Initiative tracker

[Great Grumbledook]

I noticed during our game sessions that our GM has some difficulties with tracking initiative. He (or some player he delegates) uses pen and paper, or sometimes even pieces of paper to maintain the order of participants in combat.

This works well for a round or two, but it soon gets very convoluted with all the delays, ready actions or summoned monsters and such. We end up unsure who is next, or sometimes skip somebody, and generally waste more time on this than we should.

Mobile app seems like an ideal solution to this. It would simplify maintaining order in combat, while still being non-intrusive for players who like their RPG games to be pen-and-papery.

Do you use one at your gaming sessions? Do you know or can recommend any?

I am looking for something simple and very easy to use. The existing apps i found haven't satisfied me completely, so I am thinking of maybe developing my own. If you have any suggestions, comments, ideas or features you think this kind of app should have, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Joseph Wilson]

This is what I use.

[Great Grumbledook]

Joseph Wilson wrote:

This is what I use.

Thanks for the feedback.

That does look very handy. We actually sometimes use our wet-erase combat grid for taking notes about initiative.

And while I dislike too much high tech gadgets around gaming table, I still think some kind of virtual version of this would be even more handy. For instance it could save and load various parties for a GM, and handle spell effects duration automatically.

But this definitely looks like be basics for a very good and functional UI on a mobile device. Does anybody think they could make use of a 'virtual' combat pad?

[RedDogMT]

For those GMs who use shields, one of the best (and cheapest) methods I have seen is to take small pieces of cardstock around 1.5" x 1.5" and fold them over. Then you write the character name and init bonus on both sides. When init starts, the GM figures out the order and then hangs the cards on the top of the screen. As players take their turn, the cards are slid to the side.

This way, the GM and the players see the initiative first hand; the people on deck can see that their turn is coming (if they are paying attention); and the GM has control over the pace of the combat.

I've used it a couple of times and I like how it works (I have a landscape GM shield that I made)...but I think it would not be effective if there are more than 8 initiative markers due to the size of the rail.

I usually have a android tabled on hand to quickly look up rules on the PRD, but I don't like using it for multi-tasking if I do not have to.

[ayronc]

Combat Manager is very good - available on PC, iPad and Android.

I use the PC version to pre-build the upcoming encounters and then copy the files to my Android tablet for use at the table. It can handle some conditions and will track durations etc. It has a large number of creatures and NPCs from the SRD and can import Hero Lab character portfolios.

[Little Red Goblin Games]

We have a free web-based one on our website: Link.

[Stetrix]

I've tried mobile apps, 3X5 cards folded papers on the GM screen and writing on the mat, but I found I do like the one Joseph linked the best. Low tech, but really easy to manage or delegate to another player.

[Itchy]

In my first gaming group we used a 6x5 grid numbered 1-30. It was laminated and we used wet erase markers to write in initiative. If someone delayed, we circled their name, then wrote them back into the initiative order. We kept track of rounds at the top and wrote in spell effects and what round they would end.

That said, currently we use either the Combat manger program that aryonc linked to or a similar board to the one that Joseph Wilson linked.

-Aaron

[Zherog]

I also use the one Joseph linked. Super easy for delay and ready; just slide the player/NPC/monster tag over, then put it back in place where it needs to be.

For tracking spell durations and such, I write them right on the battle mat, and as each round runs I put a little mark next to it so I can track when it expires.

For summoned creatures, I track that on the initiative pad, right on the name tag. I include the number of rounds and then put tick marks to count.