Save the Day Activation....Help

[Keith JS]

Okay, I'm a thick sometimes when it comes to rules. I know I am on this one. I keep looking at videos and reading the activation rules and it is just not sinking in.  What am I missing? Some body please tell me if I've got this right. 
I roll a d6 and that tells me how many points I have to work with.
If I roll:
1 point ...I can attack once at -1...or roll ability once at -1...or move 1" [run 2"] ?

2 points ...I can attack once no penalty...or roll ability once no penalty...or attack twice at -1...or check ability twice at -1...or move 2" [run 4"]

3 points ..I can attack once no penalty...or roll ability once no penalty...or attack twice at -1...or check ability twice at -1...or move 3" [run 6"]...or move 1"-with 2 AP left- and take an action at no penalty

This is where I get confused... if I rolled a 3 again, could I move 2", leaving me 1 AP and use that single AP to make a check/attack at -1? 

Are 4 and 5 points treated likewise? 

It seems that any single action or ability check seems to require 2 points to perform without penalty. But can I break up the die roll in any way that I want? If I rolled that 6, do I have to use it all for checks/attacks or movement, OR, could I literally decide to spend a single point at a time and make 6 different attacks all at -1 each? Could I move 4" and take a single action at no penalty since I'd have 2 AP's left?

I'm confused...and I hope I haven't confused any one else. I really want to GM this game and need to understand this. Thanks.

[David Okum]

Jul 14, 2020 17:37:16 GMT -5 Keith JS said:

Okay, I'm a thick sometimes when it comes to rules. I know I am on this one. I keep looking at videos and reading the activation rules and it is just not sinking in.  What am I missing? Some body please tell me if I've got this right. 
I roll a d6 and that tells me how many points I have to work with.
If I roll:
1 point ...I can attack once at -1...or roll ability once at -1...or move 1" [run 2"] ?

2 points ...I can attack once no penalty...or roll ability once no penalty...or attack twice at -1...or check ability twice at -1...or move 2" [run 4"]

3 points ..I can attack once no penalty...or roll ability once no penalty...or attack twice at -1...or check ability twice at -1...or move 3" [run 6"]...or move 1"-with 2 AP left- and take an action at no penalty

This is where I get confused... if I rolled a 3 again, could I move 2", leaving me 1 AP and use that single AP to make a check/attack at -1? 

Are 4 and 5 points treated likewise? 

It seems that any single action or ability check seems to require 2 points to perform without penalty. But can I break up the die roll in any way that I want? If I rolled that 6, do I have to use it all for checks/attacks or movement, OR, could I literally decide to spend a single point at a time and make 6 different attacks all at -1 each? Could I move 4" and take a single action at no penalty since I'd have 2 AP's left?

I'm confused...and I hope I haven't confused any one else. I really want to GM this game and need to understand this. Thanks.

This isn't too much of an issue in play. Most people take the approach that they can do something with their Panel and do it. If they roll a 1 they do it at =1 and if they roll a 6 they get a +1. The rest is usually just how much they can move around before and after their action. Sometimes they really want to do all of the things. I usually cite the rules on Multiple Attacks and Guns a Blazing and Fists of Fury that state that they can't do more things than they have Ability. In Save the Day that means that theoretically they could stand there and throw three punches if they rolled a 6, but they'd all be at -1 or two punches at regular rolls.

I hope that helps. If random Activation isn't for you consider the "Take Five" rule on page 68. Personally, I love how a random activation changes the dynamic and makes for more tension. I've had a few players at conventions roll 1 for Activation time and again and get really frustrated. In the long run though, Activation adds a dramatic twist to every combat and keeps everyone on their toes. Sometimes they have to respond more creatively when they activate at 1 all the time. It's also how tough guys can sometimes give Batman a run for his money from time to time.