How important is taking initiative boosting feats? I keep feeling compelled to take Blooded and then follow up with the other three Initiative feats. I've read that the initiative feats aren't really necessary if you are a Dex build, but how about Strength and caster builds? Here are my views on initiative.

The main concern I have when facing an opponent is: Can he kill/disable me in one shot?

If the answer is yes, then I want to get the first shot in.

If I can kill/disable an opponent in one shot than I also want to get that hit in first.

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If there are no instant kills or disabling effects (OnHit Stun/sleep/daze/etc), then the initiative does not hold as large of an importance to me. (I would still prefer to hit the other guy first.)

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Initiative is affected by the Dex bonus. So a high dex build will have a better chance at acting first in the combat round.

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When I make a mellee build, I try to obtain those instant kill feats (dev crit), or a feat that will disable my opponent (IKD, Imp-Disarm) first. If I have enough feats left over, then I think about hiting the other guy first.

My personal prefference on feat selection ranks initiative in the mid level importance range.

1) get AB bosting feats
2) get instant kill/disabling feats
3) get protection feats
4) initiative feats
5) fun feats

It really depends on how I want my character to play out. If doing a PvP based character, then I have to way my strenghts. If I have insane AB and a hard to resist dev crit, then I will take more initiative than protection feats. A good defence is a strong offence. On the other hand, if I do not have a high AB, then my strenghts lay in other areas that don't need me to act first, so I will want a better defence.

*shrug*

Ultimately, you have to look at your build and understand HOW you want to overcome your foe. Act first and hard, or go the slow and steady route. Just what I was looking for. Thanks Bromium. Since this topic is here, I have a question on Initiative.

If I run up to my clueless opponent under Improved Invisibility with Haste and I attack him, do I automatically get the first hit since he didnt know I was there? Even if I have an Initiative Bonus of -1?

What about under Hide/MS? If you strike an opponent who had no clue you were there, do you automatically strike first?