In most

tabletop role-playing game A tabletop role-playing game (typically abbreviated as TRPG or TTRPG), also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a form of role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech. Participa ...

s (RPGs), an initiative system determines in which order player characters and non-player characters take their actions, to avoid confusion on when a character gets to act. These derive from RPGs roots in

tabletop wargaming Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming in which military units are represented by miniature physical models on a model battlefield. The use of physical models to represent military units is in contrast to other tabletop wargames that use ...

, where similar systems are used. Rules for initiative vary from game to game, but often follow one of a few common methods: * Statistic-based: The most common method, used by games like ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TS ...

'' and ''

Fate Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

'' is for each character to be assigned an initiative number based on a relevant

attribute Attribute may refer to: * Attribute (philosophy), an extrinsic property of an object * Attribute (research), a characteristic of an object * Grammatical modifier, in natural languages * Attribute (computing), a specification that defines a prope ...

plus a random factor, and for people to act in that order. Some games determine initiative order once, some once per round. * Taking turns in groups: In some games, such as ''

Tunnels & Trolls ''Tunnels & Trolls'' (abbreviated ''T&T'') is a fantasy role-playing game designed by Ken St. Andre and first published in 1975 by Flying Buffalo. The second modern role-playing game published, it was written by Ken St. Andre to be a more accessib ...

'', each faction takes its turn to act, and it is entirely up to the side acting who acts in which order for that side. * Shot clock: '' Feng Shui'' and ''

Arcanis Arcanis was originally a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game, created by Henry Lopez and supported by Paradigm Concepts. It is also the name of the fictional world where the setting takes place. The setting was launched in 2001 ...

'' both use a shot clock. Each round is divided into segments or ''shots'', and each action takes a certain number of these segments. Actions happen whenever the character's next free segment turns up. * Choice: In '' Marvel Heroic Roleplaying'' each character to act may choose anyone who has not acted already in that round as the next character to act. The final person to act in the round chooses who acts first in the next round.

References

See also