Title says it all. I recently was told that it in fact was not a d20 Test under the new rules. If so, then game mechanics such as the luck feat and tides of chaos etc. cannot be used on initiative.
There was some discussion of that during the UA process and it appeared that initiative checks were not d20 tests, but looking at the actual rules, they appear to have reverted that:
I would argue that the rules cited above actually support Initiative is NOT a D20 test. Per the rules :
#3 - Compare the Total to a Target Number.
Since there is no target number to beat in an initiative roll, Initiative doesn't seem to qualify as an ability check and hence not a D20 test.
As Pantagruel pointed out, the Initiative rules explicitly define it as a Dexterity check. You're right that it doesn't have a target number, but this is an example of the "specific beats general" principle defined in the Player's Handbook. Ability checks having a target number is a general rule; Initiative checks — a subset of Dexterity checks — not having one is a specific rule.
I agree with the answers. It's the same as in the 2014 rules, so for example, this answer is still valid (EDIT: the feature is slightly different in 2024, see below)
No. The feature benefits only ability checks. Don’t forget that initiative rolls are Dexterity checks, so Jack of All Trades can benefit a bard’s initiative, assuming the bard isn’t already adding his or her proficiency bonus to it.
No. The feature benefits only ability checks. Don’t forget that initiative rolls are Dexterity checks, so Jack of All Trades can benefit a bard’s initiative, assuming the bard isn’t already adding his or her proficiency bonus to it.
Except for the part where they reworded Jack of all Trades to only work for skill proficiencies.
No. The feature benefits only ability checks. Don’t forget that initiative rolls are Dexterity checks, so Jack of All Trades can benefit a bard’s initiative, assuming the bard isn’t already adding his or her proficiency bonus to it.
Except for the part where they reworded Jack of all Trades to only work for skill proficiencies.
My bad. You're totally right.
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Title says it all. I recently was told that it in fact was not a d20 Test under the new rules. If so, then game mechanics such as the luck feat and tides of chaos etc. cannot be used on initiative.
There was some discussion of that during the UA process and it appeared that initiative checks were not d20 tests, but looking at the actual rules, they appear to have reverted that:
I would argue that the rules cited above actually support Initiative is NOT a D20 test. Per the rules :
#3 - Compare the Total to a Target Number.
Since there is no target number to beat in an initiative roll, Initiative doesn't seem to qualify as an ability check and hence not a D20 test.
An initiative check is an ability check (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024/playing-the-game#Initiative), which is a d20 test. It is affected by advantage, disadvantage, and proficiency, all of which normally only apply to d20 tests.
As Pantagruel pointed out, the Initiative rules explicitly define it as a Dexterity check. You're right that it doesn't have a target number, but this is an example of the "specific beats general" principle defined in the Player's Handbook. Ability checks having a target number is a general rule; Initiative checks — a subset of Dexterity checks — not having one is a specific rule.
pronouns: he/she/they
I agree with the answers. It's the same as in the 2014 rules, so for example, this answer is still valid (EDIT: the feature is slightly different in 2024, see below)
Except for the part where they reworded Jack of all Trades to only work for skill proficiencies.
My bad. You're totally right.