The standard initiative is 1d10 + weapon speed. But we all thought that an eighth level fighter should have a lot faster initiative than a first level fighter. Granted weapon proficiencies and skills in weapon types might modify it a little, but it is still fairly close. So what we have done is added to the requirements for initiative. The new formula is 1d10 + weapon speed + modifiers + THACO. This way the high-level fighter will have generally a lower THACO, i.e. the faster blade. The only difference to this rule is straight mages. They roll 1d10 + casting time. This is to give the mages a little of their power back. Nothing sucks more than casting one of your few spells only to lose it because some fighter hit you. Multi-class mages on the other hand use the new formula for initiative. Granted the initiative rolls a lot higher (on the order of 20+ generally), but we have seen it makes things a little more realistic. Also, character that get more than one attack a round will get the extra attack at every three past their first roll. So if a fighter rolls an initiative of 21 and gets three attacks, then his first attack is on 21, the second is on 24, and the last is on 27. If you find any problems with this system let us know. We have play tested this for a while and have not really had any problems, but that does not mean all the bugs are worked out.

 

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