What Sniper Can Think Of Regarding 4e Combat

For when your friends and their friends are not friends.

POKEMON SWIRL TRANSITION
First thing, roll initiative: roll a 20-sided die (hereafter a d20) and add the total of your Initiative Bonus, in the upper right of your character sheet just above your Ability Scores. Whoever's highest has first move, and ties are resolved by just rolling d20s, no bonuses.

With the initiative order set up, the person with the highest initiative starts their Turn. Every turn, you get three actions: a Standard Action, a Move Action, and a Minor Action, which can be taken in any order.
 * Standard actions are usually your attack for your turn, using an At-Will (or even Encounter or Daily) Power. This is like the main action you're doing, and can be traded down for an additional Move or Minor Action.
 * Move actions allow you to move your listed Speed in squares across the board. Some effects can slow you down or hinder you, like being Slowed (reduced to max move speed of 2 squares) or rough terrain (a square that takes 2 squares to move through).
 * Minor actions usually involve Sustaining an ongoing power, or Reloading a weapon with the Load Minor property like Crossbows. These can also be used to draw a weapon or a potion from their place in a pack or belt, or to make certain Skill Checks, like a Bluff check to make a feint and get a +1 to your attack, or an Athletics/Acrobatics check to jump onto a table.

There's also:
 * Free Actions: dropping a weapon is a Free Action, while drawing one (basically equipping) is a Minor Action. Certain abilities and circumstances may allow you to make an attack as a Free Action, like an ally's power or Opportunity Attacks.
 * Opportunity Actions: If a monster moves into and out of a square adjacent to you, you get an Opportunity Attack if you've got a melee weapon ready in your hand (unless circumstances prevent you for whatever specific reason). These are Melee Basic Attacks, which don't use powers. Instead, it's simply your base Basic Attack on your character sheet.

You can, if you want, Delay a turn. If someone after you in the Initiative Order can get you a +1 to your next attack, you can Delay to after a specific person in the Initiative Order. Be warned, though, that if that Orc goes after you but before the person you Delay until after, they're gonna have their turn first now. You can't Delay just one Action, though, you've gotta Delay your full Turn.