Discussing Initiative in AD&D 1e | Understanding Which Side's Damage Registers First in D&D

This video discusses the Initiative mechanic in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition). While the "per side" initiative, based on a six-sided die roll, that is discussed in this video is in specific reference to pp. 61-63 of the AD&D (1e) Dungeon Masters Guide the thought processes behind the mechanics apply more broadly to "old school" D&D clones, as well as other TTRPGs in the OSR vein.
Time Markers
1:18 - Video Overview
2:29 - Initiative Mechanics & Order of Operations
5:17 - The Many Actions within a Single Combat Round
6:16 - Time Increments in AD&D (Turn, Round, Segment)
7:51 - Dexterity Applied to Armor Class, Not Initiative
10:03 - One-Round Combat (Captain Kidd--Rapier Duel)
12:23 - Two-Round Combat (The Magic Sword--Knight vs. Dragon)
14:51 - Alternative Determinants & Multiple Attack Routines
#ttrpg, #adnd, #dnd

[@fromthehildt]

Hey Matt. I'll have to give this a full watch when I find the time. Like #1 sir.

[@Archaeo_Matt]

Thanks, Logan! I started to build up a collection of clip fragments, and just wanted to get some of them assembled for their intended purpose. Best!

[@nosaurian]

Great video! Good explanatio for the concepts of encounter distance and surprise, as well as for simultaneous actions. This is really the basis on which all later editions built. I can sorta understand Dex not affecting your initiative in this system but I guess player pressure defined that it would matter on initiative an all later editions.

[@Archaeo_Matt]

Thank you for watching the video, and for leaving a comment. I was a little surprised that I lost a subscriber to this video, so I'm a touch more appreciative than usual for anything that shows engagement, lest the glorious TH-cam algorithm bury it.
I admit it does seem a bit counter-intuitive that dexterity, agility, deftness, speed, etc. wouldn't have some sort of impact on initiative. I think maybe in the case where a character with an exceptional Dexterity attribute was working/fighting alone in fairly open space, it would be worth using as some sort of tie-breaker, or source of advantage. Cheers!

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

In my OSR I just decided to let one player to roll 1d6, 1 - 3, it's their initiative, if they're surprised, they act first if a 1 is rolled, if they surprised they start with 1 - 5.

[@Archaeo_Matt]

That's a good approach to streamlining the procedure. In _Daredevils_ there's a declaration phase for all side; but, all the action is assumed to happen simultaneously. I'm not opposed to use dexterity, agility, etc. to determine combat order either. I usually stick fairly close to the system's intent, but definitely don't mind experimenting to see if something else works better. Cheers!

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

@@Archaeo_Matt About Fighting Order, I assumed Missile/Throw, Melée, and Magic, within those brackets, I let them act in clockwise order, and I AM THE 12:00. Later I told them to determine the fighting order within that frame.

[@Archaeo_Matt]

@@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115 That's a good point! I probably should have spent some time on order of operations for different types of attack/damage. Thanks for mentioning that.

[@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115]

@@Archaeo_Matt Thank you for your channel. TTRPG TH-camrs share your love for this hobby just because the love for the hobby.

[@Archaeo_Matt]

@@nosotrosloslobosestamosreg4115 I very much appreciate that. I'm glad that the older approaches to TTRPGs still have a healthy appeal. I had wanted to get back into gaming again back when OSRIC was first released, but still couldn't rustle up people wanting to play in the old way. I realize now there were people out there, and it was just me not looking in the right places, until I started looking around TH-cam more. Best!