Dexterity and Initiative - the real story
David Trimboli
Dexterity DOES affect initiative according to the rules . . . in certain
cases.
FIRST EDITION OF AD&D
DMG p. 61. "Because of the relatively long period of time represented by
the round, dexterity (dexterity, agility, speed, quickness) is represented
by a more favorable armor class rating rather than as a factor in which
opponent strikes the first blow. . . . (See Initiative . . . below,
however.)"
DNG p. 62. "The dexterity or speed of individuals or weapons is not
considered in the 1 minute round except as hereafter noted."
DNG p. 64. "Dexterity Penalty and Bonus Considerations: The Dexterity
Attacking Adjustment is for missile firing considerations when initiative is
considered. It adjusts the initiative die roll for the concerned individual
only. Thus, it may well allow the concerned individual to discharge a
missile prior to the opponent's attack even though the opponent has gained
the initiative otherwise or vice versa. More important, this factor also
gives the individual a 'to hit' penalty or bonus when discharging a missile
at an opponent."
Conclusion: Dexterity affects the initiative roll of combatants using
missile fire. It does not affect the initiative of combatants engaged in
melee or other attacks.
SECOND EDITION OF AD&D
There is no mention of dexterity penalties or bonuses affecting initiative
in the discussion of initiative.
Furthermore, both the Reaction Adjustment and Missile Attack Adjustment of
the second edition are identical to the Reaction/Attacking Adjustment of the
first edition. Since combat resolution still occurs on a d20, but
initiative now takes place on a d10 instead of a d6, and since surprise,
which also changed to a d10 from a d6, so it seems clear that dexterity no
longer has any affect on initiative, even when considering missile fire.
Finally, when using the Weapon Speed and Initiative optional rule in the
second edition, missile weapons have weapon speeds attributed to them.
Weapon speeds work very differently in the first edition, and missile
weapons do not have weapon speeds.
Conclusion: Dexterity does not affect initiative in any way.
Anybody have any objections to this?
David
Stardate 99637.6
Joshua Kaufman
Not at all. I think it is one of the most common misconceptions of
AD&D... Dexterity affecting initiative. Everyone thinks that is does,
but they can't point out where it says this in second edition.
(probably people think this way, because of first edition allowing it
to affect initiative.)
Larry Mead
[quoted evidence snipped]
: Conclusion: Dexterity does not affect initiative in any way.
: Anybody have any objections to this?
Well, not really. In the fighter in melee case, it makes sense that
the ability to dodge affect his AC, but not necessarily his readiness
or his alertness (hearing and peripheral vision might though). In
the case a mages casting, my mental image of this process does not
permit the mage to hurry either his his motions or his incantations as
they are detailed and complicated. Thus, dex would not affect his init
either, though it might help against failure chances under certain
curcumstances. Simlar remarks apply to clerics and especially to theives.
The conclusion seems right to me.
DMgorgon
--
Lawrence R. Mead Ph.D. (Lawren...@usm.edu)
Eschew Obfuscation! Espouse Elucidation!
www-dept.usm.edu/~physics/mead.html