3.5 Initiative [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTimePost
snb1131

05-16-04, 02:25 AM
Just wondering...what's the highest initiative modifier a character in 3.5 can achieve? Feel free to draw upon any 'official' material (Dragon, UA, etc.)

Assuming an 18 DEX to begin, these are some options to consider:

18 (base DEX)
+5 (level modifiers to DEX)
+4 (Improved Initiative feat)
+6 (item of DEX +6)
+2 (Infamous Traitor ancestor feat from Dragon #310)
+2 (Gifted General ancestor feat from Dragon #310)
+2 (Aggressive character trait from UA)
+2 (Eager weapon enchantment from AEG - is this considered 3.5?)
+8 (Vow of Poverty DEX modifiers - cheese, of course)
+2 (Dervish level 6)
+2 (Blooded regional feat from PGTF)
+2 (Thug regional feat from PGTF)

This is only a start, I'm sure (obviously not all of these can be combined)...


Of course, for those of you who want to play 3.0 or a mix of both, there are also things like Ninja4 (Rokugan), the Way of the Scorpion feat (Rokugan) or BayushiDeceiver2 giving INT to initiative, or IaijutsuMaster2 giving CHA to initiative, or the 20,000 GP +2 luck bonus (OA)...



Thoughts?
pokemaniacbill

05-16-04, 02:32 AM
Can't have an eager weapon with VOP, boyo, nor any enhancement item.

And VOP's bonuses are considered enhancement bonuses, so they wouldn't stack anyway... sorry.
snb1131

05-16-04, 02:33 AM
Right...I was wanting simply to list things...guess I got carried away when I totalled them up.
pokemaniacbill

05-16-04, 02:34 AM
Ah, that makes sense... I was just confused there, that I was.
Ramses III

05-16-04, 03:29 AM
Add +5 Inherent bonus to dex from a manual or wishes.
Potlok

05-16-04, 07:57 AM
An +6Item does not give you +6 to initiative, it gives +3...

Cheers
FireAge

05-16-04, 08:20 AM
+2 from air elemental familiar spell on familiar
Battousai

05-16-04, 10:16 AM
Iaijutsu master's lightning blade: CHA to init.
Zubon

05-16-04, 10:24 AM
Taking a race such as Halfling or Elf that gives +2 Dex gives +1 Initiative.
SmiloDan

05-16-04, 10:31 AM
Wildshape/Polymorph/get Reincarnated into something with a higher Dex.
Inkubus

05-16-04, 11:13 AM
Quick thinking (feat) from DL Age of Mortals gives +2 initiative.
Knight of the CrownPrC gets heroic initiative +3 at level 8.
Funny Slaughter

05-16-04, 11:44 AM
pale green ioun stone for +1 competence
stone of good luck for +1 luck

gs
Funny
Grim Sage

05-16-04, 12:20 PM
From the SRD:

Pale Green Ioun Stone: +1 competence bonus on attack rolls, saves, skill checks, and ability checks
Stone of Good Luck (Luckstone): This stone is typically a bit of rough polished agate or some similar mineral. Its possessor gains a +1 luck bonus on saving throws, ability checks, and skill checks.

How do those affect initiative? Or am I missing something and do initiative checks count as ability checks?
Himosan

05-16-04, 03:00 PM
1 level of Marshall (mini handbook) gets your Cha bonus as a Circumstance init bonus so anything that buffs cha will buff init.

If Auspician is 3.5 (I think PGtF grandfathered in all the stuff not updated) then there's another +4 luck bonus.

So if legal you might Shapechange yourself into a Dread Wraith (28 dex, can't think of anything better offhand) and you should be able to get *at least*:

+14 Dex
+13 circumstance (Cha)
+8 from feats
+4 luck
=====
+39

That is starting Human with VoP and Inherent bonuses. Might want 3+ levels of incantatrix to keep your Shapechange Extended (Marshalll 1/Crc 1/Sorc 6/Alienist 4/Inx 4/Aus 4 is one possible build).

Too bad Moment of Prescience doesnt work...
Himosan

05-16-04, 03:31 PM
And um Ninja gives Int to init I think.... go crazy.
James McMurray

05-16-04, 03:57 PM
Originally posted by Grim Sage
How do those affect initiative? Or am I missing something and do initiative checks count as ability checks?
Initiative is a dexterity check.
Baron Phylos

05-16-04, 04:14 PM
You can't take both Thug and Blooded. You're limited to one and only one regional feat in the 3.5 PGtF.
James McMurray

05-16-04, 04:16 PM
Wujen level 1 gives +4 init once per day.
Cynosure

05-16-04, 08:02 PM
This assumes you have 18 in both Dexterity and Charisma, but starting as a human, it's possible to have quite a massive bonus to initiative.

18 Dex + 6 Enhancement +5 Inherit = 29 Dex (+9 Mod)

18 Cha +6 Enhacement +5 Inherit +5 Level = 34 Cha (+12 Mod)

Make sure to take at least one level of Marshal and a few levels of Iaijutsu Master for Lightning Blade. Oh, and if you can fit Wujen in there, even better. Make sure to take Improved Initiative, Thug or Blooded, and to buy an Eager weapon along the way.

+9 from Dex
+12 from Cha (Iaijutsu Master)
+12 from Cha (Marshal; this also grants bonuses to your party)
+4 from Wujen
+4 from Improved Initiative
+2 from Blooded
+2 from Eager weapon enhancement

This totals to be a +45 bonus to initiative. I'm pretty sure that all of those bonuses stack, but I didn't check the books to confirm. I could just imagine the look on the DM's face when you roll a 60+ initiative... :uh-huh:
Dave1001

05-16-04, 11:24 PM
Take a level of Psion or Psychic Warrior. Use the feat to get Psicrystal Affinity (Nimble). That translates to a +2 bonus to Initiative.
redgamer

05-16-04, 11:34 PM
This has been done recently on Monte Cooks boards. They found a couple of things you missed

http://p222.ezboard.com/fokayyourturnfrm13.showMessage?topicID=6 053.topic
Himosan

05-17-04, 03:35 AM
If it counts as ability check then there is Greater Heroism, +4 morale bonus.