Initiave Count and Delay (Initiative Action)

[Keener]

In the example in Delay on pg 356 Kevin takes 12 Delay Actions and reduces his Initiative Count from 22 to 10. The examples says further, "so his IC is 10 at the start of the following round." Assume that no other modifiers apply to Fluid Inititiave (pg 324) other than his IC decrease for taking this Delay(likely not realistic). What is his IC for the next round? 10 (as per the example statement on pg 356, in which case what happened to the Fluid Initiative modier?)? 12 (applying the maximum Fluid Initiave modier of -10 (pg 324) to his initial IC of 22)? 0 (applying the maximum Fluid Initiave modier of -10 to his "Delayed" IC of 10)? Or what?

Finally, I do not understand the last paragraph in Delay, pg 324. Do two characters who have used Delay in the current round ignore their "Delayed" position for the next round IC and act before all other combatants? If so, can you explain? What is their IC for this next round? What does "in standard Initiative order mean?

I suspect the answers are right in front of me but they have been eleuding me so far. 

[Desertpuma]

With Fluid Initiative, your Initiative does not reset. So if a character delayed from 22 down to 10, then the next round his Initiative is still at 10 until he takes actions to slowly raise it back up. It is easy to slide down in Initiative order but difficult to climb back up it.

[TheAuldGrump]

Fluid initiative is the biggest complaint that my players have with SC. I actually prefer it, but I have learned that it is not worth the hassle of trying to convince my players that it is a good system.

The Auld Grump

[Crafty_Pat]

What is his IC for the next round? 10

It's 10. The Delay action trumps the standard fluid initiative cap.

Finally, I do not understand the last paragraph in Delay, pg 324. Do two characters who have used Delay in the current round ignore their "Delayed" position for the next round IC and act before all other combatants? If so, can you explain? What is their IC for this next round? What does "in standard Initiative order mean?

What that's trying - and clearly failing - to say, is that a character who Delays always go first in the Initiative Count when he finally does act. By extension...

If more than one character Delays and then two or more of those Delaying characters act in a Count during which other (non-Delaying) characters are also set to act, the Delaying characters go first and the standard rules for initiative are used to determine the order the Delaying characters go.

You can see why it may have gotten mangled?

[Keener]

Thank you everyone for the help and taking the time to respond.

Desertpuma - you got me to re-read pgs 323 and 324 more carefully and I now understand that IC doesn't "reset" during on-going combat. It took some careful reading because my mind was thinking otherwise.

AuldGrump - Point taken, although I'm with you - I like fluid initiative.

Crafty_Pat - Appreciate your clarification. I am on board now! On the chance you might read this, I have two request for Spycraft 3.0. First, please publish the rules in color. For me, it's worth it. Second, even though Crafty Games can't support two systems (ie Spycraft 2.0 and 3.0) some guidance on conversion from one to the other would be much appreciated, unless the two systems are totally incompatible. I did enter this on the Spycraft 3.0 Forum - just covering the waterfront as much as I can.

Thanks again! 

[Desertpuma]

A friend of mine used to really work the Fluid Initiative during Living Spycraft including getting off multiple half-actions from manipulating it to his advantage. It is very easy to travel down but hard to gain. Why do you think people take a moment's rest behind cover? ... To boost their Initiative Count!

As for the conversion between 2.0 and 3.0, there are enough people on here plus the similarities between the two that a conversion document may not be necessarily needed as the forums will provide. We have an awesome community here and you'd be surprised the work we put out. Take a trip through the License to Improvise Forum area and look at all the threads there.

[Sletchman]

I give it a couple of weeks, tops, before someone puts up a thread converting a class [base, expert or master] from 2.0 to 3 in License to Improvise.  That or they'll put it in the Spycraft subforum, no realising that it's exactly what License to Improvise is for.

[TheAuldGrump]

Oh, and just to drive me crazy - the kids in my Fallout game have no real trouble with floating initiative. 

I swear, those kids are doing a better job of sticking to the mission than their parents....

The Auld Grump