Improved Initiative

Nathal · May 26, 2003

Improved Initiative...what creatures in the MM don't have this feat? With so many creatures having improved initiative I sometimes wonder why they didn't assume a base +4 to initiative and then give a few creatures a penalty of -4.

Does this criticism have a point? No, but I found the pattern in the MM kind of amusing.

Chronosome · May 26, 2003

Well, Savage Species has a great section on "feating up" monsters...there are a few feats that get more attention than others, because they're good in a general "anything can benefit from this" kind of way.

Like Alertness, Weapon Focus, etc...

And, a "base +4 of initiative" would mean 4 more points to AC, Reflex saves, etc, beacuse it's Dex-based.

I wonder if it's the most common feat in the book?

Nathal · May 26, 2003

I'd be willing to bet it is the most common feat in the book. Savage Species looks like it would be a fun book. Perhaps I'll pick it up when I run another D&D game.

kingpaul · May 26, 2003

Nathal said:
Savage Species looks like it would be a fun book.

I own it, and I find it a fun book. My DM wouldn't let me play the thri-kreen though.

ichabod · May 27, 2003

Top 10 Feats in the Monster Manual
(in terms of number of creatures that have it)

1. Improved Initiative (98)
2. Alertness (85)
3. Weapon Finesse (65)
4. Combat Reflexes (63)
5. Dodge (57)
6. Power Attack (55)
7. Cleave (40)
8. Multiattack (36)
9. Blindfight (32)
10. Weapon Focus (23)

Nathal · May 27, 2003

I wonder what the criteria was when assigning feats to creatures. Did they start out with, "we need 98 monsters with improved initiative", and then begin assigning the feats to the monsters? Nah...couldn't be.