Weapon Specialization & Dexterity Reaction Adjustment

[Free Sky Days]

As DM's do you guys

1) allow multi-class fighter PC's (i.e. Fighter/Druid) to Weapon Specialize?

2) subtract dexterity reaction adjustment from initiative rolls?

[JohnD]

1. No - weapons specialization is for single classed fighters only. That said, there are several kits that allow this to be bypassed; one Fighter kit allows specialization in a second weapon as well, and a Dwarf kit allows specialization to a Fighter/Cleric of a dwarven deity. There may be others.

2. I allow this. If you have Sterno's (IMO essential) extension, there is an option you can enable to have this calculated automatically.

[Free Sky Days]

I've been having a heck of a time trying to make an advanced effect for 2. I thought it would be> INIT: -2; <but it's not working.
50971

[EOTB]

You don't need an effect. Each character having an adjustment to their initiative can reduce the weapon speed(s) showing on their actions tab. If a sword attack normally has a weapon speed of 5, and that characters dex gives it a dex bonus of 2, then reduce the weapon speed of that weapon to 3.

Even in 1E (which doesn't use weapon speeds to routinely modify every initiative roll) I can set them to 0 - and if someone has a dex bonus when attacking with ranged weapons, they can set their bow/javelin/whatever weapon speed to "negative 2".

But I don't think there's a way to modify a single-side initiative for only one character. So I have players with an initiative bonus roll their own individual initiative, for at least the attacks where they get the bonus.

[Free Sky Days]

Thanks EOTB, I thought of that as well, just changing the weapon speeds, but I thought I'd try to learn something. I have each PC in the party roll initiative.
Lol, "Location: teleporting without error"
Thanks again! :)

[celestian]

As DM's do you guys

1) allow multi-class fighter PC's (i.e. Fighter/Druid) to Weapon Specialize?

2) subtract dexterity reaction adjustment from initiative rolls?

1) Sometimes.

2) Nope. Not sure where that came from. By the book it's an adjustment to surprise.

[Free Sky Days]

What conditions warrant "sometimes" for #1?

Can you help with this Celestian?
I've been having a heck of a time trying to make an advanced effect for initiative modifiers for dex reaction adjustment. I thought it would be INIT: -2; but it's not working.
50976

[celestian]

What conditions warrant "sometimes" for #1?

Can you help with this Celestian?
I've been having a heck of a time trying to make an advanced effect for initiative modifiers for dex reaction adjustment. I thought it would be INIT: -2; but it's not working.
50976

They have to be in the CT for any effect to work.

[Free Sky Days]

Sorry I don't know what the CT is.

[celestian]

Sorry I don't know what the CT is.

Combat tracker. Where all the npc/pcs are during encounters to show initiative order/etc.

If you had them in (only reason I could figure why it wasn't working) then you have an extension causing a problem is my next guess.

[Free Sky Days]

Thanks Celestian, that was it! Wasn't working when I rolled initiative from character sheet but once I had PC in CT it worked!

[Tensin]

1) allow multi-class fighter PC's (i.e. Fighter/Druid) to Weapon Specialize?
Yes. I'm aware of no other instance were multiclassing outright removes a classes trait (indeed: for fighters, this is their *only* trait (unless you count henchmen starting at 9th))


2) subtract dexterity reaction adjustment from initiative rolls?
Not exactly, but I do use it to improve weapon speeds.

[Free Sky Days]

Both make sense, thanks Tensin!

[JohnD]

As in all things; your game - you decide what is right.

We can answer and provide our rationale for how we adjudicate in our games (and in some instances the rationale is based off of up to 4+ decades of experience as a DM...), but really this just gives you another informational data point which you are free to consider and take on, or disregard as antithetical to your style of game.

No right, no wrong, just keep gaming and have fun. :)

Now, your players might read the RAW in the book and if you say "no, I'm doing it this way...", they may simply accept it, but they may also ask for your reason(s) for the change (while also accepting). So, be prepared to have that conversation because sooner or later it will be necessary.

[Free Sky Days]

Wise Words indeed, thanks JohnD! :)

[ChrisRevocateur]

2) Nope. Not sure where that came from. By the book it's an adjustment to surprise.

Extrapolated from an old AD&D 1e rule concerning initiative and missle weapons: "The Dexterity Attacking Adjustment is for missile firing considerations when initiative is considered. It adjusts the initiative die roll for the concerned individual only. Thus, it may well allow the concerned individual to discharge a missile prior to the opponent's attack even though the opponent has gained the initiative otherwise or vice versa. More important, this factor also gives the individual a 'to hit' penalty or bonus when discharging a missile at an opponent."

[celestian]

Extrapolated from an old AD&D 1e rule concerning initiative and missle weapons: "The Dexterity Attacking Adjustment is for missile firing considerations when initiative is considered. It adjusts the initiative die roll for the concerned individual only. Thus, it may well allow the concerned individual to discharge a missile prior to the opponent's attack even though the opponent has gained the initiative otherwise or vice versa. More important, this factor also gives the individual a 'to hit' penalty or bonus when discharging a missile at an opponent."

Yup, I am not sure why it became a blanket "everything gets dex adjustment" and not just missile and when using adjustments. That also was when missiles had their own phase as well.