FASA Games, Inc.

Taking advantage of these creature specific options doesn't need to be declared until you have the extra successes to spend (so, after the attack roll, before determining damage). The 'cost' of these extra options is paid for with the extra successes, rather than with Strain.

Part of the reason "combat options" from the Player's Guide are declared before Initiative is because they can affect Defense Ratings -- allowing a character to wait until their turn in the round can cause some potentially wonky things with timing. For example, if somebody wants to use Defensive Stance, but isn't given the chance to "activate" it until their action, what happens if they roll low and end up acting last?

Heck, look at the original version of Maneuver for a similar example -- Swordmaster acts after his opponent one round, new PD from Maneuver kicks in when he takes his action. Goes before his opponent next round, hasn't been hit, so gains the bonus from Maneuver, despite the "risk" involved never actually coming into play.

That said, I can't think of any examples off the top of my head from the new stuff being added that have potential timing issues.

For consistency, though, you may want to reclassify them as Free Actions instead of Combat Options.

For clarity, your going to have to create an entire section to explain the difference between the rules you released and the new rules you are creating.

That is in the plan already.

Cool. I like Free Actions also, to make it clear they are not declared at the start of the round like Combat Options. If follows the "Free Actions" description in the Player's Guide quite well.

I think there is a strong chance that we'll see some craziness in game with all of these new options - which is essentially a bunch of new lightly tested rules! Some options are going to be more brutal or totally inconsequential and it will be tough to know until a little gaming has happened. That said, I like it. I think a little craziness is in order.

Following p.270 of the player's guide, I do hope the creatures of the gamemaster's guide will take into consideration the sub-types. It would make sense to make the Magma Beast immune to fire damage for example