In MBT, players manage the flow of the game through control of the initiative. It dictates the course of action for the current turn. Who controls it is determined during the Initiative Phase.

Initiative works hand-in-hand with command and control. Both relate to the management and sequencing of individual units. However, because the Command Phase takes place before the Initiative Phase, players must make their command decisions without the advantage of looking into a crystal ball as to the order of execution.

Play in MBT unfolds sequentially. The combat and movement phases are divided into First and Second player steps. There are also simultaneous actions, but those do not have First or Second Player as part of their Phase or Step. These actions are resolved in any agreeable order.

In combat, the First Player executes and resolves his actions and applies all results before the Second Player does the same. When moving, the Second Player moves first, followed by the First Player. In goes without saying that shooting first and moving second affords a distinct advantage.

In the Basic Game, determining which side controls the initiative is a simple head-to-head unmodified roll-off. Players roll off percentile dice (two different colored d10s) with the winning side controlling the initiative in the role as the First Player. There may be some occasions where it may be advantageous to move first as the Second Player, but those situations are the exception.

Superior forces should more often than not find themselves controlling the initiative. This really comes more into play in the Advanced Game where the two forces receive positive or negative die-roll modifiers awarding superior forces an advantage. Through this, they are more able to dictate and control the course of battle. However, as with all things in life (and war), there are no guarantees.

Typically, initiative is a force-wide consideration. An optional rule, Staggered Initiative, expands the process by determining the initiative on a formation-by-formation basis. Forces with two or more formations will execute their combats by one formation followed by another friendly formation or by an opposing formation. This twist adds even more uncertainty and fog of war to the action. Movement is then executed in reverse order by the same formation by formation sequence or players may streamline the process and use the overall Second Player/First Player movement order.

The MBT scenarios add some additional twists when determining who controls the initiative. Modifiers may be applied based on the arrival of reinforcements, morale situations, or when having won the initiative the previous turn thereby simulating momentum.

Note: All counter images are the actual components from MBT.

Panzer Series Support Site: FYI, if you want to get to know more about the Panzer/MBT series, there’s an excellent gamer-created (Thank You, Fernando Sola!) support site (with scenarios, variants, AARs, etc) for Panzer here: The Panzer Pusher Enjoy!

Author: James M. Day