I just realized that I have not explained my idea very well.
Although "a rose by any other name," etc., I have replaced the terms "turns" and "rounds" with "panel groups" and "panels". I refer to a combat encounter as a "battle cycle".
A battle cycle consists of 10 panel groups that are labeled alphabetically from A to J.
The number of panels within a panel group is defined by how many characters are participating in the panel group.
My goal is too redefine conventional superhero rpg intitiative rules by conducting the actions as if an actual comic book were being played out on the table top.
For instance,
All participants during a battle cycle can act during panel group A, regardless of their Action Rank.
Each character gets one panel in a panel group.
So, if two heroes are battling three villians, and since all my act during panel group A, there are 5 panels in that panel group.
Order of action within the panel group is determined by Intuition rank, from highest to lowest.
Characters may "check" their action and have the character next in the order to declare. In fact each character may check until the very last character in the order. That character cannot check and must declare. Essentially, just because a character has the initiative doesn't mean he or she must act at that moment. A character can check, hear other declarations, then at anytime perform their action.
In this particular example, Hero Ax Saxon has Remarkable Intution and Hero Ava Penny has Excellent Intuition.
Villian Zulu Warrior has Amazing Intuition; Villian Zig-Zag has Remarkable and Villian Zoran has Good.
So, here is the order of action during a panel group wherein all five combatants may act:
Zulu Warrior, Ax Saxon and Zig-Zag must roll off to see who will act 2nd and 3rd, Ava Penny, and finally Zoran.
Ax lost the die roll to Zig-Zag. When relevant, Ax will act after Ziggy for the remainder of the battle cycle.
If after panel group J there is still a need to continue the combat, then another battle cycle will begin. Therefore a new roll off will need to be made between Ax and Ziggy.
Due to positioning and movement, Ax is facing Zig-Zag and Zoran; Ava stands alone against Zulu Warrior.
Once Panel Group A has been resolved, it is followed by Panel Group B.
Because of their Action Ranks (Amazing), only Zulu Warrior and Ax Saxon can act during Panel Group B.
Zulu Warrior automatically gets initiative because of her superior Intuition. Since Ava is still her opponent, Ava is allowed to defend herself during Zulu Warrior's panel, but not permitted to attack again until Panel Group C.
The other two villians cannot act during Panel Group B.
When it is time for Panel Group C the order of action will be Zig-Zag, Ava, then Zoran. Neither Zulu Warrior nor Ax Saxon can act during Panel Group C.
