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Is initiative order affected by a player volunteering to begin combat?
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In the campaign I run, it is frequently the case that one player will make an attack against an unsurprised enemy to start combat. For example:
DM: "At the end of the long hall, you see a large door, flanked by two
hobgoblins. They are alerted to your presence but do not move."
Ranger: "I shoot at the one on the left with my longbow."
In these situations, no one is surprised, and a party member has specifically stated that they will perform the action that brings us into combat and cues initiative order. But does this affect initiative order?
If everyone just rolls for initiative, then there is a very good chance that someone, maybe even an enemy, will have a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer. But that doesn't make a whole lot of sense when the combat wouldn't happen at all (not yet, anyway) if that adventurer didn't make an attack. And then the player who is playing the ranger feels like his cool idea was ignored when he rolls a crappy initiative.
I realize that those who roll a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer could take a non-combat option, such as Dodge, Help, or Dash, but I don't think the party would be a big fan of reducing the party's attack quantity for the first round..
I was thinking about making a house rule that gives such a player a +5 bonus on their initiative roll or that allows players to choose their initiative as long as it isn't higher than what they rolled or something like that, but is there already a mechanic in place for this kind of situation?
dnd-5e combat initiative
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
In the campaign I run, it is frequently the case that one player will make an attack against an unsurprised enemy to start combat. For example:
DM: "At the end of the long hall, you see a large door, flanked by two
hobgoblins. They are alerted to your presence but do not move."
Ranger: "I shoot at the one on the left with my longbow."
In these situations, no one is surprised, and a party member has specifically stated that they will perform the action that brings us into combat and cues initiative order. But does this affect initiative order?
If everyone just rolls for initiative, then there is a very good chance that someone, maybe even an enemy, will have a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer. But that doesn't make a whole lot of sense when the combat wouldn't happen at all (not yet, anyway) if that adventurer didn't make an attack. And then the player who is playing the ranger feels like his cool idea was ignored when he rolls a crappy initiative.
I realize that those who roll a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer could take a non-combat option, such as Dodge, Help, or Dash, but I don't think the party would be a big fan of reducing the party's attack quantity for the first round..
I was thinking about making a house rule that gives such a player a +5 bonus on their initiative roll or that allows players to choose their initiative as long as it isn't higher than what they rolled or something like that, but is there already a mechanic in place for this kind of situation?
dnd-5e combat initiative
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
1
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
In the campaign I run, it is frequently the case that one player will make an attack against an unsurprised enemy to start combat. For example:
DM: "At the end of the long hall, you see a large door, flanked by two
hobgoblins. They are alerted to your presence but do not move."
Ranger: "I shoot at the one on the left with my longbow."
In these situations, no one is surprised, and a party member has specifically stated that they will perform the action that brings us into combat and cues initiative order. But does this affect initiative order?
If everyone just rolls for initiative, then there is a very good chance that someone, maybe even an enemy, will have a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer. But that doesn't make a whole lot of sense when the combat wouldn't happen at all (not yet, anyway) if that adventurer didn't make an attack. And then the player who is playing the ranger feels like his cool idea was ignored when he rolls a crappy initiative.
I realize that those who roll a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer could take a non-combat option, such as Dodge, Help, or Dash, but I don't think the party would be a big fan of reducing the party's attack quantity for the first round..
I was thinking about making a house rule that gives such a player a +5 bonus on their initiative roll or that allows players to choose their initiative as long as it isn't higher than what they rolled or something like that, but is there already a mechanic in place for this kind of situation?
dnd-5e combat initiative
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
In the campaign I run, it is frequently the case that one player will make an attack against an unsurprised enemy to start combat. For example:
DM: "At the end of the long hall, you see a large door, flanked by two
hobgoblins. They are alerted to your presence but do not move."
Ranger: "I shoot at the one on the left with my longbow."
In these situations, no one is surprised, and a party member has specifically stated that they will perform the action that brings us into combat and cues initiative order. But does this affect initiative order?
If everyone just rolls for initiative, then there is a very good chance that someone, maybe even an enemy, will have a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer. But that doesn't make a whole lot of sense when the combat wouldn't happen at all (not yet, anyway) if that adventurer didn't make an attack. And then the player who is playing the ranger feels like his cool idea was ignored when he rolls a crappy initiative.
I realize that those who roll a higher initiative than the inciting adventurer could take a non-combat option, such as Dodge, Help, or Dash, but I don't think the party would be a big fan of reducing the party's attack quantity for the first round..
I was thinking about making a house rule that gives such a player a +5 bonus on their initiative roll or that allows players to choose their initiative as long as it isn't higher than what they rolled or something like that, but is there already a mechanic in place for this kind of situation?
dnd-5e combat initiative
dnd-5e combat initiative
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
asked 50 mins ago
KSchank
1,548927
1,548927
Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
1
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
1
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
1
1
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
The initiative and surprise mechanics already cover this situation in full.
Surprise
The GM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they
automatically notice each other.
In your example, both parties are clearly aware of each other. Though they may not be instantly hostile, the fact that strangers are advancing on them with weapons drawn (else how could the Ranger shoot one of the hobgoblins) means that they're going to at least be ready for action.
Initiative
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The GM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The GM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one with the lowest. This is the order (called the initiative order) in which they act during each round.
It is possible that - though the ranger is the one who decided to kick off the action by aiming at a hobgoblin - their reactions are fast enough that they react to his hostile intent and start moving or counterattack.
There's no reason to believe combat wouldn't start without an arrow actually being fired. In a tense situation like the one described, the first sign of aggression - especially on the part of the party advancing on a guarded location - is sufficient to get everyone moving.
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
No special mechanic exists
Oftentimes with questions like these, it is helpful to remember that although initiative is a mechanic to simulate combat, presumably everything happens within the same 6 seconds.
So for your specific situation, let's assume the ranger decides he is going to shoot at the hobgoblin and kick off combat. Since no one is surprised, everyone can act. The hobgoblin rolls an 18 and the ranger rolls a 12, so the hobgoblin goes first.
Because everything happens simultaneously, the hobgoblin sees that the ranger is in the process of grabbing an arrow, raising their bow, or some other threatening thing and is reacting to that. Whether that reaction is to run forward and attack, flip the table to duck and cover, or something else is irrelevant; the hobgoblin is simply reacting to the threat of attack that was triggered by the ranger's intent to attack.
Once the ranger's turn comes around, they can then react to the hobgoblin's action. Perhaps running to get a better attack angle or something else, but from a RAW perspective, the ranger goes after the hobgoblin.
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not the act of releasing the arrow that triggers the initiative roll, but rather the Ranger's intention to fire it.
In situations like this, when one player tries to perform a combat action, the usual way to handle it is to simply have everyone roll initiative. Anyone rolling better than the Ranger simply reacted quickly enough that they saw the Ranger readying their bow and nocking the arrow, and get to respond before he has time to loose.
It might make sense to allow the Ranger to roll his Initiative check with Advantage for being the one trying to trigger the fight, but since nobody is surprised it seems perfectly reasonable that the Hobgoblins (or the Ranger's allies) understand his intentions and happen to be just a bit quicker in their acting.
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
The initiative and surprise mechanics already cover this situation in full.
Surprise
The GM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they
automatically notice each other.
In your example, both parties are clearly aware of each other. Though they may not be instantly hostile, the fact that strangers are advancing on them with weapons drawn (else how could the Ranger shoot one of the hobgoblins) means that they're going to at least be ready for action.
Initiative
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The GM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The GM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one with the lowest. This is the order (called the initiative order) in which they act during each round.
It is possible that - though the ranger is the one who decided to kick off the action by aiming at a hobgoblin - their reactions are fast enough that they react to his hostile intent and start moving or counterattack.
There's no reason to believe combat wouldn't start without an arrow actually being fired. In a tense situation like the one described, the first sign of aggression - especially on the part of the party advancing on a guarded location - is sufficient to get everyone moving.
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
The initiative and surprise mechanics already cover this situation in full.
Surprise
The GM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they
automatically notice each other.
In your example, both parties are clearly aware of each other. Though they may not be instantly hostile, the fact that strangers are advancing on them with weapons drawn (else how could the Ranger shoot one of the hobgoblins) means that they're going to at least be ready for action.
Initiative
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The GM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The GM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one with the lowest. This is the order (called the initiative order) in which they act during each round.
It is possible that - though the ranger is the one who decided to kick off the action by aiming at a hobgoblin - their reactions are fast enough that they react to his hostile intent and start moving or counterattack.
There's no reason to believe combat wouldn't start without an arrow actually being fired. In a tense situation like the one described, the first sign of aggression - especially on the part of the party advancing on a guarded location - is sufficient to get everyone moving.
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
The initiative and surprise mechanics already cover this situation in full.
Surprise
The GM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they
automatically notice each other.
In your example, both parties are clearly aware of each other. Though they may not be instantly hostile, the fact that strangers are advancing on them with weapons drawn (else how could the Ranger shoot one of the hobgoblins) means that they're going to at least be ready for action.
Initiative
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The GM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The GM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one with the lowest. This is the order (called the initiative order) in which they act during each round.
It is possible that - though the ranger is the one who decided to kick off the action by aiming at a hobgoblin - their reactions are fast enough that they react to his hostile intent and start moving or counterattack.
There's no reason to believe combat wouldn't start without an arrow actually being fired. In a tense situation like the one described, the first sign of aggression - especially on the part of the party advancing on a guarded location - is sufficient to get everyone moving.
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
The initiative and surprise mechanics already cover this situation in full.
Surprise
The GM determines who might be surprised. If neither side tries to be stealthy, they
automatically notice each other.
In your example, both parties are clearly aware of each other. Though they may not be instantly hostile, the fact that strangers are advancing on them with weapons drawn (else how could the Ranger shoot one of the hobgoblins) means that they're going to at least be ready for action.
Initiative
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The GM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time. The GM ranks the combatants in order from the one with the highest Dexterity check total to the one with the lowest. This is the order (called the initiative order) in which they act during each round.
It is possible that - though the ranger is the one who decided to kick off the action by aiming at a hobgoblin - their reactions are fast enough that they react to his hostile intent and start moving or counterattack.
There's no reason to believe combat wouldn't start without an arrow actually being fired. In a tense situation like the one described, the first sign of aggression - especially on the part of the party advancing on a guarded location - is sufficient to get everyone moving.
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
answered 41 mins ago
Weaveworker89
2,06321425
2,06321425
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
No special mechanic exists
Oftentimes with questions like these, it is helpful to remember that although initiative is a mechanic to simulate combat, presumably everything happens within the same 6 seconds.
So for your specific situation, let's assume the ranger decides he is going to shoot at the hobgoblin and kick off combat. Since no one is surprised, everyone can act. The hobgoblin rolls an 18 and the ranger rolls a 12, so the hobgoblin goes first.
Because everything happens simultaneously, the hobgoblin sees that the ranger is in the process of grabbing an arrow, raising their bow, or some other threatening thing and is reacting to that. Whether that reaction is to run forward and attack, flip the table to duck and cover, or something else is irrelevant; the hobgoblin is simply reacting to the threat of attack that was triggered by the ranger's intent to attack.
Once the ranger's turn comes around, they can then react to the hobgoblin's action. Perhaps running to get a better attack angle or something else, but from a RAW perspective, the ranger goes after the hobgoblin.
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
No special mechanic exists
Oftentimes with questions like these, it is helpful to remember that although initiative is a mechanic to simulate combat, presumably everything happens within the same 6 seconds.
So for your specific situation, let's assume the ranger decides he is going to shoot at the hobgoblin and kick off combat. Since no one is surprised, everyone can act. The hobgoblin rolls an 18 and the ranger rolls a 12, so the hobgoblin goes first.
Because everything happens simultaneously, the hobgoblin sees that the ranger is in the process of grabbing an arrow, raising their bow, or some other threatening thing and is reacting to that. Whether that reaction is to run forward and attack, flip the table to duck and cover, or something else is irrelevant; the hobgoblin is simply reacting to the threat of attack that was triggered by the ranger's intent to attack.
Once the ranger's turn comes around, they can then react to the hobgoblin's action. Perhaps running to get a better attack angle or something else, but from a RAW perspective, the ranger goes after the hobgoblin.
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
No special mechanic exists
Oftentimes with questions like these, it is helpful to remember that although initiative is a mechanic to simulate combat, presumably everything happens within the same 6 seconds.
So for your specific situation, let's assume the ranger decides he is going to shoot at the hobgoblin and kick off combat. Since no one is surprised, everyone can act. The hobgoblin rolls an 18 and the ranger rolls a 12, so the hobgoblin goes first.
Because everything happens simultaneously, the hobgoblin sees that the ranger is in the process of grabbing an arrow, raising their bow, or some other threatening thing and is reacting to that. Whether that reaction is to run forward and attack, flip the table to duck and cover, or something else is irrelevant; the hobgoblin is simply reacting to the threat of attack that was triggered by the ranger's intent to attack.
Once the ranger's turn comes around, they can then react to the hobgoblin's action. Perhaps running to get a better attack angle or something else, but from a RAW perspective, the ranger goes after the hobgoblin.
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
No special mechanic exists
Oftentimes with questions like these, it is helpful to remember that although initiative is a mechanic to simulate combat, presumably everything happens within the same 6 seconds.
So for your specific situation, let's assume the ranger decides he is going to shoot at the hobgoblin and kick off combat. Since no one is surprised, everyone can act. The hobgoblin rolls an 18 and the ranger rolls a 12, so the hobgoblin goes first.
Because everything happens simultaneously, the hobgoblin sees that the ranger is in the process of grabbing an arrow, raising their bow, or some other threatening thing and is reacting to that. Whether that reaction is to run forward and attack, flip the table to duck and cover, or something else is irrelevant; the hobgoblin is simply reacting to the threat of attack that was triggered by the ranger's intent to attack.
Once the ranger's turn comes around, they can then react to the hobgoblin's action. Perhaps running to get a better attack angle or something else, but from a RAW perspective, the ranger goes after the hobgoblin.
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
answered 41 mins ago
Pyrotechnical
13.2k350125
13.2k350125
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not the act of releasing the arrow that triggers the initiative roll, but rather the Ranger's intention to fire it.
In situations like this, when one player tries to perform a combat action, the usual way to handle it is to simply have everyone roll initiative. Anyone rolling better than the Ranger simply reacted quickly enough that they saw the Ranger readying their bow and nocking the arrow, and get to respond before he has time to loose.
It might make sense to allow the Ranger to roll his Initiative check with Advantage for being the one trying to trigger the fight, but since nobody is surprised it seems perfectly reasonable that the Hobgoblins (or the Ranger's allies) understand his intentions and happen to be just a bit quicker in their acting.
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is not the act of releasing the arrow that triggers the initiative roll, but rather the Ranger's intention to fire it.
In situations like this, when one player tries to perform a combat action, the usual way to handle it is to simply have everyone roll initiative. Anyone rolling better than the Ranger simply reacted quickly enough that they saw the Ranger readying their bow and nocking the arrow, and get to respond before he has time to loose.
It might make sense to allow the Ranger to roll his Initiative check with Advantage for being the one trying to trigger the fight, but since nobody is surprised it seems perfectly reasonable that the Hobgoblins (or the Ranger's allies) understand his intentions and happen to be just a bit quicker in their acting.
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
It is not the act of releasing the arrow that triggers the initiative roll, but rather the Ranger's intention to fire it.
In situations like this, when one player tries to perform a combat action, the usual way to handle it is to simply have everyone roll initiative. Anyone rolling better than the Ranger simply reacted quickly enough that they saw the Ranger readying their bow and nocking the arrow, and get to respond before he has time to loose.
It might make sense to allow the Ranger to roll his Initiative check with Advantage for being the one trying to trigger the fight, but since nobody is surprised it seems perfectly reasonable that the Hobgoblins (or the Ranger's allies) understand his intentions and happen to be just a bit quicker in their acting.
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
It is not the act of releasing the arrow that triggers the initiative roll, but rather the Ranger's intention to fire it.
In situations like this, when one player tries to perform a combat action, the usual way to handle it is to simply have everyone roll initiative. Anyone rolling better than the Ranger simply reacted quickly enough that they saw the Ranger readying their bow and nocking the arrow, and get to respond before he has time to loose.
It might make sense to allow the Ranger to roll his Initiative check with Advantage for being the one trying to trigger the fight, but since nobody is surprised it seems perfectly reasonable that the Hobgoblins (or the Ranger's allies) understand his intentions and happen to be just a bit quicker in their acting.
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
answered 42 mins ago
Erik
42.4k11147216
42.4k11147216
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
2
2
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
I'd be wary about granting initiative purely because it could be overused as a mechanic to get initiative on combat and overshadow feats/abilities that grant such a thing.
– NautArch
30 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
@NautArch you mean granting Advantage to the check?
– Erik
29 mins ago
1
1
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
Yeah, if all they have to do to get advantage is say "I'm attacking first!", that seems like it could go south quickly.
– NautArch
20 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
That, and there's no way for the DM to turn this tactic back on the players without it being grossly unfair. "Here comes a dragon. It initiates combat so it rolls initiative with advantage. Everyone take 95 damage."
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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Related on Is this alternative initiative house rule balanced?
– NautArch
41 mins ago
Related What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that start?
– NautArch
38 mins ago
1
Possible duplicate of What happens when initiative allows a player to act before the player that started the combat?
– Mark Wells
37 mins ago
Related on Should players get a surprise attack by interrupting a villain's speech?
– NautArch
36 mins ago
Even if this isn't a duplicate, I strongly suggest reading through the linked questions.
– Mark Wells
3 mins ago