Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hand over fist 09-09-06, 05:54 AM	I dont see many people using this feat in thier builds and I was wondering why? It seems to me if your a player...getting to go before the bad guys is of the up most importance. For rogue players big time! No? Educate me :) .....
obeah 09-09-06, 05:56 AM	If your a rogue you should already have a good dex score anyway so technically you should be going first. And going first isnt the greatest advantage ever, some feats have potential to be much more usefull
FriendlyFrog 09-09-06, 06:07 AM	The main reason I think is that people rarely have enough feats to take it. I myself usually always take it, if I have a feat to spend. That, though, is a rare event, I almost always find myself too short on feats.
Llochlyn 09-09-06, 06:29 AM	in higher levels, it almost becomes mandatory for spellcasters, who also are lucky to be powerful enough to allow themselves to spend a feat on this...
Xenephon 09-09-06, 07:13 AM	Having taken this as my starting feat on my Sorcerer I have never once regretted it. The ability to get the drop on your opponents can be the difference between winning and losing an encounter. If you can get your crowd control off before your opponents can move then generally they will be on the back foot and the balance of available actions will favour you for that combat. Just my 2 cents anyway. Xenephon
FiestFan 09-09-06, 08:01 AM	Improved Init appears as a regular 1st to 3rd level choice in most of the LGCS builds I see posted, because it's a strong Feat in a Core environment. The trouble is, in a game that doesn't restrict sources, most people want to get to higher powered Feats ASAP, leaving precious little room for Improved Initiative. This is coupled with the fact that, most of the time, going 1st a) isn't a certainty unless paired with a high DEX and b) doesn't make *all* that much difference after the first combat Round.
runestar 09-09-06, 08:05 AM	A rogue who gets to go first in the surprise round has a better chance of putting his sneak attack to good use against flat footed foes...:) But it could be that they choose to rely on their high dex instead and figured that the benefit of said feat might be sub-optimal when they already have a higher chance of winning initiative, so they eschew it in favour of other feats.:P
obeah 09-09-06, 08:08 AM	ahhh this thread is just differant people saying the same thing again and again
Book 09-09-06, 10:53 AM	The rather newish paradigm for most high level wizards is to have both the ImpInit feat plus a few 1st level spell slots allocated to the Nerveskitter (Spell Compendium). Coupled with a decent DEX item and frequent polymorphing into high DEX creatures, and most highly optimized wizards should never have a problem going first in most battles.
hand over fist 09-09-06, 02:06 PM	Improved Init appears as a regular 1st to 3rd level choice in most of the LGCS builds I see posted, because it's a strong Feat in a Core environment. The trouble is, in a game that doesn't restrict sources, most people want to get to higher powered Feats ASAP, leaving precious little room for Improved Initiative. This is coupled with the fact that, most of the time, going 1st a) isn't a certainty unless paired with a high DEX and b) doesn't make *all* that much difference after the first combat Round. "LGCS builds"?:confused:
NoldorForce 09-09-06, 02:10 PM	LGCS=Living Greyhawk Campaign Setting, I believe. It's something run by the RPGA.
Ryzouken 09-09-06, 03:38 PM	I once built a thematic character in which I obsessed with getting the highest initiative score I could (along with hide and move silent) that was Ninja 4 with improved init and quick recon. Having a +14 to initiative was awesome.
Grizzled Gryphon 09-09-06, 04:00 PM	I have a Scout that has a +17 to Init. I have found that it be very useful, as I almost ALWAYS go first, and that is nice for the flat footed AC. Just in case your wondering, that init is achieved through battle prowess(? The class ability of the scout), Imp. Init, Quick Recon, and high Dex.