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<blockquote data-quote="FreeTheSlaves" data-source="post: 8082252" data-attributes="member: 9952">I think there needs to be a commitment to action to start combat. It can be as general as 'I attack', but I personally require an action statement.In our hidden Assassin example, assuming their stealth has beaten everyone's PP, we can't narrate their personal actions as starting combat. They're unseen. What then could be the signal? The bolt whistling through the air seems good enough to me. And if that were an NPC, that's how I'd start the combat.Problem with an intention statement is, if you have open initiative rolls, the surprising attacker can always opt to not attack... and not attacking is fine RAW. So why did you waste everyone's time having them roll initiative? Even with hidden initiative rolls, the Assassin player can guess when they're unlikely to pull off an Assassinate. Imagine doing that with an NPC Assassin...Require an initial action and bam, there's no take backs, it's real and characters are reacting to an event.This all said, initiative by intention works fine when the parties are at least aware of each other.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FreeTheSlaves, post: 8082252, member: 9952"] I think there needs to be a commitment to action to start combat. It can be as general as 'I attack', but I personally require an action statement. In our hidden Assassin example, assuming their stealth has beaten everyone's PP, we can't narrate their personal actions as starting combat. They're unseen. What then could be the signal? The bolt whistling through the air seems good enough to me. And if that were an NPC, that's how I'd start the combat. Problem with an intention statement is, if you have open initiative rolls, the surprising attacker can always opt to not attack... and not attacking is fine RAW. So why did you waste everyone's time having them roll initiative? Even with hidden initiative rolls, the Assassin player can guess when they're unlikely to pull off an Assassinate. Imagine doing that with an NPC Assassin... Require an initial action and bam, there's no take backs, it's real and characters are reacting to an event. This all said, initiative by intention works fine when the parties are at least aware of each other. [/QUOTE]

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