"I'm going first!"

[JellyPooga]

Just as an exercise ('cos it'd be a rubbish character in all probability), how much initiative is it possible for a character to achieve? Not just at a single given level, but consistently (i.e. from lvl 1-20 s/he almost always wins initiative, or at least has a significant bonus)

Thoughts:

Race:
Halfling - Racial Dex bonus

Feats:
Improved Initiative
Yondalla's Sense (RotW)
Quick Reconnoitre (Comp.Adv.)
???

Class/PrC:
Scout - Battle Fortitude (Comp.Adv.)
???

[Yuki Akuma]

Swordsage has an initiative-improving ability that improves as he levels.

[martyboy74]

Spells: Foresight, Greater Celerity.

[starwoof]

In heroes of battle there is a prestige class called the dread commando that not only gets +4 init but gives itt o his allies as well.

Complete adventurer has a few initiative buffing feats. Plus the one that lets yuo re-roll init.

[ishi]

Spells: Nerveskitter, Moment of Prescience

[cupkeyk]

Thug or Blooded, both available to people from the Nelanther isles of Faerun as a regional feat grants +2 to initiative.

[The_Snark]

Streetfighter from Comp. Adventurer gives initiative bonuses. A couple levels of Wu Jen gives you the ability to reroll initiatives once per day or some such, with a feat that improves the ability.

[Rolaran]

Dragon Shaman's Draconic Senses aura gives an improvement to initiative.

[Black Swan]

If you don't mind going back to 3.0, I believe there's a feat from a supplement to Oriental Adventures which is Scorpion Clan only and gives an initiative bonus equal to intelligence modifier. Apologies in advance for the lack of names, I don't have access to the book atm.

[ishi]

A couple levels of Wu Jen gives you the ability to reroll initiatives once per day or some such, with a feat that improves the ability.

That would be the Watchful Spirit class feature at level 1, and the Guardian Spirit feat to let you reroll an additional time daily.

[iceman]

Can't remeber if it gives a boost to initiative or not but the Iajitsu Master (not sure of if the spelling is correct) out of Oriental Adventures (?). I think it is a class ability that is based off of Charisma.

[Nebo_]

I belive there was a build on the WotC CharOp boards that had a constant initiative of 93.

[Dr._Weird]

You know what? I'm not even going to bring Pun-Pun into this.

I'm pretty sure there are MM I-IV races that have a better DEX bonus than that... I think I remember seeing one with +4 racial.

[starwoof]

Githzerai from the XPH have a +2 LA and +6 dexterity.

[Phoenix Talion]

Catfolk have +4 Dex and a +1 LA.

[Jacob Orlove]

Luck feats can get you additional Init rerolls.

[TheOOB]

A halfling afflicted dog lycanthrope has +8 dex for 2 LA and 1 HD, plus a strongheart halfling can use a feat for imp init.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Also for consideration:

A level in Marshal with the Motivate Dexterity Aura: adds your Charisma bonus to the whole party's Dex checks, Dex-based skill checks, and Initiative, Swift Action, lasts indefinitely.

[I_Got_This_Name]

I had a Iaijutsu Master build that had an initiative modifier of +50, I think.

Of course, that build involved the Polymorph-Awaken combo looped six times (maximized each time, of course), for a total Charisma modifier of +19. Applied twice, one from Marshal and once from Iaijutsu Master. Add on Improved Initiative and Gifted General (OA Ancestor feat; +2 initiative and +1 fort save, IIRC), and six from dex.

That was a messed-up game.

And, apparently, initiative goes even higher, presumably without Awaken.

[CharPixie]

Binder can supply +10 initiative (or is it +20?) as she levels.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

Spells: [snip] Moment of Prescience

Moment of Prescience does not increase your initiative, since initiative checks are not opposed.

[Dant]

Iron Kingdoms has a set of feats that let you drop your BAB for initiative. Works much like power attack, but for initiative.

[Ikkitosen]

Air Goblin gets +4 dex for 0 LA.

[Beleriphon]

I know its not D&D but in Mutants and Masterminds Second Edition a character that takes ranks in Super-speed gets free Improved Initiative for each rank of the power. Thus with 20 ranks (and 100 points!) you could get a base +80 without taking into account dexterity. Add to that a possible max dexterity of 40 for a PL 10 character and you would have an initiative cound of +95. I figure at that point you go first, even if you roll a 1 you still go first.

[Arbitrarity]

Moment of Prescience does not increase your initiative, since initiative checks are not opposed.

Not opposed? But isn't it an opposed check to other enemies/characters to see who goes first/second/third, etc?

"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. Characters act in order, counting down from highest result to lowest. In every round that follows, the characters act in the same order (unless a character takes an action that results in his or her initiative changing; see Special Initiative Actions).

If two or more combatants have the same initiative check result, the combatants who are tied act in order of total initiative modifier (highest first). If there is still a tie, the tied characters should roll again to determine which one of them goes before the other. "

Guess you're right, doesn't say opposed.

[Lord Lorac Silvanos]

There are similarities to opposed checks, but that is all.

It was discussed here if anyone is interested.

[pestilenceawaits]

There is a lurk (if I remember correctly it may be a beguiler though) ability that adds intelligence to your initiative.

[Gorbash]

Actually, Dread Commando gives +1 in/level to all allies...

[Fax Celestis]

There's a soulmeld that lets you invest essentia to improve your initiative.

[Hoggmaster]

Conan rpg Barbarian 20, Improved Init, Lightning Ref.... Base Init before Dex +20 with 20dex (very feasable) +25