Perhaps I am viewing this at a strange angle, but let's try the following setup: R# is the beginning of a round.  We have 3 people's original initiative order is A goes before B goes before C.  If everyone stays with their original initiative, combat order would be:

R1 A B C R2 A B C R3 A B C ...

Suppose that C wants to delay his action in round 2, he effectively would lose his turn in round 2, but get to go first in round 3, still maintaining the order

R1 A B C R2 A B    R3 C A B R4 C A B

Suppose in round 5 C wants to interrupt B, then we would have

R5 A C B R6 A C B

I am sure I am missing something basic, but each person gets to go in each round, except when C lost a round holding initiative in round 2 to possibly prevent A from doing something in round 3. 

I have come across a problem in my game, looking for insights, maybe something that I am missing.

Combat is occurring several zones away and has been going on for 3 combat rounds.  A bodyguard is protecting her charge, Queen Melody.  One of the combatants runs towards QM, and the bodyguard steps between the combatant and her charge.  According to the rules of initiative on YS199, "You may opt to delay your actions until a future point in the exchange, allowing you to interrupt someone else's action later in the initiative order.  Once this happens, your initiative is set at that point for the rest of the conflict, unless you delay again."

I am having problems with this statement.  Because the bodyguard has been waiting, should the bodyguard automatically get to go before the combatant, or do you go strictly off the Alertness skills and in case of ties, Athletics second?

Thanks.

Given their backgrounds, I would ask them to make a check, then depending on how well they make their check, present a few options as things to consider.  Tell them in the future they need to ask to make that check, as none of us have the same knowledge as the character we created.

Looking for ideas and suggestions, my brain is refusing to cooperate on creating some quality aspects.  Here are a couple of locations, all help appreciated.  Thanks.

Location: The Blarney Stone Pub
Aspect: Amateurs waiting to be discovered
Tuesday nights aspiring singers and musicians flock to the open mic night at this pub located on Balboa Ave. less than 2 miles from Pacific Beach.

Location: San Diego Zoo
Aspect: Exotic animals from around the world
Animals from every continent can be seen in this unbelievable collection.  2 days are required to fully see all of the exhibits.  Major events occur each month.  The latest event features Koalas from Australia.

Location: Viejas Casino
Aspect: Everything you desire, for a price
Just east of San Diego, slots, bingo, tables, off-track betting, a variety of restaurants, the new V-Long, 700-seat Dreamcatcher showroom for live entertainment .  Expanded poker are, extra plasma screen for football, boxing, and other events.  Located in the middle of Viejas Outlet center has 255,000 square feet of shopping, even more restaurants, an ice skating rink open during the winter, Concerts in the Park (April through September), an interactive water fountain for kids, and coming this fall, the brand-new Viejas Bowl, a must-hit entertainment venue for families.   Owned by the Kumeyaay Indians, they seek to regain their rightful place through subtle means, magical and monetarily. Debts earned can be paid off through favors and other ways.

I had some thoughts I would like input on regarding hydromancers.  Normally running water is supposed to ground out magic and make it hard for a wizard to cast any magic.  Will running water have the same effect on a hydromancer?  What effect does rain have on a normal wizard?  Will it have the same effect on a hydromancer?  From a game balance point of view it would make sense that they should have the same effects, but if they have a natural affinity towards water, I guess they could just use a fate point and invoke their main aspect.  Anyway, thoughts/comments/ideas/suggestions?

Possible aspect that may describe his struggle to believe in himself: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Modification of Striving for Redemption could be
The Road To Redemption Is Paved With Good Intentions

You break it, you buy it.
Bull in a china shop.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
What lemon law?
Fakes/Knockoffs 'R Us
Caveat Emptor
Pay through the nose.

I think it would be fun if the magic 8-ball had to be dumped into the River Styx to make it forget its purpose and be forgotten.