Organized chaos
A combat matrix is a grid used to keep track of what’s going on during combat. It’s an easy, graphic way of knowing which player’s or NPC’s turn it is to act, keeping tracks of spell effects, and if your players are the last-minute kind of people, then it could be used to track when the world will be destroyed (in 3 rounds!).
No need to prepare
Since the combat matrix is a very simple (but very useful) tool you don’t need to prepare it in advance. Just draw it on your battle map or a sheet of paper.
Strategic planning
If you keep your matrix hidden you can also use it as a reminder of your monster / NPC tactics.
An example of combat matrix
Just check the box next to each PC / Monster once they’ve taken their action during a round, and write down spell effects and other notes under the grid.
Have fun!
14 Comments
2:20 am on May 23rd, 2008
I do this too. The combat chart and index cards are my two best friends
2:23 am on May 23rd, 2008
Isn’t this a tip from the DMG?
2:29 am on May 23rd, 2008
I like it. Only problem is that it doesn’t allow for people to switch up their initiative at all.
I’m curious, do you think it would be a big deal if you disallowed the actions which allowed people to change initiative order, meaning for PCs and NPCs alike? No more holding your action, readying, etc. I think it would work, as long as everyone knew about it beforehand and it was applied equally.
Actually, it might even shake things up a bit. Players can get in a rut, maybe forcing them to play in a semi-random order will change their tactics.
2:30 am on May 23rd, 2008
I first read about the combat matrix in a D&D book but I can’t remember which one. It’s been years and I’ve been using it ever since.
2:33 am on May 23rd, 2008
@Asmor:
I draw my combat matrix on the battle map most of the time so it’s easy to move things around if the initiative changes. It might become a problem if your party is known for switching initiative order all the time.
6:04 am on May 23rd, 2008
PErhaps you can use paperclips instead of whriting your players names? this way you can switch initiative.
8:01 am on May 23rd, 2008
I add a column into my combat matrix for initiative. I take action declaration for round 1 highest to lowest, and then reverse the process following round. If someone’s initiative changes, you don’t change the order they appear (I list Alpha) you just change the number in the column. I’ve also taken to using Google docs, so I can archive all my sheets, and share them if anyone wants to number crunch on a session.
8:23 am on May 23rd, 2008
Outstanding. I do something similar, just listing characters in order of their init, then keeping track of spell effect etc with little circles that I fill in as each round goes by. But the matrix I think looks a lot simpler and easier to read than my chicken scratch version :)
If you have a computer handy during games, or if you play online, check out RPTools’ “InitTool” program.
http://rptools.net/doku.php?id=inittool:intro
8:57 am on May 23rd, 2008
@Asmor,
I don’t think it’s feasible to disallow initiative switching. It makes certain maneuvers very difficult to pull off, and I think it also de-emphasizes teamwork, which is no good.
Micah
12:37 pm on May 23rd, 2008
@OneDMToRuleThemAll:
That’s an elegant solutionto the init problem.
9:52 pm on May 23rd, 2008
I use something somewhat like this, but because I use small pieces close in appearance to Sorry pieces in six colors instead of four, I usually just place a piece corresponding to one creature under a certain initiative spot on a paper with numbers 1-10 on it. This way changing initiative is easy and fast.
1:50 pm on May 24th, 2008
I picked up an init tracker from paizo and I have to say it is the sweetest thing ever. and link fu! http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gameMasteryProducts/accessories/v5748btpy7uvm
8:37 pm on May 24th, 2008
I think would list the beginning initiative on the matrix and then use the index cards for the actual order of the round.
This combat matrix sound perfect….I have trouble keeping track of effects….I would try to write them on the card–but writing it on the matrix would be so much faster AND I know immediately when the effect wears off.
1:06 pm on May 31st, 2008
I add a column into my combat matrix for initiative. I take action declaration for round 1 highest to lowest, and then reverse the process following round.
You reverse the initiative order the second round?