The New Rule: If a creature is Surprised, then they have disadvantage on their Initiative roll at the start of combat.
I feel this change in 2024 D&D opened up the opportunity for Natural 20Initiative rolls to be more rewarding! How many times have you or your players rolled a Natural 20 on Initiative just for it to feel kinda meh??
My proposal: If the d20 roll for an Initiative roll is a 20, then the named character gains an additional Action on its first turn in combat. I specifically call out a named character here to include Players, NPCs, BBEGs, or otherwise random monsters that the Player's name, but exclude trash mobs for large combats and Group Initiative cases.
If you feel especially spicy, then you could even give that individual a Surprise Round a la the old rules. Either option gives more meaning to the result while being less impactful to the whole encounter than the original 2014 rule.
Samurai fighter with a death switch is going to have the greatest time of their life.
Lets say a level 20 fighter with maxed out strength and GWM
Extra Attack action > Action surge 1 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike > activate something to bring them to zero > Strength Before Death > action surge 2 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike.
4 attacks from the extra action from surprise
4 attacks from action surge 1
5 attacks from first turn action and rapid strike
4 attacks from action surge 2
5 attacks with rapid strike.
Thats a total of 22 attacks with a two handed weapon, meaning it could be 22d12 + 242 or 44d6 + 242 damage. Which would be an average of 385 damage… this isn’t account for any crits or magic items.
The rule is interesting and the idea of a nat20 on an initiative roll is intriguing. For your restriction, rather than "named characters", maybe it should be "Player Characters and Legendary Creatures"?
As for the mechanical benefit, I think an extra action on your first turn is pretty strong. Maybe to temper that, the creature gains the benefits of the Haste spell during their first turn, but doesn't get the lethargy effect.
The rule is interesting and the idea of a nat20 on an initiative roll is intriguing. For your restriction, rather than "named characters", maybe it should be "Player Characters and Legendary Creatures"?
As for the mechanical benefit, I think an extra action on your first turn is pretty strong. Maybe to temper that, the creature gains the benefits of the Haste spell during their first turn, but doesn't get the lethargy effect.
I was confused by your reply at first, but I think I'm picking up what you're putting down! Something like these: Ex1: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then their Speed is doubled, they gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class, they have Advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and they gain an additional action...That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
Ex2: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then they gain an additional Action on their first turn in combat. That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
Ex3: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then their Speed is doubled and they gain an additional Action on their first turn in combat. That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
With your advice in mind, I like the 3rd option most, personally! The extra speed fits both the narrative of the result and mechanically in my opinion! How about you? Did I understand you correctly?
Samurai fighter with a death switch is going to have the greatest time of their life.
Lets say a level 20 fighter with maxed out strength and GWM
Extra Attack action > Action surge 1 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike > activate something to bring them to zero > Strength Before Death > action surge 2 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike.
4 attacks from the extra action from surprise
4 attacks from action surge 1
5 attacks from first turn action and rapid strike
4 attacks from action surge 2
5 attacks with rapid strike.
Thats a total of 22 attacks with a two handed weapon, meaning it could be 22d12 + 242 or 44d6 + 242 damage. Which would be an average of 385 damage… this isn’t account for any crits or magic items.
But how does that mechanically differ from a level 20 Samurai fighter with a death switch and Surprise a la 2014? The difference in my eye is just that one player would have it instead of the entire party, so it's still more balanced than it has been? And honestly, that Fighter would probably have the Iai moment of their lives and feel like an absolute boss
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Boo nerf, but yea opportunity?
The New Rule: If a creature is Surprised, then they have disadvantage on their Initiative roll at the start of combat.
I feel this change in 2024 D&D opened up the opportunity for Natural 20 Initiative rolls to be more rewarding! How many times have you or your players rolled a Natural 20 on Initiative just for it to feel kinda meh??
My proposal: If the d20 roll for an Initiative roll is a 20, then the named character gains an additional Action on its first turn in combat. I specifically call out a named character here to include Players, NPCs, BBEGs, or otherwise random monsters that the Player's name, but exclude trash mobs for large combats and Group Initiative cases.
If you feel especially spicy, then you could even give that individual a Surprise Round a la the old rules. Either option gives more meaning to the result while being less impactful to the whole encounter than the original 2014 rule.
Thoughts?
Pray to god that the fighter doesn’t get that 20
Samurai fighter with a death switch is going to have the greatest time of their life.
Lets say a level 20 fighter with maxed out strength and GWM
Extra Attack action > Action surge 1 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike > activate something to bring them to zero > Strength Before Death > action surge 2 attacks > Attack action with Rapid Strike.
4 attacks from the extra action from surprise
4 attacks from action surge 1
5 attacks from first turn action and rapid strike
4 attacks from action surge 2
5 attacks with rapid strike.
Thats a total of 22 attacks with a two handed weapon, meaning it could be 22d12 + 242 or 44d6 + 242 damage. Which would be an average of 385 damage… this isn’t account for any crits or magic items.
The rule is interesting and the idea of a nat20 on an initiative roll is intriguing. For your restriction, rather than "named characters", maybe it should be "Player Characters and Legendary Creatures"?
As for the mechanical benefit, I think an extra action on your first turn is pretty strong. Maybe to temper that, the creature gains the benefits of the Haste spell during their first turn, but doesn't get the lethargy effect.
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I was confused by your reply at first, but I think I'm picking up what you're putting down! Something like these:
Ex1: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then their Speed is doubled, they gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class, they have Advantage on Dexterity saving throws, and they gain an additional action...That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
Ex2: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then they gain an additional Action on their first turn in combat. That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
Ex3: "If the d20 roll for a Player Character or Legendary Creature's Initiative roll is a 20, then their Speed is doubled and they gain an additional Action on their first turn in combat. That action can be used to take only the Attack (one attack only), Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Utilize action."
With your advice in mind, I like the 3rd option most, personally! The extra speed fits both the narrative of the result and mechanically in my opinion! How about you? Did I understand you correctly?
But how does that mechanically differ from a level 20 Samurai fighter with a death switch and Surprise a la 2014? The difference in my eye is just that one player would have it instead of the entire party, so it's still more balanced than it has been? And honestly, that Fighter would probably have the Iai moment of their lives and feel like an absolute boss