Initiative

All characters have an Initiative bonus. The base of this bonus is the Speed score, and this can be improved through various feats and other methods.

At the start of combat, all characters involved and aware make an Initiative Roll, setting up the order in which the characters move. Starting with the character that rolled the highest, the characters take turn going down the list.

Ties are resolved with opposing Speed checks.

Characters that enter combat after this initial roll must roll into the existing order. People already in combat don't have to re-roll.

Awareness

If a character or group of characters is unaware of their attackers, they take a -10 penalty to their Initiative rolls and are considered Off Guard as normal.