DeviousQuail
Hero
I've tried a few different initiative styles in 5e. Side, popcorn, and cinematic. The results have been mixed and we always end up reverting back to the standard style. But I haven't given up hope. Next time I DM I'm going to try a new style that incorporates a couple ideas I've seen.
Basic idea:
Cyclical order with normal initiative rolls but DM rolls a secret d4. At the end of the round rolled by the d4 there is some kind of environmental effect. This could be anything from a landslide, the ship sways dangerously, things catch on fire, enemy reinforcements arrive, magical anomaly, etc. It doesn't have to be anything that drastic. But it's enough to shake up the battlefield and cause everyone to reroll their initiative. Roll the d4 again while everyone rolls initiative and start the process again.
On paper it sounds fun and should mesh well with my groups preference for cyclical initiatives.
Basic idea:
Cyclical order with normal initiative rolls but DM rolls a secret d4. At the end of the round rolled by the d4 there is some kind of environmental effect. This could be anything from a landslide, the ship sways dangerously, things catch on fire, enemy reinforcements arrive, magical anomaly, etc. It doesn't have to be anything that drastic. But it's enough to shake up the battlefield and cause everyone to reroll their initiative. Roll the d4 again while everyone rolls initiative and start the process again.
On paper it sounds fun and should mesh well with my groups preference for cyclical initiatives.