In reply to Senuviel Alantir (msg # 34):

Ah, let me think.  Was it highest roll goes first or lowest roll.  I have to dig up the notes on that but lets see if lowest you go first Rena, if highest you go last.  Give me a few to look that up.

Lowest goes first but by all means look it up.
(If it helps, the clue is in the weapon speed factors, where a short sword has a lower number (3 from memory) than a longsword (which is definitely 5) which in turn is a lower number than a polearm (which can be 10 or 12).

What Rena Said.
Beverley rolled a 6, +6 for weapon speed of spear = 12.  - Dex Reaction if getting technical (not that Beverley has ANY bonuses).
Hope this helps.

From memory initiative was 1d6 in 1e, but went to 1d10 in 2e.
And just roll individual initatives in the first round of an encounter, not every round.

And I think Dex reaction mod applies on a surprise check as relief agaisnt being surprised.
i.e. roll 1d10 and a character is surprised on 1, 2 or 3. Reaction mod adds to this roll, so can take one out of the surprised range. e.g. Reaction +2, then rolling a 1d10, getting a natural 2 or 3 become 4 and 5 so not surprised. Halflings and elves (subject to armour & distance to companions etc etc) can subtract from foes' surprise rolls.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Wed 08 Feb 2023.

Correct

"Standard Initiative Procedure
To determine the initiative order for a round of combat, roll 1d10 for each side in the
battle. Normally, this means the DM rolls for the monsters (or NPCs), while one of the
players rolls for the PC party. Low roll wins initiative" (page 186)  So roll each round unless GM/DM has house rule, same with the Dex thing, which I included in all my games.
Up to GM/DM if Group or one for so many rounds or all combat.

  Correct again.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Thu 09 Feb 2023.

Rangers and monks might have extra stuff on surprise but I don't recall the details and if we don't have such characters it doesn't matter.

@Bree - Initiative in 2e is usually based on 1d10. (Unless of course your char has some kind of class ability or magic that alters it).

In reply to Rena Shae Karis (msg # 41):

I have been using d10 init.  Not really using weapon speed/type/length ect.  There a whole article in a dragon about who gets the first swing that can become very details and DMs can have a go at it trying to get each monster's init.     Giving dex adj I also do.  In short quick encounters 1 init is enough then its sort of a dex thing action thing.

Most encounters though are init each round.   I am sorry if I get things confused about init but will try to adjust for each group best I can.   Right now, D10 init.  subtract Dex mod and lowest goes first.    Surprises I factor a lot into it so DM shrugs surprises each time are different.  I'll try to factor in weapons speed and r even monsters reach.  but no matter lets all have fun and game on.

In reply to GM (msg # 42):

I've always rolled init as 1d10+speed factor. But I'm ok with whatever our dear DM decides.

Me too

Agree; as long as it's the same for us and foes, it's good.

Has to be fair both sides (just with us being better....obviously this doesn't include Beverley as she is rolling rubbish anyway)

In reply to Beverly (msg # 46):

Good, then no worries about being fare, I treat all situations the same for both sides and let the dice decide in the end.

Lowest roll Init wins = D10 - Dex adj + [I'll try to take into account] weapon speeds [best as I can].

Or just everyone ignore weapon speed. That would avoid you forgetting to apply it..

Rules  are great. The   make and define a game, they also ruin and hinder  game.

 100 years  ago, me and my  brother, tried  the Oringal  D&D, we were  wargamers who  game from the  Avalon Hill games..AH had  complicates  rules, but thier  Combat ( at least for  tactical were one counter  was one  plane, ship  ect) had  great dice roll charts, that took almost everything into account

OD&D fell short with  vague rules

 We  used  Tunnels  and Trolls, which i still have  all the  sologames, it was fun, but it wasn't really meant to be a 'serious' game

 Then,  we  used  In The Labyrinth , that Grew out  of  Melee and Wizard..simple  rules, tactical because you used a hex  board, their  Advanced   versions of  Melee and Wizard. The advance   rules  were great It allowed   for  building your character..there were penalties  if you chose   spells or talents that was outside your class...but you could do that. A wizard with a sword... a ranger with a spell  ect.

when i ran a campaign  using  Advanced version,  we never  went back to D&D. Some things, as the GM, i had to adjust the rules or make one up  if it came outside the  boarders of the current  rules....BUT..RP was  always first.

............

 In my games, i have my own  simple system, for building the  characters, and  rules.. I call it semi-freeform, because  there aren't hard core rules, but the rules that are there  eliminate god  modes, People are still playing a game, they know the rules, they get their  points.. and everyone has  fun.

 I guess what I am trying say is, don't be a slave to rules  carve them to meet you game.

  The 'great'  Gygax said "..these aren't rule, but more like suggestions "

all good and understood, so long as everyone is aware of and playing to the same suggestions.

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg # 49):

Something else Gygax said "Don't say no, assign a modifier".  Thereby it was possible to run up a wall and back flip over the opponent to land behind it and hamstring.  Nigh on impossible with average Dex but a 1 always succeeded on a stat check, a 20 always failed.

Yes, I remember that surfaced again in 3e as "if in doubt go +2 (or -2)"..

In reply to Rena Shae Karis (msg # 52):

I agree on this since this is DnD, Role Playing your character and there is magic and all sorts of fantasy stuff - Hey DM, I am going to do this, DM says, OK roll the dice lets see what happens ...... Always something going to happen you will just have to accept, wonder about or smile in amazement. Game on

In reply to GM (msg # 53):

Like trying to para-drop a colleague onto the number one enemy ;-)

In reply to Yardly (msg # 54):

Right? :D

In reply to Senuviel Alantir (msg # 34):

Hey all, I'm back!

Spent waaaaaaaaay too much money, and had waaaaaaaaaay too much fun!!!!

So, what did I miss?

Welcome back. Glad you enjoyed it!

Still trying to put down some orcs & goblins. And we had some discussions on rules, intiative and such.

In reply to Rena Shae Karis (msg # 57):

Ahh, nothing new.  :):)

Hahahaha

Loved D World, but damn, paying $5 for a 20 oz come gets old fast!  Not to mention spending $35 to $40 per meal gets old as well.  But had an absolute blast!  Although, Epcot was kind of on the boring side, unless you like to drink, in which case, every country had some to offer.

Love Tower of Terror.  Although, my sister was too chicken to go on it.  She's afraid of the drop. (Stomach goes into throat, and she's afraid she will be barfing afterwards!)

Went to Disneyland East, aka Magic Kingdom.  I'm not sure, how, but it seems the Disneyland version of pirates is better.

Loved the Millenium Falcon ride, and the Rise of the Resistance.  Loads of fun, and loved eating the grilled Cheese sandwiches of Woody's Lunch Box.

Animal Kingdom was also a blast.  Loved seeing the live animals.  And the dinosaur ride was fun.

Disney Hollywood was great.  Absolutely loved Fantasmic!  Amazing show!

Anyway, spent waaaay too much money, but also had waaay too much fun!

Now, just dealing with the aftermath.  :(

(The budget was blown to hell.  My sister must have spent at least $250 on souvenirs alone!)

Like I said, spent waaaaay too much money, but also had waaaay too much fun.  It was a great get away from the stress of last year!

its great y9ou ahd  fun!