Back to the original post ....
Aycarus wrote:Every character has two more new scores - their speed and their movement rate. Speed is a measure of the number of action points a character gets in a round, and is 6 for most characters.
Movement rate is fine as a separate stat. Unless you have wildly differing rates of movement you should be fine.
Speed is tricky, but balanceable, especially if the characters are going to be within a small spread and you mainly use the full range of action points for monsters.
Aycarus wrote:A haste spell or equivalent can increase this to 9 and a slow spell or equivalent can decrease this to 4.
Keep in mind that haste can quickly become a must-have effect, as it has become in many systems.
Aycarus wrote:The combat cycle begins with all characters rolling a Reflex check to determine initiative. The initiative then holds for the duration of the combat. (snip explanation)
Sounds fine.
Aycarus wrote:Actions are broken up into 2 types: Combat actions, which allow a character to retain their defensive bonus, and actions that sacrifice defense, which cause a character to lose their defensive bonus (equivilant to dropping to AC 10 + dex mod).
Again, sounds fine.
Aycarus wrote:Attacking - # of action points for weapon (3 for dagger or knife, 6 for greataxe)
For all the reasons outlined in this thread you are probably better off with a single cost for all attack options, regardless of weapon type. You can still incorporate special weapon styles, like power-attacking for more damage but with a higher cost, or even some dagger specialist reducing the delay on his dagger attacks. But for your average proficient wielder you are best served with a uniform action cost.
Aycarus wrote:Activate a magic item - 4 or by magic item
Defenseive move - 1 per (character's move distance)
Draw a weapon - 2
Hold initiative - 0*
All fine.
Aycarus wrote:Hold ground - 0**
Problematic, as already outlined. Instead let characters start actions in round one and finish them in round two.
Aycarus wrote:Parry - # of action points for weapon
Trip - # of action points for weapon
Fold into attack action for easier rules reference.
Aycarus wrote:Casting a spell - # of action points for spell
Drink a potion or apply an oil - 4
Move - 1 per 2x(character's move distance)
Retrieve a stored item - 2
All fine.