[gridlock]

Thanks for responding.

I gave the game a 4 for substance because while it is good, i feel it is missing a small number of important things for players new to d20, particularly more examples, a more comprehensive index, and a glossary.

With regard to firefights, each character has a 'condition track' that measures how beaten they are (in addition to HP). As you progress down the condition track from Normal to Helpless you collect penalties. This models wounds accumulating and deemphasizes HP as being the key measure of physical wellbeing. The most common way to move down the condition track is if you receive more hit points in a single attack than your damage threshold (fortitude defence + size modifier). These penalties go none,-1,-2,-5,-10 and incapacitated so you can quickly get functionally removed from combat while still being above 0 hit points.

Two other small features of the system that we found affected the firefights are
the rule called 'second wind', and the use of force points to improve rolls. If you fall below half your hit points you can take a second wind and heal either 1/4 your HP or your Cons score (whichever is greater). This is limited to once per day.

By using a force point you can roll a bonus D6 (increases at a couple of level break points) on attack, skill and ability rolls. These rules mean that combat is fairly quick, getting a hit can be very significant and that the heros have enough of an edge to replicate activities seen in the movies.

I hope that helps answer your questions