Initiative Boards?

[farscapesg1]

We tried the dry-erase board thing and it just didn't work for our group. Either the DM had to keep track of it all or one of the players did (and then we knew when the enemies were going). It was only approximately 8x11, so it didn't really work for the whole group to see from the other end of the table. It was just easier for the DM to keep track on paper.

 

[Xath]

We tried the dry-erase board thing and it just didn't work for our group. Either the DM had to keep track of it all or one of the players did (and then we knew when the enemies were going). It was only approximately 8x11, so it didn't really work for the whole group to see from the other end of the table. It was just easier for the DM to keep track on paper.

We keep track on paper anyway, in a fashion similar to this. We have a group "initiative keeper" and we know when the enemy is going. So this would just formalize our current initiative practices.

My character might need a number lower than -1 though...

 

[Exquisite Dead Guy]

I picked up a dry erase calendar at Staples (~$12). I numbered the squares 1-35 (in reverse order) with permanent marker. We've found it to be a big time saver.

 

[Vymair]

My gaming group uses the 3x5 cards almost exclusively. We do use the Whiteboard for many things, but initiative isn't one of them.

 

[ForceUser]

My gaming group uses the 3x5 cards almost exclusively. We do use the Whiteboard for many things, but initiative isn't one of them.

Right. 3X5 cards are cheap, simple, and help facilitate fast-paced gameplay. A PC delays? Pull the card out of the stack and set it aside until the player chooses to re-insert. Readied action? Turn the card sideways and move it up in the initiative order when the ready goes off. Stack the cards in the proper order at the beginning of the combat, then cycle through them until the bad guys are defeated. Easy-peasy. I have yet to encounter a smoother system for running the combat round.