Initiative governs how combat begins when one actor or a coordinated group starts hostile action before everyone else.
The initiator or coordinated initiating group starts combat alone. On tick 1, each initiator receives one tick of initiative and enters Acting for the prepared opening action.
Every non-initiating actor makes a Perception check when the initiator begins Acting.
| Result | Starting time |
|---|---|
| Perception succeeds | May react or begin acting on tick 2 |
| Perception fails | Begins on tick 1d6 + 2, no earlier than tick 3 |
A successful observer knows that combat has started because the initiator is visibly or detectably Acting. It does not reveal information the observer's senses could not receive.
Several actors count as one initiating group only if they coordinated the opening before combat. Once clocked combat begins, current decisions are made simultaneously according to Combat Phases.