Calculating initiative [Archive] - Wizards Community

Calculating initiative [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dracon_Ian
10-14-06, 03:35 PM I bought D&D basic game a few weeks ago, and i thought designing a new character would be rather fun, and it's all been going well, until i had to work out the initiative.
Yangzigi
10-14-06, 03:38 PM whats wrong with the initiative?
BlaineTog
10-14-06, 03:39 PM Initiative's pretty simple. At the start of combat, everyone rolls a d20 and adds their initiative modifer to their d20 result. Then, the person with the highest total result goes first, then the second highest, then third, and so on. Your initiative modifer is usually just your Dexterity modifer, although you can also take the Improved Initiative feat to add to it if you want, and there are other modifiers elsewhere in the game as well. Or, at least, that's how it works in standard D&D; it might be different in the basic game, but I doubt it (and if it is different, you probably always use 10 + your Dexterity modifer + etc modifiers such as Improved Initiative as your initiative).

And congratulations on your purchase!
FRRC
10-14-06, 03:40 PM Roll a d20 then add your Dexterity Modifier. Also, if you have the Improved Initiative feat add +4 to that roll.
Seeker95
10-14-06, 03:46 PM D&D Basic leaves it rather vague.
The SRD makes it much clearer: Initiative (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/initiative.htm)
Dracon_Ian
10-14-06, 04:29 PM Thank you, i have nothing against the initiative system. I was just wanting to know how to calculate my initiave score.

Plus, how do i work out damage bonus for ranged weapons?

(please be nice i am really new to this)
Erato
10-14-06, 05:33 PM First you take the weapons normal damage (for example 1d8 for a longbow).
If you use a crossbow that’s about it.
If you use a thrown weapon or a sling, you add your strength-modifier (whether it is positive or negative).
If you use a bow, you add your strength-modifier if it is negative but not if it is positive.
The only exception is with composite bows that let you add a certain amount of your strength to damage (how much depends on the bow)

You can use feats (such as point blank shot and weapon specialization) to increase the damage further and later you can buy magic weapons that give higher damage or add magical damage bonuses too your weapon.

It sounds more complicated than it is, you will get used to it very fast.

Did this make sense? (english is not my first language)
Dracon_Ian
10-16-06, 05:19 PM yes it does make sence, thank you very much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dracon_Ian 10-14-06, 03:35 PM	I bought D&D basic game a few weeks ago, and i thought designing a new character would be rather fun, and it's all been going well, until i had to work out the initiative.
Yangzigi 10-14-06, 03:38 PM	whats wrong with the initiative?
BlaineTog 10-14-06, 03:39 PM	Initiative's pretty simple. At the start of combat, everyone rolls a d20 and adds their initiative modifer to their d20 result. Then, the person with the highest total result goes first, then the second highest, then third, and so on. Your initiative modifer is usually just your Dexterity modifer, although you can also take the Improved Initiative feat to add to it if you want, and there are other modifiers elsewhere in the game as well. Or, at least, that's how it works in standard D&D; it might be different in the basic game, but I doubt it (and if it is different, you probably always use 10 + your Dexterity modifer + etc modifiers such as Improved Initiative as your initiative). And congratulations on your purchase!
FRRC 10-14-06, 03:40 PM	Roll a d20 then add your Dexterity Modifier. Also, if you have the Improved Initiative feat add +4 to that roll.
Seeker95 10-14-06, 03:46 PM	D&D Basic leaves it rather vague. The SRD makes it much clearer: Initiative (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/initiative.htm)
Dracon_Ian 10-14-06, 04:29 PM	Thank you, i have nothing against the initiative system. I was just wanting to know how to calculate my initiave score. Plus, how do i work out damage bonus for ranged weapons? (please be nice i am really new to this)
Erato 10-14-06, 05:33 PM	First you take the weapons normal damage (for example 1d8 for a longbow). If you use a crossbow that’s about it. If you use a thrown weapon or a sling, you add your strength-modifier (whether it is positive or negative). If you use a bow, you add your strength-modifier if it is negative but not if it is positive. The only exception is with composite bows that let you add a certain amount of your strength to damage (how much depends on the bow) You can use feats (such as point blank shot and weapon specialization) to increase the damage further and later you can buy magic weapons that give higher damage or add magical damage bonuses too your weapon. It sounds more complicated than it is, you will get used to it very fast. Did this make sense? (english is not my first language)
Dracon_Ian 10-16-06, 05:19 PM	yes it does make sence, thank you very much.