Initiative Variant

[cadriel]

I created a pretty straightforward variant initiative system on my blog, here: Initiative, Dexterity and Ready Ref Sheets. Basically it's trying to square the circle of weapon length from Chainmail, Dexterity from Men & Magic, and keeping life simple. Basically a simplified version of the Ready Ref Sheets table.

Without needing to go to the blog, here's the table (as modifiers on 1d6 initiative roll).

Factor	Round 1	Round 2+
Long Weapon*	+1	n/a
Short Weapon**	-1	n/a
Dexterity/Move 8 or less	-1	-1
Dexterity/Move 13 or higher	+1	+1
Encumbered (Moving at 1/2 speed)	-1	-1

* Morning Star, Flail, Spear, Pole Arm, Halberd, 2-handed Sword, Lance, Pike

** Dagger, Hand Axe, Mace

I'd appreciate thoughts on this from the OD&D perspective.

[Porphyre]

Nice table. I like what you did with weapon lengths. Simple, easy to remember.

Personnally I just give a +1 to Dex 15+

Since I don't use tactical movement, I tend to adjust to compared move rates so light, unencumred characters keep advantage: faster opponent get +1, +2 if the move ration is 2+ (12" versus 6"; 18" versus 9", etc); +3 if ratio is above 3 (36" vs. 12", etc).

[talysman]

I use Move as Dex for monsters, too, but would probably just give a +1 to the side with the higher Dex or Move, instead of looking at specific scores.

I read your blog post, and I notice you didn't include a higher ground bonus, although you mentioned that Chainmail had this.

[cadriel]

Dec 9, 2014 16:34:52 GMT -6 talysman said:

I read your blog post, and I notice you didn't include a higher ground bonus, although you mentioned that Chainmail had this.

It's not a bad point, although in dungeons it would pretty much require being on stairs - I could see that adding +1, like having a long weapon. I just left it out because it has almost never come up in my running D&D, while it's a common thing in battles to be attacking or defending a hill.

[Vile Traveller]

Very similar to the RuneQuest "strike rank" approach using DEX, SIZ (the RQ characteristic whic translates to reach in this case), and weapon length.