You know, I like the speed chart. Really, I do. It is a bit cumbersome but it is easy to understand. So when I was thinking about it and about what I'd do if there were a whole new Hero System coming down the pike and I could replace the whole thing, how would I do it?
So I came up with an idea. Basically everyone gets an action by speed and by dex, alternating through the whole list of combatants. Now then, to make it interesting, you can give up some actions for a boost in your position in the list. Basically for 1 SPD you get a 1 position boost up the list. So if you REALLY wanted to do something you could. And what if you were at the top of the list already? Let's say you are SPD 7 and you are up against a couple of SPD 3 foes, you could spend 2 SPD and increase your position two positions for that turn. This means you occupy spots 1, 2 and 3 they get 4 and 5. Now then since you started with 7 actions and used 2 you'd have 5 left. 3 are used this turn. Next turn everyone would use one and then finally one more turn, everyone would use their last actions.
Problems? Very fast characters that don't use their SPD advantage get lots of actions that happen at the very end. That doesn't seem to be very speedy. However if you put them all at the front that seems to be way to much of an advantage.
Anyway, just an idea. I think there are alternatives to showing speed other than the impulse chart.
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