Every character has an Initiative rating equal to their Composure + Awareness. In some conflicts, such as in a formal duel, you might substitute Dexterity (or Resolve, for a very formal duel) for Composure in the Initiative rating, but in most combat, staying calm enough to take meaningful actions is more important than anything else. The participant in the conflict with the highest Initiative acts first; the rest of the combatants act in descending order of Initiative. You do not make an Initiative test. Initiative ratings stay the same during combat, even if a combatant changes the combat skills they use.
In case of ties, player characters act before Storyteller characters. If necessary, break other Initiative ties as follows: vampires before mortals, then by highest Composure. If you’re still tied, roll a die. At the beginning of the turn, each combatant declares and executes their action(s) in order of Initiative. They may also elect to pass, placing them last in the order (keeping this place for the remainder of the conflict). Any subsequent passing combatants are placed before any other person that also passed.