modification to initiative during combat

if during combat, an effect modifies the initiative, does it affect the order of initiative in further rounds?

For example, let's say that a party is facing un big Troll who rolled 13 for its initiative, and the whole party all rolled 12 (very unlikely, but just for the sake of argument). If the party's bard cast good hope during the fight giving (among others) +2 to initiative, does the party's initiative moves up to 14 next round, or its just good for the next encounters?

thanks

No. Initiative determines initial order in a combat situation. The totaled rolled is the value you begin with, not a continually evaluated number which affects position.

ok...so the only ways to modify initiative order then would be with ready or delay actions?

Question about initiative numbers - if a person goes unconscious or is killed before their turn, and is brought back to conscious by healing/breath of life after their turn, do they:

A) keep their original initiative?
B) roll a new initiative as they are "re-entering combat?"
C) act on the very next count, since unconsciousness "delayed" them?

Unconscious creatures retain initiative position since they still have turns for stabilization and such. As for a dead-but-then-not PC, I'd probably have them continue to operate on original initiative. It is simpler and requires less record keeping.

I had an unconscious PC say on his turn that he "rolled to stabilize then delayed until he could act" - so his initiative stayed the same until he was conscious, then he wanted to take his action and therefore change initiative - is that legal? can you "delay" if unconscious?

I believe you can....actually, I would personally rule that you automatically delay if unconscious...that's what make the most senses

I believe you can....actually, I would personally rule that you automatically delay if unconscious...that's what make the most senses

Not really sure I can agree. Remember that 'delaying' is an active tactic. If two people want to delay the person with the better initiative modifier will go last.

Essentially the same with dead characters too, as I can't think of a good reason to differentiate them and several good and practical reasons to treat them the same.