We play with a fantastic INITIATIVE rule.
1) Everyone (including GMs ?mobs? or monsters) roll their initiative (QU+2d10) adding any special bonuses for going in snap (+5 to roll) or going in deliberate (-10 to roll)
2) Let the lowest number state what they are doing first. The second lowest states what they are doing second, third lowest third... You get the point.
3) Then resolve the initiative from top down! So the highest roll is RESOLVED first, second highest resolved second, etc...
This system is awesome because the slower people STATE what they are doing first and the higher the initiative the more you get to react to.
This makes SO much more sense than the fastest people going first and not being able to react to anyone else.
I have used this rule for years and it is, by far, the best initiative system I have found.
A few notes: We use a single round for combat. We don?t use snap, normal and deliberate. I never liked it. This system never made sense to me. We simply use a modified version of this system.
a. Snap gets +5 to initiative roll along with associated negatives for going in snap.
b. Normal is ?well just normal. No bonuses or negatives.
c. Deliberate takes a -10 to initiative and gets the associated bonuses to rolls for going in deliberate.
Sometimes ALL the GM?s mobs (monsters) roll for the entire unit. Sometimes each individual mob gets its own initiative roll depending on how important it is. Main NPC?s usually get their own initiative.
I use mental quickness for casters (their prime stat bonuses) for mental tasks (casting spells, doing perceptions, quick thinking, etc) and I use the quickness bonus for any physical task (opening locks, melee, missile, etc).
Just remember, slowest entity?s (the lowest imitative) state what they are DOING first, then the fastest entity?s RESOLVE first.
Your highest initiatives will always see and be able to react to things which were stated previously. The slowest people are the ones everyone else gets to react TO.
E.g.
Caster has 10 for initiative
Cave troll has a 15 for initiative
Fighter has a 22 for initiative
STATE YOUR ACTIONS FIRST from the lowest to the highest
Caster says, ?I am going to start casting levitate??
(GM) Cave troll sees you casting and decides to SMASH little caster?
Fighter ?I see this and will intercept the Cave troll and instead THROW myself in front of the caster and take the blow??
This allows for really neat combat situations, now resolve from TOP down (highest to lowest).
RESOLVE YOUR ACTIONS SECOND from the highest to the lowest
The fighter with the HIGHEST initiative will be able to THROW himself in front of the slower, less agile caster (which just took about 3 hours to roll up LOL!) He takes the CRUSH himself from the cave troll (unless the Cave troll now issues a ?change action?!) and finally the wittle caster starts preparing levitate?
Try it out? it works beautifully!
Also hit me up for any questions or conflicts with this system because we have run through the gambit on this one!
