Post by talysman on Apr 9, 2011 23:56:14 GMT -6
I posted my own take on simplifying initiative/order of actions in a comment on someone's blog, which is not really a good place for it. I thought I'd elaborate it here instead and ask everyone's opinion. It's based on some stray comments in Men & Magic and Chainmail, with a little Holmes Basic influence, too.
I assume two moves per round. Combatants can sacrifice one move to attack; archers can sacrifice two moves for two shots. Light crossbowmen or spell casters can sacrifice one move to prepare and one move to fire/cast; for spell casters, these must be consecutive moves or the spell must be begun again. Heavy crossbows require two moves (full round) to prepare.
Knowing what your opponent is doing can provide an advantage. If this matters to you, each side can roll to see who gets first pick: high roll can choose to go first or last. Optionally, give first pick to the player of the character with the highest Intelligence.
That decides who moves first; the actual order of actions is based on:
Use crude estimate of length in feet. If you want to randomly equip man-sized humanoids, roll a d6 to determine the length of their weapons.
Use spell level as the equivalent of length, in feet, when determining which spell is cast first, or when pitting magic against steel. For other actions, roll a d6 for speed of action, treating it as weapon length.
I assume two moves per round. Combatants can sacrifice one move to attack; archers can sacrifice two moves for two shots. Light crossbowmen or spell casters can sacrifice one move to prepare and one move to fire/cast; for spell casters, these must be consecutive moves or the spell must be begun again. Heavy crossbows require two moves (full round) to prepare.
Knowing what your opponent is doing can provide an advantage. If this matters to you, each side can roll to see who gets first pick: high roll can choose to go first or last. Optionally, give first pick to the player of the character with the highest Intelligence.
That decides who moves first; the actual order of actions is based on:
- weapon length (longer weapons first on charge or first round, shorter weapons first on later rounds;)
- Dexterity, if there's a tie. Equal Dexterity means simultaneous action.
Use crude estimate of length in feet. If you want to randomly equip man-sized humanoids, roll a d6 to determine the length of their weapons.
Use spell level as the equivalent of length, in feet, when determining which spell is cast first, or when pitting magic against steel. For other actions, roll a d6 for speed of action, treating it as weapon length.