How exactly does INITIATIVE work, and why is it important

[PFC Chamberlain]

Most of the other unit stats are self explanatory, but initiative eludes me (I know the dictionary defenition, I want to know how it works in-game) I checked combat logs that break down what happened, but don't quite understand.

Thanks in advance

[Kanone]

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2994803

[Morholt]

I am a little late but would like to condense this:

Initiative determines who shoots first.

It is depending on 3 factors that get added to the base Initiative value or cap it:
1. A random number of 0,1,2 gets added to initiative
2. Terrain caps base initiative. Cities have 1, Forests 2, open terrain none e.g. Check the ingame library for caps, hills have 5 etc..
3. Experience is factored in, but it is a relatively minor bonus (~10) and I don't know the exact values for Tank vs Infantry etc. etc.

Then attacker and defender initiative get compared and the winner shoots first.

This makes tanks shoot first in open terrain against most other units except other tanks. Fighters with high initiative are great for air superiority. Late German jetfighters excel at shooting first.
It also shows that for city fighting experienced Infantry, ideally Pioneer type, and EXPERIENCE are the most important factors.