XD20: Initiative

Initiative in XD20 is entirely up to the Game Master. They decide who goes in what order, quite often at random. Seems pretty arbitrary and "unfair" right? It is, so I dismissed it out of hand. But after watching Tracy Hickman run both his Killer Breakfast sessions at conventions and live stream sessions from his local game store, I've realized that just because the GM decides who states their action next doesn't mean it's resolved instantly. Whether in combat or not he collects everyone's actions and asks for dice rolls when needed, but narrates the results at the end. It's actually a brilliant execution of simultaneous resolution and has a number of benefits.

1. The PCs actions (success or failure) can interact with and affect each other.
2. There's no awkwardness of initiative mismatching the orderly execution of actions the players are attempting.
3. Failed rolls can be attributed to changing circumstances and the interference of others, not just PC ineptitude.
4. Failed rolls still move the story forward as a narrative scapegoat or by introducting complications.
5. Complications are only introduced after everyone has declared their action. No stopping to change your mind or reconsider based on the previous PC's turn.
6. Actions must be brief. If the GM is going to remember everyone's actions and resolve them simultaneously, they must be succinct.

If two combatants would kill each other as the result of their rolls - who wins? It's entirely up to the GM but any of the following would be acceptable to me:

• Both combatants die
• The combatant with the higher roll wins
• The combatant with the better relevant stat wins
• The player gets the benefit over the monster/NPC