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gary05152000 Mar 26, 2021 @ 12:50pm
Why do the bad guys always get intiative?
Maybe its just me, but the bad guys always seem to get the ntiative and their spells land a lot more than mine?
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Originally posted by Seven of Nine:
You roll a D20 (you get result from 1 to 20), then you add your dexterity modifier.
You roll a 10, your dex mod is say +2, you get 12. An entity rolling less than you will be after you in your turn, an entity rolling higher, will be before you. If you are tied with an entity (you both get 12 for example in any combination you like), you share your turn with that entity. Not sure how that works if it's you and an enemy entity, but with allied entity (if allied entity is not AI controlled) you can swap between them as shown in the tutorial. Dex modifier will start matter at 18+ (+4 to your initiative) in my opinion. Even then I have seen low dexterity entities being 1st in the turn because of the roll.

Is it a balancing factor? Nooo... not really. It won't make your game harder since if you come first in every turn - you are unable to do anything after that for a whole turn, so your character sits idly there for a full Turn, no matter where it is in the turn. I have turned fights around with all of my characters coming very late in the turn, and I don't particularly remember losing any fight due to my position in the turn thanks to inititative. Normally it will be somewhat evenly spread across the whole turn. The idea here serves is that if not all the hostile entities come before the player, the player could still alter the battlefield a bit. And act against the AI in some form or fashion.
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Showing 1-15 of 23 comments
Mosey Mar 26, 2021 @ 3:16pm 
Well, if your character has crappy DEX you might see yourself lose initiative more than you win it but as far as spells 'landing' there's no difference whatsoever. In fact enemy DC's are usually lower since their caster stats are usually not that great.
#1
gary05152000 Mar 26, 2021 @ 4:11pm 
I am obviously doing something wrong then. Thanks guys
#2
Dude Mar 26, 2021 @ 4:17pm 
I have the same problem on initiative. I think it is broken. yes you can stealth in and tip the balance, but in a non stealth situation the enemy does seem to gain initiative disproportionately
#3
gary05152000 Mar 26, 2021 @ 5:11pm 
Something else too, if I use Charm Person and it's successful, the guy still goes after my vampire. In fact all of the initial attacks are on the vampire.
#4
Planeforger Mar 26, 2021 @ 5:15pm 
Originally posted by Son of Ymir:
I have the same problem on initiative. I think it is broken. yes you can stealth in and tip the balance, but in a non stealth situation the enemy does seem to gain initiative disproportionately
I didn't notice it being broken at all in earlier builds of the game.

Are you sure you're not just fighting enemies who have high dexterity? You can view the game log to see their rolls (including their dexterity bonuses).
#5
War Maiden Mar 26, 2021 @ 6:05pm 
Initiative is only based on DEX, and they don't always best your roll.
If you have superior DEX (17+) you will be at the top 5, dependent on the rolls. If you're doing a big fight (Druid Gate / Goblin Forward Gate / Goblin Basecamp 'Party' area. I can tell you that you will be in the top 6 of starting the fight. But it really depends on how many people your up against.
#6
dolby Mar 26, 2021 @ 6:25pm 
it's fine but let us see the rolls in the logs i think you still can't see those and many others!!
Why such a secret heh?

But with suprise you always get two turns anyway... if you scout as you should in adventure setting...
Last edited by dolby; Mar 26, 2021 @ 6:26pm
#7
War Maiden Mar 26, 2021 @ 6:31pm 
I agree. I'm really irritated that our rolls have mysteriously vanished in the chat window. Curious. Larian?
Last edited by War Maiden; Mar 26, 2021 @ 6:31pm
#8
Terran337 Mar 26, 2021 @ 10:27pm 
Part of the reason is many of the monsters have very high DEX scores. For example, the goblins at the Goblin Camp. You can check them with Examine. Many of them have an 18 DEX and are only Level 2. Larian must really love their goblins. In any case, it makes for challenging encounters. Gale or Wyll will usually be dead before either get their turn.
#9
Amix Mar 26, 2021 @ 10:46pm 
Clearly from the posts above, community forums are not the best way to gain information. Disappointed?!
Experience based on 50 early access gameplays. Too many, right? LOL :
1. Initiative system is random in early access. Regardless of your dexterity. Your turn might be first or last, even if you have 18 dexterity.
2. 'Dice roll' determines your place in turn order. It is random. RNG driven.
3. Many times my rogue with highest dexterity got last turn. Gale & Shadowheart got turn before my custom rogue & enemies got before them so battles did not go well.
4.Surprising enemies do not give you consecutive turns, when you do not get first place in turn order. But yes, rogues do have better chances to end up first place in turn order when you surprise enemies. Something not quite right as other classes do not get same treatment with 18 dexterity score. For example, Cleric with 18 dexterity.
#10
Streeja Mar 27, 2021 @ 5:08am 
Originally posted by Amix:
1. Initiative system is random in early access. Regardless of your dexterity. Your turn might be first or last, even if you have 18 dexterity.

I am beyond curious how you know this to be true for BG3. Is it in the code or just your experience from other games where dev's have said this?

Not saying you are right or wrong, I genuinely am curious as to how we would find this out.
#11
Amix Mar 27, 2021 @ 5:35am 
Originally posted by Streeja:
Originally posted by Amix:
1. Initiative system is random in early access. Regardless of your dexterity. Your turn might be first or last, even if you have 18 dexterity.

I am beyond curious how you know this to be true for BG3. Is it in the code or just your experience from other games where dev's have said this?

Not saying you are right or wrong, I genuinely am curious as to how we would find this out.
Through hours experience. Maybe they will change how things work after early access or we might get improved initiative feat. D20 dice roll is biggest factor which determines outcomes whether it is combat or charisma event & its value can be anything. It is just random. It is RNG. Do not write that you are unaware of that.
In Goblin battles I rarely get first place in turn order. So this answers whatever problem OP is facing.
#12
Streeja Mar 27, 2021 @ 7:05am 
I understand the RNG roll of course. But when you say that Dex is not a factor... that is not what I expect in a D&D game. Dex bonus should be a factor.
Last edited by Streeja; Mar 27, 2021 @ 7:06am
#13
Jack Hawklight Mar 27, 2021 @ 7:57am 
Originally posted by Streeja:
I understand the RNG roll of course. But when you say that Dex is not a factor... that is not what I expect in a D&D game. Dex bonus should be a factor.
Just checked a few sites out.... the initiative roll is D20 plus your dex modifier. Never trust anecdotal evidence. You were right.
#14
Amix Mar 27, 2021 @ 9:47am 
Well, I genuinely came to help. Let's see.
Goblin archers: 14 dexterity (+2 initiative)
rest of the goblins have at least 12 dexterity (+1 initiative)
With 16/ 17 dexterity your character will have +3 initiative. With 18 dexterity it is +4 initiative that is level 4 character.
But having only +1/+2 bonus will be nullified in the long run especially when you are facing hoard of goblin archers. Again, D20 dice is biggest factor. Spending ability points on dexterity will not bring that much change.
Here is what OP should do for spell hit chance. Thanks to Larian there are other ways to win battles.
1. Always start battle with bless. Hiding & high ground increase hit chance for bows & spells.
Additional information:
1. You can use oil of sharpness for bows/crossbows & melee. Its effect lasts for 100 turns. +3 attack rolls drastically change scenario. But then do not create another post that game is too easy.
2. Strength potions really do wonder, increase hit chance & damage for melee.
Above items are easily available. I hope they do not remove items. Game will be unplayable. LOL
#15
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Baldur's Gate 3 > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: Mar 26, 2021 @ 12:50pm
Posts: 23

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