Initiative

As the original rules of Pathfinder are round based, there ist a system to determine the order in which combatants are allowed to take action. This is especially important to determine if a combatant has been caught Flat-Footed.

At the start of a battle, each combatant makes an initiative check. An initiative check is a Dexterity check. Each character applies his or her Dexterity modifier to the roll, as well as other modifiers from feats like Improved Initiative, spells, and other effects. Characters act in order, counting down from the highest result to the lowest. In every round that follows, the characters act in the same order.