So, you've won initiative, now what?

Wolfix · Sep 3, 2004

I'm looking for tips on what you could do if you win initiative. I'm planning on playing a Psychic Warrior lvl4 with +9 to init, so he should get to go first a lot (I hope

). In your average encounter, I expect to either buff myself, or charge, but that's about it. If you could build him, what would you do with high init?

DarkMaster · Sep 3, 2004

Sneak attack to death.

Edit
Woups you meant with your character. I don't know why you want to have high initiative to buff. Buffing will still take a round to perform. Personally I wouldn't invest much in improving my initiative with such a character, I would use my precious feat on something more usefull for this type of character.

Rel · Sep 3, 2004

Geek the Mage!

No, seriously, if you can identify a "glass cannon" among the enemy, threatening them early before they can fire off any of their nasty offensive magic will probably do more to dictate the course of the battle than any other action you could take. Even if the Mage has mooks in a defensive line, if you beat them on Initiative then they are flat footed and can't make AoO's. Run right in there and smack the spellcaster. Be aware that this will very likely make you the primary target of nearly all the bad guys, so make sure your friends will come to your rescue early and often. Also invest in the best equipment you can get to bolster your AC and hit points.

mr_outsidevoice · Sep 3, 2004

Depends really. What is your combat style?

If melee, a round of Buffing could work.

If Missile, Hold action and target the spellcaster.

DM_Jeff · Sep 3, 2004

a few ideas

Take the feat "powerful charge" (Complete Warrior?) to add +1d8 damage when you charge and hit, which is what you'll probably be doing to all those flat-footed berks.

Move yourself into position early to provide flank for your buddy the rogue.

'Ready an Action' to blast "the first guy who looks like he's casting a spell" with a ranged attack.

-DM Jeff

DarkMaster · Sep 3, 2004

Rel said:
Geek the Mage!

No, seriously, if you can identify a "glass cannon" among the enemy, threatening them early before they can fire off any of their nasty offensive magic will probably do more to dictate the course of the battle than any other action you could take. Even if the Mage has mooks in a defensive line, if you beat them on Initiative then they are flat footed and can't make AoO's. Run right in there and smack the spellcaster. Be aware that this will very likely make you the primary target of nearly all the bad guys, so make sure your friends will come to your rescue early and often. Also invest in the best equipment you can get to bolster your AC and hit points.

Good Idea but I wander if a fighter or rogue would not be more optimal for this type of strategy, without any buffing the Psywarrior is nothing more than a sub-par fighter and since buffing takes at least a round there is no point for this guy to rush like crazy on the "glass cannon" just to be killed the following round because without his buffing he wasn't able to kill "it". The Rogue will benefit from sneak attack seriously crippling it and the fighter will be in a better position to continue the fight since feats don't take a round to activate.

Henry · Sep 3, 2004

High init really works for Rogues more than anyone - it's their element to "gut and run". For a psywar, I would suggest looking at "Lion's Charge" as a Psionic Power.

Rel · Sep 3, 2004

DarkMaster said:
Good Idea but I wander if a fighter or rogue would not be more optimal for this type of strategy, without any buffing the Psywarrior is nothing more than a sub-par fighter and since buffing takes at least a round there is no point for this guy to rush like crazy on the "glass cannon" just to be killed the following round because without his buffing he wasn't able to kill "it". The Rogue will benefit from sneak attack seriously crippling it and the fighter will be in a better position to continue the fight since feats don't take a round to activate.

This is why your PsyWarrior takes the Combat Reflexes and Stand Still feats and uses a Reach weapon. You run into the center of the battle with your Glaive (or whatever), stab the mage for decent damage and when the mooks try and close on you, some or all of them are (hopefully) stopped cold by your Stand Still attacks. On the mage's turn, if he's stupid enough to provoke an AoO, you snag him with the Glaive again (again using Stand Still if you still have any AoO's left), and he takes damage PLUS goes nowhere.

It's still risky but it has oodles of style. I've seen this done in a previous campaign and it was pretty effective.

CRGreathouse · Sep 3, 2004

DarkMaster said:
Good Idea but I wander if a fighter or rogue would not be more optimal for this type of strategy, without any buffing the Psywarrior is nothing more than a sub-par fighter and since buffing takes at least a round there is no point for this guy to rush like crazy on the "glass cannon" just to be killed the following round because without his buffing he wasn't able to kill "it". The Rogue will benefit from sneak attack seriously crippling it and the fighter will be in a better position to continue the fight since feats don't take a round to activate.

If you win initiative without a suprise round, you could buff as a standard action and move to threaten the wizard...