Initative thunderdome

Initiative Stacking

• Instances of +X initiative and +xd6 initiative dice are considered separate bonuses for initiative calculation and stacking purposes.
  • As and example increased reflexes spell with 4 hits and wired reflexes r3. WR provides +3 dice and the spell provides +2 dice and +4 init. The final result would be a net gain of +4 init and +3 dice.

The following is a description of initiative stacking lockouts. In any case where something states that it does not stack, it will not stack even if other sources state they do. In essence, if any source states it does not stack with something else affecting you, you do not get the benefit of the non-stacking source.

Edge

• Edge to seize the initiative or blitz functions with any other use of edge, even if that source states that it does not stack. It always works. Blitz, of course, does not permit you to roll more than 5D6 initiative dice. These also work on the astral and the Matrix.

Qualities

• The seize effect from Adrenaline Surge only functions on the meat (and consequently AR matrix initiative).
• The initiative from Pain Is Gain applies only to Matrix initiative.
• The initiative from Lightning Reflexes does not stack with any drugs, adept powers, spells, cyberware, bioware or generware. The defense die stacks normally. Lightning Reflexes uniquely work on the astral, but not Matrix VR.
• The initiative from Poor Self-Control (Thrill-Seeker) stacks with all other sources.

Spells

• The Increase Reflexes spell does not stack with drugs, other spells, adept powers, cyberware, bioware or geneware.
• The Vampiric Speed spell does not stack with drugs, other spells, adept powers, cyberware, bioware or geneware.

Adept Powers

• The Adrenaline Boost power stacks with drugs, but not with spells, other adept powers, cyberware, bioware or geneware.
• The Improved Reflexes power does not stack with drugs, spells, other adept powers, cyberware, bioware or geneware.

Other Magic

• The initiative bonus from Channeling does not stack with drugs, spells, adept powers, cyberware, bioware or geneware.

Cyberware

• Wired reflexes stacks with drugs, but not with spells, adept powers, other cyberware, bioware or geneware.
• Move-by-wire systems do not stack with drugs, spells, adept powers, other cyberware, bioware or geneware. The sole exceptions are Predictive Analytics and Accelerator, which stack with it normally. Note the downsides for Accelerator.

Bioware

• Synaptic boosters do not stack with drugs, spells, adept powers, cyberware, other bioware or geneware. The sole exception is Accelerator, which stacks with it normally. Note the downsides for Accelerator.
• Boosted reflexes stack with drugs. They do not stack with spells, adept powers, cyberware, other bioware or geneware.

Geneware

• Synaptic acceleration stacks with drugs. It does not stack with spells, adept powers, cyberware, other bioware or geneware.
• Reaction optimization stacks with all sources. This is an exception to other sources not stacking with geneware.
• As a reminder, drugs do not stack with themselves. However, you can receive a benefit to the same attribute multiple times, as long as it is from different drugs.

Echos

• Predictive Analytics do not stack with any other source of initiative dice, except for Move By Wire.