Initiative

Initiative is a game mode designed to support turn-based play where the actions of the participants are performed in a controlled order.

If the host determines that an encounter would benefit from the structure of turn-based play, they can declare Initiative. Players must stop their current activity and only proceed using rounds and turns based on a specific turn order. The turn-based Initiative ensures that every character gets a fair opportunity to perform actions in a structured sequence.

Entering Initiative

At the start of Initiative, the host is responsible for describing the scene and the players' situation. This includes describing details of the environment, such as the layout of objects, terrain, weather, time of day, or other critical environmental factors to set the stage for the turn-based encounter. Players can ask the host questions about the scene and situation and briefly discuss strategy with the other players to coordinate their character's actions and discuss teamwork.

Before proceeding, the game host and the group will determine the turn order that will be used for the remainder of turn-based play. Turn order might be influenced by character positioning in the scene, or based on the strategy for how the group intends to proceed in the encounter. Alternatively, the group can roll a D100 to establish a random order. If the players cannot agree to a turn order, the game host makes the final decision.

Once the turn order has been established, turn-based play proceeds using rounds and turns.

Rounds

Rounds provided a structured approach that governs the interaction between players and the host, allowing the host to coordinate and control scene elements and narrate the changing situation, and players to coordinate and control their characters.

The host updates the scene and situation at the beginning of each round. The director must highlight aspects of the scene that will most likely influence player decisions during the round. During this phase, the director may also introduce new elements, such as a change in the environment or new non-player characters.

The host will then call on each player based on the turn order to complete their turn. Each player has an opportunity to ask the director questions related to the scene and situation and state their character's intentions for their turn. The host and player will then perform any actions towards their stated intentions.

At the end of each player's turn, the host can proceed with controlling the turns for one or more non-player characters participating in the scene—the round ends when each player in the turn order has completed their turn. If the encounter has not been resolved, a new round begins, and the process is repeated.

HOST TURN-ORDER

The host has the privilege of dynamically controlling the turn order for non-player characters participating in a scene. Non-player characters face the same constraints as regular players, with each non-player character being allowed to perform a standard turn once per round.

Turns

Turns are a structured period of narrative time granted to each player within a round to interact with the game world and perform actions. The rules that define what a player is permitted to do within a single turn is called the Standard Turn and is designed to provide structure and promote balance between players.

During a standard turn, players can perform each of the following activities.

• MOVEMENT: Move to a close location. Depending on the scale of the scene, moving nearby might be across the city, across the street, or just a few feet away. Exceeding normal movement requires sacrificing the remainder of the player's turn.

• INTERACTION: Players can perform simple object or social interactions such as reaching into a carried pouch or pack to retrieve an item, calling out or making a gesture toward another character, or interacting with a physical object in the scene, such as opening a door. Interactions should be quick and concise and limited to what is reasonable for the scope of their turn.

• ACTION: Players can perform a single action towards a target within range. Players can invoke one or more relevant features to boost or extend their action as long as the trigger on the feature is satisfied.

HOLDING AN ACTION

During turn-based play, a player may want to make their intended action conditional on a specific event or change in the situation. To hold an action, on their turn, players should describe the condition for proceeding with their action. If the condition is triggered before the round ends, the host will direct the focus to the player to complete their action as intended.