#dnd tip for DMs: instead of rolling initiative for monsters, put them into initiative order based on story or battle impact. If a monster/NPC needs to act first for story reasons, do that. Let the minions go last to react to the heroes, as they should.
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 12, 2018
I usually roll, but sometimes flub to ensure there’s a spread of monster actions interspersed between player actions. This right here. I love to see a good mix of action, instead of all at once. But if we want #dnd combats to also be great stories, we often have to become great directors. It is OK to script the action a bit, as long as it is done fairly.
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 12, 2018
At our table, we generally agree that actions cannot be readied until after initiative is rolled. I think the table perceives that to do otherwise would be unfair to PCs, on balance. I will stay out of that discussion! 😉
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 12, 2018
I find this punishes players who spent character resources into initiative modifiers. A good theory but beware of robbing agency and punishing build choices. In some groups this is the way to go but not safe as a blanket statement. Sure. I am not saying do it all the time. I am not saying hose the characters. Characters with +10 init mods, rolling nat 20s, shouldn't get moved down. Some adjustments in some cases makes the story and the logistics of a combat more pleasing for everyone.
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 13, 2018
This seems like playing with🔥to me. I can just hear my PCs QQing “DM screwjob!” when I slide a monster above their initiative. If you’re going to do this you should probably roll and then fudge as needed I just as often move monsters down the order. If I roll well and a bunch of minions would jam a doorway and make the combat a boring slog, I push them down to allow the characters to access the room and improve the combat. But again, this is about story, not winning or losing.
— Shawn Merwin @ PAXU (almost) (@shawnmerwin) November 12, 2018