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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5432611" data-attributes="member: 92305">You just answered that yourself!  You'd like to go before the Ogre's next hit because...because it's an advantage to be able to attack, and possibly kill, your opponent before he gets a chance to attack you! So, here's the example I promised after you answered the question. A party of three happen upon a Ogre, Hobgoblin, and a Goblin. The combat starts and everybody rolls nish. The Order of Battle is:  Bob, Jon, Ogre, Hobby, Goblin, and Frank (who bricked his nish roll). Bob moves to engage the Ogre. Jon moves to engage the Hobby. The Goblin charges Frank.   Round 1.  Bob attacks Ogre.Round 1.  Jon attacks Hobby.Round 1.  Ogre attacks Bob.Round 1.  Hobby attacks Jon.Round 1.  Goblin charges Frank.Round 1.  Frank kills Goblin. But, Frank was wounded badly from the Goblin's charge. Round 2.  Bob atacks Ogre.Round 2.  Jon attacks Hobby.Round 2.  Ogre attacks Bob.Round 2.  Hobby attacks Jon. Frank has a choice to make.  He can stay out of the combat completely to be safe--but he's not sure his two allies can win the day alone.   He can use his turn now and join one of the fights, but if he does so, the Nish Count will put him last.  As you indicated above, it's an advantage to go early in the round so that you and your ally can get both of your attacks made before your enemy has his chance to attack because you may kill your opponent and preclude his attack. That's a very important advantage if you are Frank, who is low on hit points. So, Frank opts for Option #3.  He Delays on Round 2 and changes the nish count so that he is most advantaged during the rest of the fight. Round 2.  Frank Delays.   Round 3.  Frank attacks the Hobby.Round 3.  Bob attacks Ogre.Round 3.  Jon attacks Hobby.Round 3.  Ogre attacks Bob.Round 3.  Hobby attacks Jon (or possibly Frank, but most likely Jon). Now...who has the advantage here?  The party--who are all attacking before the monsters?  Or the monsters, who are all attacking after the humans get a chance to act.   This example shows three things. 1.  Initiative is important in later rounds of combat as well as the first round.2.  By one character using the Delay action, Frank was able to find advantage for the entire party to attack first before any of their enemies attacked.3.  Using the Delay Action in this way to "steal the nish" can be a potent and deadly tactic in combat.</blockquote>

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