If you are a newbie DM, and are having problems tracking and getting the hang of initiative management, this may be of some help. I created this “calendar” type initiative tracker to work with tokens, where you would just place a token representing characters and monsters in their appropriate squares, based on their roll.
You could also write names in the spaces, instead of using tokens, but with readying actions, and delaying, all that erasing could be a nuisance. Tokens are easily slid and placed on the appropriate numbered square and you are good to go. Just make tokens using my tutorial and you are set!
This will only work for Heroic and early Paragon, because rolls above 30 will occur beyond that point in your game, although I guess a modified version of this could be made if needed. I made this primarily for those folks that enjoy a full analog experience at the table, as initiative trackers for laptops are easily available, but some folks don’t enjoy using them.
You can grab the PDF here, print as-is, do not adjust scaling. It is two pages you will tape together.
www. Newbie DM .com 
Thunderforge
April 18, 2010
I really like the idea! However, I’m already getting initiative rolls over 30 and we’re just at high Heroic! (One character has +5 Dex, Improved Initiative, another feat that increased initiative, and half his level). It wouldn’t be that hard to modify the board: the second sheet has about 2/3 of a page of whitespace. Maybe make each line go by tens?
Again, it looks really great!
Asmor
April 18, 2010
That’s not analog, it’s digital. Since initiative itself is digital, an actual analog initiative tracker would be… misguided, at best, and also rather difficult to use.
You seem to be confusing “digital” with “electronic.” In short, digital means discrete and analog means continuous. Also worth noting that both mechanical and electronic analog computers have existed for quite some time.
All that said, cool idea. 😉
newbiedm
April 18, 2010
You confuse me Asmor, but I’ll go ahead and take it as a compliment and not think too much about it.
🙂
xerosided
April 18, 2010
As usual, great idea!
Jeff
April 18, 2010
Just start the initiative count on higher-level versions as 1+1/2 the party’s level, because that’s the minimum that anyone can possibly roll. (so like at level 11, start the count at 6 instead of 1, level 21 starts at 11, etc) It won’t completely eliminate needing a larger line as some people get more initiative feats, higher dex, etc, but it will help.
Gandy
April 18, 2010
Hey, that is a good idea. Same concept but I’ll bet a cribbage style peg board would be really cool, too.
Geek Ken
April 18, 2010
As much as I am leaning towards doing everything on my laptop, I’m always on the prowl for low tech solutions. Never know when you are stuck with a spilled soda on a computer, or a dead battery with no charger. Nice suggestion, newbiedm.
modernkutuzov
April 19, 2010
I think I’m going to try a version of this, except on an Excel spreadsheet. So simple, so brilliant!
Sam Greenberg
May 1, 2010
I’m not a big fan. It leaves the focus on “Top of the round”, and preserving the initiative throughout the fight. In reality, all you care about is the order of combat. Instead of making a big chart preserving data you don’t care about, how’s about using that space to track status effects?