UnearthedArcana:GreyhawkInitiative
Earlyin2017,IhadthechancetoattendGary
CononbehalfoftheD&Dteam.Headingbackto
thebirthplaceofthegameinLakeGeneva,
Wisconsin,providedalotofinspirationforme.
Intheweeksrunninguptotheconvention,I
tinkeredwithafewdesignideasthatdrew
inspirationfromoldereditionsofthegame.The
initiativesystempresentedhere—anelementof
whatI’vedubbedmyGreyhawkvariantof
D&D—waspartofthatprocess.
ThisIsNotOfficialMaterial
Thematerialhereispresentedforplaytestingandto
sparkyourimagination.Thesegamemechanicsarein
draftform,usableinyourcampaignbutnotrefinedby
finalgamedevelopmentandediting.Theyaren’t
officiallypartofthegameandaren’tpermittedinD&D
AdventurersLeagueevents.
Ifwedecidetomakethismaterialofficial,itwillbe
refinedbasedonyourfeedback,andthenitwillappear
inaD&Dbook.
WhyExperimentwith
Initiative?
TheinitiativerulesinD&Dworkverywell.They
keeptheactionmovingandareeasytouseatthe
table.Intermsofdesign,fifthedition’sapproach
wastotreatinitiativeasanelementofthegame
thatwasmeanttoproduceaslittlefrictionand
complexityaspossible.
TheGreyhawkinitiativevarianttakesa
differentapproach.Theserulesaddcomplexity,
butwiththegoalofintroducingmoredramato
combat.Theorderofactionschangesduring
combat,makingitimpossibletodependon
creaturesactinginaconsistentpattern.
Moreover,thisinitiativesystemrequiresa
certainamountofstrategizingbetweenplayers
aheadofeachround’saction.
Ifaddingchaosandunpredictabilitytocombat
soundslikefun,youmightliketheserules.Butif
youprefertokeepinitiativesimple—something
thatquicklyfadesintothebackgroundduring
combat—theexistinginitiativerulesarelikelya
betterfitforyourgame.
©2017WizardsoftheCoastLLC
Overview
TheGreyhawkinitiativevariantinstitutesthe
followingrules,whichreplacethestandard
initiativesystem.
Rounds.Combatisorganizedintorounds.
Eachround,everyoneinvolvedinthecombathas
achancetomoveandtakeactions,aswith
standardinitiative.Butthedurationsofeffects
aremeasuredinrounds,ratherthanending
duringaspecificcreature’sturn.
VariableTurnOrder.Eachround,every
creatureinvolvedinthebattlerollsinitiative.
Theorderinwhichcreaturestaketheirturns
changesfromroundtoround,makingit
impossibletopredicthoweventsincombatwill
unfold.
InitiativeDice.Ratherthanmakingad20roll
forinitiative,charactersandmonstersmightroll
avarietyofinitiativedice—normallyd4tod10.
Ifyourollmorethanoneinitiativedie,youadd
theresultstogethertodetermineyourinitiative.
Thenumberandtypeofinitiativediceyouroll
dependonthetypesofactivitiesyouwantyour
charactertoundertakeduringthenextround.
InitiativeCount.Underthestandardsystem,
creatureswithhigherinitiativehaveachanceto
acteachroundbeforecreatureswithlower
initiative.Withthisvariantsystem,initiative
nowrunsfromlowtohigh.Creatureswitha
lowerinitiativerollcanactincombatbefore
creatureswithahigherinitiativeroll.
OrderofOperations.Theserulesmakeit
morelikelyforcertainactionstotakeplace
earlierinaround,andforotheractionstotake
placelater.Missilefireusuallyoccursfirst,melee
attacksnext,andspellcastinglast.Thisisjustan
overallpattern,though,notanironcladrule.As
withthestandardinitiativesystem,theluckof
thedicealwaysdeterminesexactlywhen
combatantsact.
Rounds
Combatunderthissystemisdividedintorounds,
eachofwhichcontinuestorepresentabout6
secondsofaction.
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Durations.Anyeffectthatnormallylastsuntil
theendofaturninsteadlastsuntiltheendofthe
roundduringwhichthatturntakesplace.
Similarly,anyeffectthatnormallylastsuntilthe
startofaturnnowlastsuntilthestartofthe
roundduringwhichthatturntakesplace.
Iftheorderinwhicheffectsendisimportant
forsomereason,rollad20foreacheffect
(rerollinganyties).Theeffectwiththelowest
rollendsfirst,withtheothersendinginorderof
theirresultsfromlowesttohighest.
Surprise
Asurprisedcreatureadds+10toitsinitiative
resultandcannottakereactionswhileitis
surprised.Acreatureissurpriseduntiltheend
oftheroundduringwhichitissurprised.
DetermineActionOrder
Beforearoundbegins,eachcreatureinvolvedin
acombatdecideswhatitwantstodoandrolls
initiative.Yourchosenactionsdeterminewhich
initiativediceyouroll.
Actionsarebrokendownbyspeed.Becausea
lowerinitiativecountallowsacreaturetoact
morequickly,fastorsimpleactionsusesmaller
diceandmorecomplexactionsuselargerdice.
Whenrollinginitiative,yourollallthedicethat
representyouractions,thenadduptheresult.
Youdonotaddanymodifier(includingyour
Dexteritymodifier)tothisroll.
InitiativeDice
Die
d4
d6
d8
d10
Action
Rangedattack
Movement
Swapgear
Anyotheraction
Meleeattack
Castaspell
MultipleDice.Itiscommonforcharactersto
rollmultiplediceforinitiative.Ifyouwantto
moveintowardafoeandmakeameleeattack,
Example:Delaying
Able,Bravo,Charles,andDeltaroll1,5,8,and12for
initiative,respectively.Abledecidestodelay.Bravoalso
delays.Charlesacts.ImmediatelyafterCharles’sturn,
Bravodecidestoact.Inresponse,Ablealsowantsto
act—andcantakeactionsfirstbecauseherinitiativeis
lowerthanBravo’s.Bravothentakeshisturn.
©2017WizardsoftheCoastLLC
Variant:WeaponSpeed
Ifyouwanttoaddmoredistinctiontoweaponsatthe
costofspeed,replacerollingad4forrangedattacksand
ad8formeleeattackswiththefollowing:
Whendetermininginitiative,acreatureattackingwith
aweaponrollsinitiativediceequaltothedamagedice
rolledfortheweapon.Usethebasedamagelistedinthe
Weaponstableinchapter5ofthePlayer’sHandbook,
ignoringadditionaldamagegrantedbyspells,magical
effects,feats,andsoon.
yourollandaddtogether1d6formovementand
1d8fortheattack.Theresultisyourinitiative.
BonusActions.Ifyouwanttouseabonus
actiononyourturn,yourollanadditionaldie
thatcorrespondstothetypeofactionyouplan
totakewithyourbonusaction.Thatdieisadded
toanydiceyourollforyourmovementandyour
normalaction.
MultipleActions.Ifaneffectgrantsyouan
additionalactionwithouttheuseofabonus
action,yourollaninitiativedieforonlyoneof
youractions.Usethelargestdiethat
correspondstoanyoneoftheactionsyouplanto
take.
ReactionsandForcedActivities.Initiative
coversonlytheactionsyoutakeonyourturn,so
thatusingareactionhasnoeffectonyour
initiative.Youcantakeonereactionperround,
asnormal,unlessanabilitygrantsyoumore.
Likewise,anyactivitiesyouareforcedto
undertakenotonyourturn(typicallyin
responsetoanothercreature’sactions)haveno
effectonyourinitiative.
Delaying.YoucannotusetheReadyaction
undertheserules,butyoucaninsteadchooseto
delayyourturn.Insteadoftakingyourturnon
yourinitiativecount,yousimplyactonalater
initiativecount,beforeorafterothercreatures
asyouchoose.Ifmorethanonecreaturehas
chosentodelay,eachcreature’soriginal
initiativeneedstobenoted.Whenevera
delayingcreaturedecidestoact,another
delayingcreaturewithalowerinitiativecan
decidetoactimmediatelybeforeit.
SwappingGear.Ifyouwanttosheatheor
dropaweapon,yourollanadditional1d6for
yourinitiative.Youcandecidetoswapyourgear
atanypointduringyourturn.
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CreaturesUnabletoAct
Variant:SpellDisruption
Anycreaturethatisunabletotakeactions(most
likelybecauseitisincapacitated)doesnotroll
initiative.Anyeffectsthatsuchcreaturesmust
resolve,suchasdeathsavingthrows,are
resolvedattheendoftheround.
ForaddedAD&Dflavor,youcanintroducethespell
disruptionrule.Underthisrule,ifacreaturethatwants
tocastaspelltakesdamageduringtheroundbeforeit
canact,itisrestrictedtocastingcantripsonitsturn.
ChoosingAnotherCreature’s
Actions
Certaineffectscanalterinitiativerollsinthe
game.
InitiativeBonusesorPenalties.Thoughthis
systemdoesnotapplyacreature’sDexterity
modifiertoitsinitiativerolls,othereffectscan
alterinitiative.Ifaneffectwouldgrantyoua
bonustoyourinitiativerollunderthestandard
system,insteadreducethesizeofonedieyou
rollforinitiative,sothatad6becomesad4,ad4
becomesad3,andsoon.
Inthecaseofapenaltytoyourinitiative,you
applythereverseprocess,increasingthesizeof
onedierolledinstead.
AdvantageorDisadvantage.Ifaneffect
wouldgrantyouadvantageordisadvantageon
yourinitiativerollunderthestandardsystem,
youapplythattothelargestinitiativedieyou
roll(ortooneofthoseinitiativediceifyouroll
morethanoneofthesametype).Rollthe
initiativedietwice,usingthelowestrollifyou
haveadvantageorthehighestrollifyouhave
disadvantage.
Ifyouareinapositiontochoosetheactionsthat
anothercreaturetakesonitsturn(forexample,
ifyouhavesuccessfullytargetedthatcreature
withthedominatemonsterspell),youroll
initiativefortheactionsyouplantohavethe
creaturetake,thenaddthatresulttoyour
initiative.Thefinalresultisthecreature’s
initiative.
Ingeneral,ifaneffectcausesacreatureto
changeitsactionsandithasnotyettakenaturn,
thecreaturererollsitsinitiativeandaddsthe
resulttotheinitiativeofthecreatureoreffect
thattriggeredthechange.
ActionDeclarationandResolution
Atthestartofaround,eachcombatantchooses
actionsfortheround.Atthisstage,actionsdo
notneedanymoredetailthanwhatisneededto
determinetheinitiativeroll.Acharactercanplan
oncastingaspell,butdoesnotyetneedtopicka
specificspelloratarget.Acharacterplanningon
movingdoesn’tneedtohaveadestinationin
mind.
Duringitsturn,eachcombatantthenchooses
specifictargets,spells,andsoonforitschosen
actions.Theonlyrestrictionisthatacreature
cannotchooseactionsnotcoveredbyits
initiativeroll.Assuch,youmightfindthatyou
needtoalterthedetailsofyourplansasthe
actionunfolds—meaningthatit’softendesirable
toleaveyourselfoptionswhenyouchoosewhich
actionstorollfor.
Ties
Iftwocreaturestieforinitiative,thosecreatures
actinorderofDexterity,withthehighest
Dexteritygoingfirst.Ifbothcreatureshavethe
sameDexterity,rollrandomlytodetermine
whichoneactsfirst.
©2017WizardsoftheCoastLLC
SpecialRules
ExampleofPlay
Raththedwarffighterleadsapartythroughthe
HauntedHallsofEveningstarinsearchofXantar,
avillainousRedWizardofThay.Withhimare
RupertthebardandthesorcererDelsenora.
Roundingacorner,theyspotagroupofsix
hobgoblinsaccompaniedbyasnarlingtroll.
Rath’sferociousbattlecryputsasideanychance
fordiplomacy.It’stimetorollforinitiative!
Round1
Theplayersquicklyconfer.Thehallwayis10
feetwide.WithRathchargingforwardtoblock
thepassage,Delsenorawantstosupporthimby
castingaspellatthemonsterswhileRupertfires
hislongbow.Meanwhile,theDMdeterminesthat
thehungrytrollwillchargeaheadtomakea
snackoutofRath.Sincethecorridorisonlywide
enoughtofitthetroll,thehobgoblinshangback
andhurljavelinsattheparty.
3
Rupertismakingarangedattackwithout
moving.Herollsad4forinitiativeandgetsa1.
Delsenoraplanstocastaspellandnotmove.
Sherollsad10asherinitiativedie,resultingina
7.
Rathhoistshis+3warhammerandrushes
ahead.Heismoving,attackinginmelee,and
usinghisActionSurgefighterabilitytomake
additionalmeleeattacks.Herolls1d6+1d8for
(againstallodds!)atotalof14.Herollsonly1d8
becauseActionSurgegrantsanadditionalaction
withouttheuseofabonusaction.Suchabilities
donotalterinitiative.
TheDMhasdecidedthatthetrollwillmove
andmakeameleeattack.Itrolls1d6+1d8,fora
totalof8.
Thehobgoblinsaremakingrangedattacks
withoutmoving.TheDMrollsad4forthe
creaturesasagroup,resultingina2.
Withallcombatantshavingrolledinitiative,
theroundplaysoutinthefollowingorder:
• Rupert(1)makeshisrangedattack.Hefiresat
thetroll,scoringacriticalhit.
• Thehobgoblins(2)nextmaketheirattacks,
hurlingjavelinsateachofthecharacters.Rath
ishitonce,whiletherestofthevolleyclatters
againstthewallsandfloorofthedungeon.
• Delsenora(7)unleashesanacidarrowspell.
Shedecidestotargetthetroll,andburnsit
badlywithadirecthit.
• Thetroll(8)thenrushesforward.Because
Rathwasalreadyatthefrontoftheparty,the
trolltearsintohim,connectingwithaclawand
abite.
• Rath(14)nowacts.Thetrollisalreadynextto
him,sohehasnoneedtomoveeventhoughhe
rolledaninitiativedieformovement.He
swingshiswarhammerandsmashesthe
monstermultipletimes.
Round2
Thepartyishappywithhowthefirstround
went.Rupertdecidestofireagain,Delsenora
optstocastaspell,andRathmakesamelee
attack.Noneofthecharactersseesanyneedto
move.
TheDMconsultsnotesandseesthatthetrollis
amercenarywhohasbeenpoorlytreatedby
Xantar.Withacidsearingitsskin,thetrollwants
torunaway.Meanwhile,fiveofthehobgoblins
©2017WizardsoftheCoastLLC
makerangedattacks,butthesixthdecidesto
makearangedattackandthenmove,slinking
downthecorridortowarnXantarofthe
intruders.Sincethehobgoblinsdon’tsuspectthe
trollofcowardice,theyremainwheretheyare.
Rupertrollsad4forhisrangedattack,
resultingina3.Delsenora’sd10rollresultsina
6,whileRathrollsa7onhisd8.
ThetrollismovingandusingtheDisengage
action.Itrolls2d6foraluckytotalof2.The
hobgoblinsmakingattacksrolla4,andthe
hobgoblinrushingawayrollsatotalof8on1d4
+1d6.
Thesecondroundofcombatplaysoutas
follows:
• Thetroll(2)runsawayinterror,itshowling
almostmatchedbythatofRath’splayerasthe
DMinformshimthetrollusedDisengageto
avoidanopportunityattack.
• Rupert(3)thenfires,decidingtoattackthe
hobgoblinsasthetrollrushesawayinfear.He
woundsahobgoblinwithhisattack.
• TheDMrollsrangedattacksforthehobgoblins
thatremaininplace(4).Thecharactersnote
thatonehobgoblinisholdingback,andseems
tobegettingreadytomovedownthecorridor
andawayfromthebattle.Thehobgoblins
scoreanotherhitonRath.
• Delsenora(6)nowhasachancetocastaspell.
Concernedabouttheonehobgoblinthathas
notyetacted,shedecidestouserayoffrostto
slowitdown.Herattackhits.
• Rath(7)hasnoenemieswithinreach.His
playermakesapointofaskingtheDMif
optionalrulestakenfromawebsiteofdubious
reputearereallywhatthecampaignneeds,but
thecharactercanstilldonothingonhisturn.
TheDMremindsalltheplayersthattheycan
alwaysrollaninitiativedietomoveincase
theyendupneedingtodosoduringaround—
thoughtheyincreasethechanceofactinglater
intheroundiftheydoso.
• Thefinalhobgoblin(8)throwsitsjavelin,
hittingRathbeforewithdrawingdownthe
corridor.
Round3
Theplayersconferanddecidethatthelastthing
theyneedisthetrollorthefleeinghobgoblin
raisingthealarmdeeperinthedungeon.Rathis
4
alsohurtandneedssomehealing.Though
castingoneofhishealingspellsisanoptionfor
Rupert,hisplayerdecidesthathealsoneedsto
helpbringdownthefleeingmonsters.
Rathdecidestomoveandattack,withatotalof
6on1d6+1d8.Delsenorastaysputandcastsa
spell,rolling4on1d10.Rupertismakinga
rangedattack,moving,andcastingaspellasa
bonusaction.Histotalis16on1d4+1d6+1d10.
Rath’splayeronceagainquestionsthewisdom
ofoptionalrules.
Thehobgoblinsmoveandmakemeleeattacks,
whilethefleeinghobgoblinoptstoonlymove.It
couldtaketheDashaction,butdoingsowould
increaseitsinitiativerollto2d6.Theattacking
hobgoblinsrollatotalof12on1d8+1d6,while
themovinghobgoblinrollsa2on1d6.Thetroll
alsocontinuestoflee,rollinga2on1d6.
Round3unfoldsinexcitingfashion:
• Thefleeinghobgoblin(2)andthetroll(2)both
move,withthetrollscuttlingaroundacorner
andoutofDelsenora’ssight.Thehobgoblin,
havingbeenslowedlastround,can’treachthe
cornereventhoughtheeffectofrayoffrost
endedatthestartofthisround.
• Delsenora(4)takesadvantageofthe
hobgoblin’spositiontodropitwithafirebolt.
Thetrollisoutofsight,butatleastshe
stoppedoneofthetwofleeingcreatures.
• Rath(6)rushesforwardandsmashesintothe
hobgoblins,droppinganotherone.
• Buthisconfidenceebbsastheremaining
hobgoblins(12)actaheadofRupert.Rath
takesanotherhit,butisstillstanding.
• Rupert(16)finallyacts,hittingahobgoblin
withanarrow,thenpushingforwardtoblock
thehallwaywithRathandhealhimwith
healingword.
Round4
Withfourhobgoblinsstillfacingthemandatroll
runninginfear,theplayersdecidethattheirtop
priorityistopreventreinforcementsfrom
overrunningthem.Rupertoptstoswapouthis
bowforhislongswordandshield,thenmakea
meleeattack.Rathwillmakeameleeattackand
moveifnecessary,andDelsenorawillcastaspell.
Rathrollsa4on1d8+1d6,Delsenorarollsa7
on1d10,andRupertrollsa4on1d6+1d8.
©2017WizardsoftheCoastLLC
TheDMdecidesthatthehobgoblinshavehad
enoughofthecharacters.Theyopttousethe
Disengageactionandmove,rollingatotalof6on
2d6.
Asthefightdrawstoaclose:
• Rupert(4)andRath(4)bothhackatthe
hobgoblins,droppingtwomoreofthem.Rath
decideshedoesnotneedtomove.
• Theremainingtwohobgoblins(6)successfully
disengagebutstopshortofthecorner.
• Delsenora(7)reviewsherspelloptionsand
hitsthehobgoblinswithsleep,droppingthem
beforetheycanescape.
Aftermath
Withawoundedtrollrunningthroughthe
dungeonandthehobgoblinsdefeated,theparty
decidestomakeaquickretreat.Xantarisa
cunningfoe,andwillbeallthemoredangerousif
heiswarnedoftheirapproach.
Commentary
Asyoucansee,thissystemhastwobigeffectson
combat.Itmakeson-the-flyactions(suchas
attemptingtostopthefleeinghobgoblins)more
uncertain.Italsoturnseachroundofcombat
intoaminiaturetacticalscenario,withthe
playersconferringabouttheirgoalsforthe
roundandtheirgeneralplanofattack.
Thebiggesthazardunderthissystemisending
upinasituationwhereyoucannottakeauseful
action.Sowhenindoubt,rolladietogive
yourselftheoptiontomove.Inmostcases,acting
alittlelaterintheroundisafairtradeforthe
securityofknowingyoucanclosewithafoeif
youneedto.
Havingtocreateaplanwithyourfellow
playerstoworktogetheranddefeatyour
enemiesmeansthatcoordinationiscritical.As
such,youmustweighthebenefitsandrisksof
eachactionyoumighttakeinaround.Asseenin
theexampleabove,healingincombatcaneasily
becomeariskyproposition.Onebadrollcanbe
thedifferencebetweendeliveringaspellintime
orseeinganallyfallunderyourenemies’attacks.
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