Option: Action Phase Initiative

[shootingwomprats]

Here is a new way to do initiative called, "Action Phase Initiative". It is based on a very old game named Villains & Vigilantes.

Option: Action Phase Initiative
All characters roll Initiative (Perception) and note the total. Characters go in order highest to lowest. Turns are comprised of Action Phases, and the number rolled for Initiative is the number of the first Action Phase during which the character may act. Ties go to the character with the highest Perception attribute, or roll a dice to determine the who goes first.

It is possible to act more than once per Turn. All characters are allowed to act again in the same turn five phases after their last action was allowed, these are called Action Phases. Thus a character whose total Initiative is 16 perform an action on Action Phases 16, 11, 6, and 1. Each action performed after the first suffers a -1D modifier.

Actions don't have to be performed on the allotted Action Phase. A Character may delay an Action Phase, "banking" it until later in the Turn, even if it interrupts another character's action. Action Phases cannot be saved for use in a later Turn. A character can only perform one action in any given Action Phase.

Questions, criticisms, suggestions are all welcome.
_________________
Don Diestler
Host, Shooting Womp Rats
The D6 Podcast
http://d6holocron.com/shootingwomprats
@swd6podcast, Twitter

[Wajeb Deb Kaadeb]

I still love the 1E Method where a character's skills double for his initiative.

The GM describes the situation, and the players say what they want to do.

Then, the GM directs the action phases, allowing all characters to perform their first actions in the first action phase. Then, the GM moves on to the second action phase for all second actions, and so on.

If, at any time, it is important do decide which character goes first, the actual skill roll made doubles as the initiative throw.

This is quick-n-easy and very "Star Wars" feeling.





For a simple example, let's say a Rebel and a single Scout Trooper are in a wooded area. The Rebel moves around a large rock and sees the Scout. The Scout says, "You there! Halt!" And, he raises his blaster rifle to the firing position.

The player says, "I'll immediately move to a tree, to use it for cover, then draw my blaster and take a shot!"

Action Phase 1: The Scout is holding his action, having just ordered the Rebel to halt.

But, the Rebel doesn't "halt". Instead, he runs to the tree.



Action Phase 2: Using the tree as cover, the Rebel pulls his blaster and fires.

The Scout Trooper fires, too.

So, both attack rolls are made. The highest roll wins initiative. It happens first. And, if it hits, then damage is applied to the Scout Trooper.

The Scout Trooper's attack throw becomes only an initiative throw--he never got to fire as the Rebel was too quick.




This is intuitive and quick. And, it ignores unnecessary rolls for initiative.

[garhkal]

[shootingwomprats]

[Naaman]

Static defense is nice because it eliminates one of the MAP penalties, although, your static defense is a little bit lower than an average roll, so there is that trade off.

[Naaman]

Also, I like the idea of a higher initiative giving more opportunities for actions. It adds a simple mechanic that helps to differentiate characters by way of their baseline capabilities, rather than their developed skills being the main set of variables.

I can see ots of ways that this could be used as a basis for a character concept.

[shootingwomprats]

[garhkal]

So you roll to hit but no defensive rolls, just a static # to overcome..
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Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[shootingwomprats]

[garhkal]

I can see a benefit having static defense scores as it makes for less rolling, but not for main line npcs, or pcs..
_________________
Confucious sayeth, don't wash cat while drunk!

[Whill]

[shootingwomprats]

Actually static defenses help the PC's a great deal. Though its an average roll without the chance of an exploding Wild Die, it is an average roll of all their dice. Meaning it does not suffer from MAPs.

I think if we are honest, players rarely get to roll their entire defense pool and typically suffer at least a -1D and sometimes -3D.

Lets say a player has 5D dodge. He moves, dodges, shoots, -2D to all those skills. Dodge is now 3D. An average roll would give an 11 and a 1 in six chance of the wild die exploding, giving an average roll of 7. Therefore giving a 15 on average.

Static defense for 5D is 18, well above an average roll with an exploding die.

It makes sense, but I understand the idea of players wanting that extra possibility of something real extraordinary happening. That is the part I struggle with. Yes it would obviously speed up the game, but at what cost to the heroic "feel" of rolling that dice pool and the possible exploding wild die?
_________________
Don Diestler
Host, Shooting Womp Rats
The D6 Podcast
http://d6holocron.com/shootingwomprats
@swd6podcast, Twitter

[MrNexx]

[garhkal]