initiative system is that I feel like one of the big design goals with DC20 was to to simplify/streamline certain parts of the game to keep the pacing going. For example, rolling just once instead of rolling to hit and then rolling for damage. I like that change. I also like the DC check for initiative and the back-and-forth. On the other hand, I feel like the "what you were doing before" may slow down the game a bit excessively (although I admit I myself have not tried it yet; this is all just my impressions). Also, some players may just try to always say they are doing whatever they have the highest number in to get that little bit of an edge. I voted for adding Prime to the initiative, but I don't really love that either since then everyone is more or less the same and that's a bit boring. Could a formula for initiative work? Maybe Awareness + (1/2) Agility (rounded up of course, minimum 0)? This gives players the chance to build that high initiative character, but not feel like a huge negative for players not invested in agility since Awareness is tied to a minimum of their Prime. This means that at worst at level one a player may have +3 imitative or potentially +6 (if they invested in awareness and have a 3 in agility). But then that may just further the important of Awareness and potentially be imbalanced. I think it's important that it's quick to get into, which you definitely accomplish with the DC check. Either way, I look forward to seeing how this system and DC20 develops!

[@jabelardo]

The second idea about the DC is very similar as how Cypher System does initiative, and I like it

[@quickanddirtyroleplaying]

This initiative system is very similar to that of Fabula Ultima, with the following differences: 1) In FU, the initiative check is a group check. One PC leads the charge, while the others aid them. I find this to be clunky. 2) Armor worn imposes an initiative penalty: the heavier the armor, the worse the penalty to the roll. 3) The PC group is trying to beat the highest initiative score of the enemy group so that their side can get the first turn in combat. 4) Regardless of whichever group wins, anyone can take their turn in any order, although each PC only gets one turn per combat round. For the enemies, if they're elites or champions, they have more than one turn per combat round. Other than that, turns alternate between the PCs and enemies. With this turn alternating style, players are incentivized to pay attention to what's going on so that they can strategize on which PC should go on which turn, and failure to pay attention and apply an adaptive strategy can really hurt their chances of victory. I find it to be more satisfying gameplay than going in initiative roll order every round.

[@justinromero8859]

For player initiative, how about simply adding Combat Mastery to the d20 roll? I like the rest of this new initiative system, especially concerning NPCs. Im just not sure if it wont be too confusing for players to both roll the thing theyre doing for their initiative roll, and then also have to roll for that thing theyre doing to see if they actually succeed in doing that thing.

[@20Gadget20]

I like the idea of using whatever you were doing, BUT I think keeping the *skill* element is confusing - dropping the skill and just using the stat would be cleaner.

[@joshuakinnear4202]

I'm doing this now: I ask the party who goes first each round and they choose theorder after that. Then the first player rolls against the lead NPC/Monster amd we go from there. I throw monsters in between party moves of their is more than at my leisure. It's easy, promotes party tactics and makes combat way more interesting. And can be quick and easy to change every round. As long as the players decide quickly.

[@TheSkafei]

I don't really see why the initiative roll can't be kept for attacks or checks. You call it clunky, but wouldn’t it make one less roll to make ? Other than that, I really like the way it works

[@allstatejake]

My players really liked this type of initiative. They felt like it gave them options and made the initiative make sense according to the situation.

[@hermittmog8697]

I find it more interesting when enemies are mixed in with the PCs. The alternative feels more clunky.

[@lynnskelton7971]

I like the flavoring, especially with their initiative order within their team being based on an ability check per the action they are taking. However, in the end it still is a moment of stopping immersion to do a check to determine initiative of the heroes. The way I run checks in 5e doesn't take away from the narrative aspect & does not stop a potential combat scene in order to roll for initiative. > FIRST: I roll initiative for all NPCs/Creatures I intend on using in potential 1st combat in the next session prior to the day of that session or when creating the adventure/encounter or reviewing a pre-made module. I then notate the ACTUAL (no fudging) result in their stat & record them on my initiative sheet (numbered 1-25 with multiple columns in event of ties) on the row matching their initiative #. This provides varying initiatives when there is more than one foe thus making that combat seem more dynamic. NOTE: Groups larger than 5 are split up into 2 or more groups and those groups will have their own initiative rolls. IF 5 or less, I will have melee attackers using the same initiative, range attackers with theirs, and any primary spell-casters sprinkled in within one or both of those groups. ______ > SECOND: On the day of the session, prior to the recap, all players roll their initiatives. I then place out their markers in initiative order in the event combat happens during that session. Anyone can move themselves down the order if they desire. But that choice must be made then. The NPC/Creature initiative markers are placed amongst them WHEN that NPC/Creature attacks. If they are attacking from a hidden position, a blank marker is placed out for them until they have been seen. ______ > THIRD: Once POST combat activities are completed (i.e. looting, investigating the area, & etc), all players roll up a new initiative for their hero in the event a new combat happens during the remainder of the session. NOTE: If an initiative order is NOT used up by a combat during a session AND that adventure/quest is still not complete, then everyone has the same initiative at the start of the next session. IF the adventure/quest is completed by the end of the session, we roll up a new one at the next session. _______ How does this help us stay in the narrative moment? It allows... 1) Me to focus on narrating what the heroes are experiencing in the moment, right before a potential combat without the need to stop & roll initiative which is usually a sign that combat is intended. 2) Players to stay more immersed in the moment & to think about what their hero will do & not necessarily be triggered to jump into a combat mindset. 3) Me time to ask each player, per their initiative order or table order, what their hero is doing in that moment based on what they see &/or hear since they are not 100% sure they will be attacked yet or not. Will one or more heroes decide to jump into combat or wait to see what will happen by hiding, engaging in conversation, & etc? This allows them that little bit more time to play their character, creating a bit of role play between heroes, vs doing what is expected when the DM says, "Roll Initiative" which is generally combat. NOTE: Depending on the scene, I don't give them much time to decide. I try to keep it moving as if it was real time. If needed, I have a 1 min sand timer I put out where they have to decide what they are doing, even if it is holding a particular action based on a particular trigger or nothing at all. __________________ NOTE 1: IF the heroes have the element of surprise, then I allow, depending on the scene, a certain number of PCs to have a free attack. The others will not have a free attack since the foe/s has been alerted at that point and their senses are heightened. NOTE 2: NPCs / Creature Initiative markers are placed out ONLY when their initial initiative # comes up. Even if their 1st attack happens to be a reaction attack after being attacked, it doesn't go out until it's their actual turn. That way, the players don't know what is happening. If there is a "foe" attacking from a hidden location, they have a blank initiative marker placed out upon their initiative until they are seen by one or more of the heroes. That keeps them from knowing who or what is exactly attacking them from a hiding position. NOTE 3: IF a combat goes into more than one session (i.e. started at end of one session due to time constraints & picked up again at beginning of next session) we continue with that same initiative order at the next session. NOTE 4: NPCs/Creatures that are encountered multiple times during a session, each group will have their own initiatives pre-rolled. For example, they are exploring a cave seeking out a relic, I know that they will encounter 3 groups of Kobolds along the way. I will roll up initiatives for each group of Kobolds for when they are encountered. ___________________ This has worked well for us and helped to keep peeps more immersed in the session. We also tried another initiative system DURING COMBAT which primarily works when playing face-to-face with everyone & changes up the dynamics of a combat a bit. I will explain it in a reply to this comment... Hope that helps some with their current initiative system whether DC20, 5e, & etc.

[@lynnskelton7971]

MAKING COMBAT EVEN MORE DYNAMIC OR AT LEAST SOMEWHAT INTERESTING... I forgot where I learned about this. If I remember, I will edit my combat. Basically... For each combat round AFTER the 1st, a combat initiative roll challenge is made between "foes" & "heroes". We have prescription bottles with a d6 in them. One is labeled "Foes" & the other "Heroes". This works best for face-to-face play. Not sure how to do it for virtual play. 1st ROUND - Go by initial initiative order. 2nd ROUND - DM rolls in open a d6 for the "Foes", Player to the left rolls d6 in the open for the "Heroes". If a tie, then continue rolling until a clear winner. The one with the highest roll, the one that is first in initiative order for that side goes first and then the initiative order is followed until everyone takes their turn. Example: Initiative order is Orc Fighters (2 of them), Hero 1, Hero 2, Orc Archers (2 of them), Hero 3, Orc Chief, Hero 4, Orc Shaman > DM rolls a 4 for the "Foes" & Player to their left rolls a 5 for the "Heroes". > Hero 1 goes first, followed by Hero 2, then Orc Archers, & so-forth until return to Hero 1. > Let's say the Orc Fighters (2 of them) are killed this round. 3rd ROUND - each bottle is passed to the next person to the left and the challenge is rolled again. This time, maybe the "Foes" win and they go first. Example: Initiative changes since the 2 Orc Fighters are dead. Hero 1, Hero 2, Orc Archers (2 of them), Hero 3, Orc Chief, Hero 4, Orc Shaman. > The person to the left of the DM, now has the "Foes" bottle & rolls a 3 > The player to their left has the "Heroes" bottle & rolls a 2. > Orc Archers go first since they are now 1st "Foe" in the initiative order, then Hero 3, Orc Chief, Hero 4 & so-forth until return to Orc Archers. This process repeats until the combat is finished. Let's say the "Foes" win the next 3 rounds & "Heroes" win the next 2 rounds after that. Now, that changes things up a bit for combat. __________ NOTE: Everyone at the table will roll for "Foes" and "Heroes" at some point. As inferred above, sometimes heroes may go first multiple times, sometimes foes will. Then sometimes, it alternates. This has made our combats a bit more dynamic and the players seem to enjoy the process, especially if they role for the heroes and win. But the groans are fun also when a player rolls for the Foes and they win. When that combat is over, the bottles are passed to the next peeps and they will start the process with the next combat encounter. NOTE 2: You can use d8 or the ever seldom-used d12 if want. Just make sure the bottle, if using one, can accommodate them & allow them to be shaken within them. If not using bottles, then suggest using different colors. Try it. See how it works for your table. IF it doesn't, then stop using it.

[@dmytroeidelshtein6284]

Before this video, I was sure that initiative in DC20 will be a perception roll))

[@AdlerMow]

If I had a player always hiding in the shadows or sneaking, I would use an illusion weaver or shadow being to grab them exactly as they hide. I would even make up lore for that! So they would at least try to be alert for once!

[@modellking]

That's similar to how i homebrewed Initiative! Awesome! I would not reroll the attack checks for the surpriseround tho Maybe even use past checks for initiative e.g. the naturecheck could have happened minuites ago

[@crimsonbandito5129]

I personally like Int based initiatives using Dex/Agi as the tie breaker To me it’s the minds ability to process what’s going on then telling the body what to do But I super like not rolling all that for the GM and setting up an initiative DC

[@LuizCesarFariaLC]

GM could award advantage or disadvantage on initiative based on how appropriate the action is for the situation. This would encourage players to get creative about this subsystem

[@GlenFinney]

The ice Dracolich!

[@davidlindsay5905]

I think that having only ONE RULE for initiative is limiting your customer base. Initiative is a very divisive thing that people either love or hate. Maybe include your new narrative-initiative ideas as optional rules, and have at least two or three initiative variants for groups to decide what works best for them. I've run intiative in the "players roll --> then alternate" (ally-enemy-ally-etc.) for years as my default in some games. But in others I use group initiative, and in other games I use a deck of cards (one tarot or face card for each player and numbered cards for enemies, I choose whichever enemy makes sense when it's drawn, shuffle at the end of each turn). These all work well and are compatible with your system. Group Initiative really encourages more synergy and tactics between players, resulting in much less thinking about "what I am going to do" and more "what are we going to do." I can't recommend this enough. I think most people here will have seen how many initiative optional rules are offered in Milton's Knave 2 for example. The space taken up in print is minimal compared to the benefit for your game. Please consider.

[@Invader_Rin13]

Huh, interesting. So I've played Lancer (fun mecha ttrpg) where I first encounter another unique way of handling initiative. In that there isn't any dice roll to start it. Combat start with any PC first, followed by the enemy, deciding who goes when. Feels a lot like a chess game that way, I kinda like it in that system, just because it sets up some plays for players to do combos with each other.

[@c.d.dailey8013]

Oh wow. I think the intitive system in DND is fine. If I do my own game, I would let either the player character go first or the first character to attack to go first. This video has a great new spin on intuitive. How interesting. I suggest tying this to ability score. DND has different kind of attacks boosted by ability scores. It depends heavily on class. A way to elaborate on this is to have a variety of attributes contribute to defense. 5E has this with each ability have its own kind of saving throw. 4E goes further into having different kinds of defenses. This video talks about how one can transition into combat more smoothly. I think the DM should make it clear how hostile or friendly cebrtain NPCs are. Then the players should have a chance to prepare for a potential battle. I like the idea that the things characters are doing determines initiative. However I think this should be an ability score check instead of a skill check. A player rolls a d20 and adds the ability score that fits the activity. If a character was sneaking around, they get the regular dexterity bonus to thier initiative roll. However is a character grabs a foe, they get a strength bonus thier initiative roll instead. If a character was casting a spell, they get an intellegence bonus. If a character is arguing or intimidating with a foe, they get a charisma bonus. The wisdom bonus is interesting. Wisdom is good at perception and it is effectivly at odds with the stealth of dexterity. So a character can keep close guard on thier party, especially near potentially hostile NPCs. When such a character watches like this, they get a wisdom bonus to thier initiative roll. Ha! It goes both ways. This video does make a good point. Dexterity is overpowered. It is the only one in RAW DND that improves initiative. It increases damage for light weapons and ranged weapons. It even provides defenses due to dodging. This helps with both AC and saving throws. My solution is to nerf dexterity so it doesn't affect AC. However there is an alternative solution. Dexterity can still work more or less like before. However the other ability scores become just as powerful. So that brings balence while also making ability scores more vibrant than before. That would be cool. Constitution could get underpowered. It is good for increasing hit points and providing defenses against poisons and diseases. It is hard to come up with other things for it. I couldn't think of ways for contitution to boost initiative or offense. Mayebe there is other ways. Maybe constitution could increase healing done by using rests and potions. Maybe the consitution of a magic user boosts healing spells. That would be great for clerics and paladins. Constitution ought to improve certain skills in the field. It may help for medicine and survival skills. It may even help with nature and animal handling skills. I think it is fair for all ability scores to get equal amounts of skills. Strength doesn't have many skills either. Maybe it ought to be breaken down to different kinds of athletic feets. There can be a pushing skill, a climbing skill, a swimming skill etc.

[@Jermud]

I enjoy the initiative system, but it has been quite difficult to implement in the FoundryVTT system I've been developing. I'd really like to have it automated but I'm a little stumped on how to solve it. I don't want to have to change a fun DC20 rule to account for VTT development difficulties, haha

[@LeFlamel]

You got a public repo? Could pitch in

[@smippycis6285]

The Issue with this "whatever check as initiative" is implementation in VTTs. I love d20 + DEX + MODs since it's so consistent I have a button that instantly rolls everyone's Initiative and orders it. It also is easier on the players since their initiative is consistent. For the grapple example, if done out of the blue (talking and suddenly grapple) I give them a initiative normal but starts on the player who started the initiative with their grapple action allowing seemless transition into combat.

[@mrshrekles]

I think there is a buncha different ways to do it and it depends on your group and if you play in person or not. Playing on roll20 i can click a button and roll everyone's init and get into the combat in a second.

[@Snags5050]

I like the prime stat check. Takes initiative out of Agility, which is the actual main problem with 5e initiative anyway.

[@srmillard]

I definitely prefer the ladder model, where an encounter is assigned a DC, which PCs need to beat

[@AlexPBenton]

I think the rolls should *be* the surprise round, it’s a little weird to make a check, and then make another of the same check, but only one counts.

[@jf649]

I like the DC idea. It reminds me of a Lazy DM video from last year. I think grouping monsters by storytelling is great. Maybe like „fast“ (18), „standard“ (12) and „slow“ (6). So players could also land under or over those numbers (calculated with other bonuses such as Swashbuckler in D&D 5E). What I do not like is the idea of skill checks to use. I think a warriors instincts should still count over their skill in some cases. But I feel that in D&D the Dex-Bonus is sometimes too heavily used. Maybe it should be an own skill for how quick you can process the information to your mussles. Not sure if I got the ping pong mechanics right. Sounds really cool but seems a massive change in action economy when DMs monsters differ from party size. - but maybe I didn’t get it right.

[@ryancombs2722]

Survey didn’t have write in section. I think initiative could be an awareness check. Similar to prime but could have mastery. I think the current option of unique checks should be an alternate option mostly used in high story moments or when DM needs time to set up map and such. Lastly my concern with back and forth initiative is when the enemy outnumbers players or vice versa. What happens with 1 enemy or 20 enemies?

[@treasend4126]

If you did a good "stab attack" roll for initiative and and then need to reroll the "stab attack" but get a bad roll now it feels like rolling to hit and getting a high roll then rolling damage and getting a 1 in DnD 5e

[@andrewlustfield6079]

This is the best initiative system I've ever run--there is no initiative: Replacing initiative experiment: New Combat Order of attacks. No initiative dice are rolled. Once combat is joined, combat goes in this order. Combatants with similar weapons or attacks go at the same time. 1. Initial missile attacks: bows and crossbows, then thrown weapons such as spears, hand axes, daggers, etc. 2. Magic: Wands, staves, rods, rings and other items with stored spells go first, then cast spells, and finally spells read off scrolls are declared. 3. Melee & middle missile attacks: Weapons with the longest reach will go first-This order will repeat for character with multiple attacks unless circumstances dictate otherwise-for instance the party is in a very tight press and long weapons are too unwieldy. • Pole weapons that are 8+ ft. (pikes excluded for obvious reasons) • Long weapons: Two handed swords, great axes (Dane axes), pole axes, 6’ spears, quarter staff, etc. • Medium weapons: Bastard swords, long swords, maces, any one-handed weapon between three and four feet long. • Short weapons: Short swords, clubs, daggers, iron spikes, • rocks, fists, claws, bites, etc. 4. Cast magic: Cast spells and spells cast from scrolls take effect. (Roll spell craft and religion checks are made now.) 5. End of round missile fire: bows and crossbows, then thrown weapons such as spears, hand axes, daggers, etc. It is so fast, and monsters and characters are all going at the same time, just like the real cluster-snuff a real combat would be. You start each round by calling out initial missiles, and go from there. If you have 10 orcs with bows or crossbows? They all go at once. There are real reasons to have spears and pole arms. Secondary and other back up weapons matter. It helps created a gritty, easy to run, smooth combat