1. Marching order should be established beforehand (preferably in the discussion thread) so that the GM can correctly place your character tokens on the map at the start of combat.
2. Initiative and Perception rolls as needed
3. Surprise round, if necessary. Each player in the surprise round who goes before the enemies will act. Player actions will then be resolved. Enemy actions will then take place and be resolved. Players acting after the enemies will act then their actions will be resolved. All actions will be resolved in initiative order.
4. Actions should be posted in everyone's "block" rather than all at once as detailed in point 3. This means that in-character dialogue and actions should, at least to some degree, factor in initiative order. The GM will sort NPCs into groups to better streamline the initiative order. If necessary, the GM will post DCs for knowledge or other skills at the beginning of combat. Players that wish to roll on that knowledge check (or perhaps a lore check) should do so at the start of the combat posts. If a spellcraft check comes up during combat, the GM will post the information on the spell in a spoiler with the appropriate DC. The same would apply for knowledge checks if new creatures enter the fight after the start of combat. Please only roll one knowledge check. If you’re not sure which knowledge to roll, just roll a d20 and I’ll apply the appropriate modifiers as needed.
5. Actions should specify standard action, move action, swift action, etc. If an action requires an opponent to make a saving throw or another kind of check, please list the DC in your post. Also, please specify what modifiers are in play when making an attack action, skill check, saving throw, etc.
6. Actions will be adjusted as needed based on actions that took place earlier in the round. Player attack rolls will still be used, even if a character has to move to a slightly different location to attack; the same applies to spells, assuming the same enemies can still be targeted.
7. Saving throws will be rolled by the character who needs to save. Should you need to roll a saving throw, I'll post a spoiler with the deleterious effect (should you fail the save) in the post that mentions you need to roll. Subsequent rolls to save for the same spell or effect will be rolled by the affected player(s). Any saving throw that needs to be rolled should be rolled at the start of a player’s combat post. In the event a player needs to roll a saving throw, knowledge check, and/or spellcraft check in the same post, the saving throw should be rolled first, then the knowledge check, then the spellcraft check - all at the start of the post.
8. Keep in mind that ranged attack factors like shooting into melee and cover will be applied as normal.
9. Also keep in mind pathing when assigning move actions to your characters as attacks of opportunity will happen if not purposefully avoided. Be sure to include acrobatics roll(s) if you possess the skill and your pathing requires moving through a square that would provoke an attack of opportunity.
10. Once everyone has acted for each "block", the GM will post a summary of the round along with the action(s) of hostile and/or neutral NPCs. If a PC or NPC provokes an attack of opportunity, the GM will roll for NPCs and offer PCs the chance to make the attack of opportunity at the beginning of their next turn. Players should move their own character tokens.
11. If a character needs to select a different set of actions due to the results of an action or actions earlier in the round, the GM will change who the character is attacking or targeting, if appropriate. If not, the GM will ask that character’s player to post an alternate set of actions.
12. Questions about what happened in the round or any adjustments that need to be made to an attack roll, damage roll, etc. should be mentioned in the discussion thread. Simple clarifications or corrections like, “That enemy had a 15 melee attack, but my AC is 16. Wouldn’t the attack have missed?” are fine in the gameplay thread. Please mention it if a modifier was missed or you were given an incorrect bonus on a roll. I’m perfectly fine with retroactively changing the roll when necessary. Questions about combat mechanics or how a specific spell or effect works should be asked in the discussion thread.
13. Repeat steps 4-12 till combat is over.
