Count Based Initiative

[gorebonzo]

I've read a little bit about Hackmaster Basic, and it seems about 100 pages too long for my liking. BUT, it's got the same combat order mechanic as in Kenzer's western game, Aces & Eights. For those that don't know, it basically involves the GM "counting" seconds, and your character's speed determining on which ones he can act. No re-rolling initiative. No round one, round two. Just an ever increasing number of seconds.

There's a lot, I think, to like about this system. It makes combat feel more visceral. The idea of turns always causes distraction. If it's not your turn, you don't have to pay attention right? And with people drifting in and out like that, I feel combat becomes a haze. Maybe that's just my players.

So I'm thinking about how to do a count system in D&D. My idea at present is to have each character, on each second, roll a speed die (based on DEX - a d4 to a d12) the number rolled is added to their Momentum. One you've accumulated enough Momentum (8 or 10 points, haven't decided) you can act.

That's just the basics, though. Once you've got this momentum thing, you can do all kinds of cool tweaks to it. Add momentum points you have over 10 to your attack roll, damage roll, your AC. Aim shots by giving a +1 per second spent after accumulating enough momentum to fire, that kind of thing.

So, what do you think? Useful, not useful, too weird? I'm all ears.

(A note: I know there's another initiative thread, but it seems to be focused on Chainmail, and I didn't want to hijack.)

[theophage]

From what I understand (I think I read in a thread over on RPG.net), the combat count is even more streamlined in HMB than it is in Aces & Eights. It still sounds kind of burdensome to me, but then I'm not real familiar with it and I certainly have never used it.

[thorswulf]

It is definately more streamlined than Aces and Eights! Advanced Hackmaster will probably add more convolutions. I think the count system is a very interesting approach to the real time dynamics of combat, but quite frankly it seems a bit too much for OD&D. Maybe using Dexterity as a basis like AD&D, modified by weapon speed and the die roll would work better? Quite frankly Inever bothered with it in AD&D either. It just slowed down a good bout of hack and slash!

[simrion]

Jul 9, 2009 23:22:03 GMT -6 thorswulf said:

It is definately more streamlined than Aces and Eights! Advanced Hackmaster will probably add more convolutions. I think the count system is a very interesting approach to the real time dynamics of combat, but quite frankly it seems a bit too much for OD&D. Maybe using Dexterity as a basis like AD&D, modified by weapon speed and the die roll would work better? Quite frankly Inever bothered with it in AD&D either. It just slowed down a good bout of hack and slash!

I'm using something like this in an AD&D game I'm running. Works for the most part although there are occasional changes depending on the Characters actions in a given round that require minor mental gymnastics

[WSmith]

I love the count system. I wont say it makes the game more realistic but it does make the battle more real time. The issue with OD&D is that you will need to come up with some sort of speed factor or casting time for spells.

[redpriest]

Maybe adapting BRP's strike rank system. It includes weapon speeds and casting times.

[jacar]

Slow I tell you Slow!

Fastest:
Roll group initiative. High roll goes first. You go when the group goes in any order. Also good for leader roles as he can call out who he wants to act next.

Next: Individual initiative. Count down and go when your number is called. This is generally a happy medium, tried and true. Not the fastest but committed players can move this along quickly. Players that don't tend to pay attention will slow things down. Optionally, re-roll initiative every round to make things more chaotic...but more slow.

Very slow:
Impulse based (aka count based). You have to pay attention to when you go next. You may not be going after the same player or enemy every time. As the night wears on and the group gets sleepy/drained, this will not be an easy thing to do. I suspect after a few plays, this system will seem a lot like work.