A look into the various ways roleplaying games handle time and how they facilitate the orderly resolution of chaotic situations, be they fights, chases, parties, or something else entirely. Many approaches have been taken over the years, and each has encouraged its own style of play by imposing differences on pacing, spotlight, and metagaming.
This talk will examine the strengths and weaknesses of initiative systems throughout the hobby's history with a focus on the kind of practical gaming experiences they emphasize. Such an analysis of these systems can be valuable to game designers of all sorts, to seasoned gamers, as well as to anyone merely curious about how the hobby works.