Nish Thought
- Thread starter Water Bob
- Start date
The implication is strong that he did.
And...I happen to like the word "nish". One of my players starting using it, long ago, and it just "stuck". Sorry if its ruining anybody worlds.
Better sense of timing doesn't mean they get to act first.
What experience gives you is the ability to anticipate what others do and position yourself better in advance (think sports). That's basically what the level-dependent bonus on Reflex saves is all about.
If you must apply that to initiative, you could somehow reduce the chance to be flat-footed for experienced characters.
What experience gives you is the ability to anticipate what others do and position yourself better in advance (think sports). That's basically what the level-dependent bonus on Reflex saves is all about.
If you must apply that to initiative, you could somehow reduce the chance to be flat-footed for experienced characters.
Empirate
First Post
I did not imply you were stupid, Water Bob, just that you like a word people around here find stupid more often than not. I read and posted in many of your recent threads (starting with "Stealing the Nish", btw), and even though I rarely agreed with your view of rules interpretation etc., the discussion was always fruitful in the end, in that it gave everybody something interesting to talk about. In this case, I was really only making a tongue-in-cheek observation.
And in order to contribute something useful to this thread's topic, as well: In Hârnmaster, which I used to play a lot, Initiative is a skill which everyone opens at start of play, at a rather measly value. Warrior types get better starting values, and others can use option points to increase it if they wish. Later on, the skill is raised just like any other skill, i.e. by training and using it while in tough spots.
In Hârnmaster, Initiative rolls can succeed or fail. Failing it means you lose a whole turn, since you cannot muster enough 'initiative' to attack - the skill is thus a measure of your ability to leap into action without second thoughts, and is in good part based on Willpower. Veterans have a much easier time committing themselves to a furious mêlée, in that they have much better initiative, but even they may falter on occasion, not daring to join the fray, merely defending themselves for the time being.
I always found this handling of initiative appealing: this way, it's not about being quick, it's about the psychology of combat. It combines a morale factor with hard-earned battle experience and an instinct for violence.
Your idea of adding BAB onto Initiative seems to work a similar angle, and I like it.
And in order to contribute something useful to this thread's topic, as well: In Hârnmaster, which I used to play a lot, Initiative is a skill which everyone opens at start of play, at a rather measly value. Warrior types get better starting values, and others can use option points to increase it if they wish. Later on, the skill is raised just like any other skill, i.e. by training and using it while in tough spots.
In Hârnmaster, Initiative rolls can succeed or fail. Failing it means you lose a whole turn, since you cannot muster enough 'initiative' to attack - the skill is thus a measure of your ability to leap into action without second thoughts, and is in good part based on Willpower. Veterans have a much easier time committing themselves to a furious mêlée, in that they have much better initiative, but even they may falter on occasion, not daring to join the fray, merely defending themselves for the time being.
I always found this handling of initiative appealing: this way, it's not about being quick, it's about the psychology of combat. It combines a morale factor with hard-earned battle experience and an instinct for violence.
Your idea of adding BAB onto Initiative seems to work a similar angle, and I like it.
I think the wording up there means the same thing. "Better sense of timing" indicates that your "experience gives you" the "ability to anticipate what others do and position yourself better in advance."
Your "timing" is the "positioning".
Using Reflex Save as part of Nish is RAW in the Conan RPG.
Just to be clear, it's not my idea. I read it in a d20 supplement book and thought it would be a good topic of discussion.
I liked the idea at first, but then realized that my d20 game of choice, Conan, already uses Ref save as part of nish--which puts the whole experience level aspect into nish through that route. I think REF is a better idea than BAB, especially when you think of the thief types who rely on DEX. All them to be quick and first and agile over the hulking slow but tough fighter.
