I am in need of some help as a new DM. I find myself struggling with quickly getting initiative order down on paper and getting combat rolling. Anytips on how to remedythis so the excitement isn’t draining while I’m writing? Here’s what I do – i draw a sketch of the table and write down each player’s number based on where they are sitting. Don’t know if that will work, but my brain is pretty spacially-oriented and it helps me keep track.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) December 24, 2018
1) ask a player to take note of Initiative for you; 2) get a laminated grid and each player write their initiative in front of them on the grid. It is time-consuming the DM doing all by themselves, the players can help.
I have my players press ‘initiative’ on their character sheets on our vtt. Fastest way to get initiative ever.
Alternatively you can use a passive initiative of your own design.
I have my players roll initiative once – that’s the initiative order until next short/long rest.