We share our tips for running TTRPG scenarios without focusing on Initiative.

Initiative is a concept in games like Dungeons & Dragons that decides who acts when in combat. Players and enemies roll a d20 and add their Dexterity then a fight begins. It works well but it isn’t something we’ve come to rely on and neither should you.

Frankly, Initiative can bog down a game. Fights can take hours whereas traveling from point A to point B can take a manner of minutes. Not only does opting not to use Initiatve speed things up it allows everyone at the table to pay more attention. By not knowing when they are up, they may not dissappear into their phone. It’s a great way to ensure everyone, including the dungeon master, pays attention and is engaged.

Streamline Encounters

Fights tend to take a bit of time. Player turns can be lengthy and other players may tune out while it isn’t their turn. The next time you have an encounter try forgoing Initiatve altogether. Instead, narrate what is happening and ask the players what they want their characters to do. It’s best to still stick with standard action economy – action, bonus action, move, reaction – but instead of acting in turn, they act after the enemy does their action.

For instance, if the group is up against a villain who is trying to get away with an artifact. Rather then go into Initiative, have them grab it as an action then run away. Then ask the players what they want to do. By not being in Initiative, they may think differently and not necessarily jump to fight mode.

Fluid Interactions

Asking players what they want to do gives them more freedom. They don’t necessarily have to worry about waiting for another player to act before they do. No one is tied down by an order. As long as they act after the enemy or opposing force.

It’s a great time for players to try new things as well. Not being restrained by Initiative can open up some new opporunities in working together and thinking of unique ways to handle situations. It’s an idea that can really change the flow of any session and make encounters more freeing and cinematic.

Initiative Shouldn’t Mean Combat

The definition of Initiative according to the Player’s Handbook states,

“Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order.”

Saying ‘roll for Initiative’ may cause players to automatically think they should engage instant kill mode. That shouldn’t always be the case.

Cinematic Feel

When you break away from thinking of Initiative as strictly combat you start to see everything in a more cinematic view. Action movies all have intense scenes but think about all of the stuff that happens. They are generally more than just fast punches, swift kicks, car chases, and bullets. Villains monologue and characters react. Everything is so alive. By using these alternate rules, you can make more engaging encounters that don’t end in a blood bath. Why you Shouldn’t Rely on Initiative

We give our top tips to discussing backstory and lore in your world to make your tabletop game the best it can be!

Official guidebooks for tabletop games present a plethora of information regarding cultures and history but knowing how or when to introduce players to certain information can be difficult. We break down the best ways players and dungeon masters can present backstory to be more inclusive and have a fun game!

Bring it up in Conversations

One of the best and easiest ways to drop tidbits of lore and information about a quest, region, monster, person, or anything is to have it come from an NPC. They’re everywhere and if your players are lost or confused they can point them in the right direction or talk about a relevant piece of information the characters need.

Think of it as a video game where NPCs are coded to say specific dialogue but for the game they can say whatever they please. They aren’t limited to knowing what they’re told. Bravely Default 2 does this rather well with the game’s main characters. There will often be conversations where characters will talk to one another about their past. It’s a great way to get players to roleplay and talk about their character’s backstory. Which is lore all their own.

Here are a few ways to naturally bring it up in conversation:

• Ask a character where they are from
• Ask a character what food they enjoyed growing up
• Just get players talking about their home or life
• An NPC may be talking too loudly at a tavern or street corner
• Find a way to connect lore to the players
• Tell players different rumors about locations or monsters and have them all discuss what they have heard

Other games that do this quite well are the Dragon Age series and Pillars of Eternity II.

Make it Cinematic

A more unique way to talk about lore is to just show it. Take a step back from the players for a moment and tell them what they would know about an area. Then like a large sweeping shot from a movie or game trailer cinematically describe how it looks, feels, and sounds. It doesn’t have to be in great detail but highlighting some larger landmarks, monsters, or people in the area will help set the scene.

This also works great for a beginning and end of a campaign. Let the players add in their information about their backstory or let them discuss some lore with you as well.

It can even be a collaborative process between the players and the DM. The dungeon master can have players create portions of their own hometown or an upcoming location. Working together is part of what makes tabletop games so great and helps ensure everyone has a fun game.

• Ask the players what they believe would be in a specific area. (If it isn’t there already, add it in and surprise them)

• Have players describe locations they may be familiar with

Notes and Journals

Documents are a simple way to introduce information. We’ve discussed how to use them in the past to drive plot and they are incredibly useful for storytelling in general. They can be anywhere and say anything. You don’t even have to write them beforehand. Just saying “your character sees a crumpled note on the table” the DM has already pushed them to investigate. Then the game master can just tell the players what it says. Or it can be written ahead of time for a more immersive game.

Skyrim and Morrowind both do an excellent job at laying out notes to players.