[HOE] How to get over 5 cards in combat

["David L. Hoff" <dlhoff1@charter.net>]

Greetings--

This message contains what may be possible spoilers about harrowed and 
cyborgs, so I am putting in spoiler space...


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Ok, that should be enough.

This is a question about something that I never thought was a problem... 
until I found out that someone else was doing things differently in 
their game, and now I'm not sure who is right. In the rules for combat, 
it states that the maximum cards a character can have in combat is 5, 
unless they have supernatural aid. The problem is, how much and what 
kind of supernatural aid do you need?

For example, a harrowed that has the Unholy Reflexes power can get up to 
3 extra cards, depending on what level he has the power at. This can be 
added to the maximum 5 normal cards for a potential maximum of 8 cards. 
Fine. Now, the problem is, what happens if a character has a 
supernatural quickness? By supernatural quickness, I mean a quickness 
that has gone above d12's and is something like d12+2, d12+4, that sort 
of thing. There are plenty of ways to get a quickness that high, through 
things like mutations, syker powers, cyborg equipment, etc. I have found 
that I and another marshal have been handling it differently. I'd rather 
not say which way is mine and which is his, so I am listing 3 different 
options. One is mine, one is his, and the other is one we came up with 
as a possible "middle ground".

1) If you have a supernatural quickness, then the 5 card limit does not 
apply to you at all. You roll, figure out the total number of raises, 
 and take that many cards. For example, if you had a 4d12+4 and magaged 
to roll a 57, you would get 12 cards.

2) It doesn't matter that you have a supernatural quickness. If you 
don't have an ability that actually gives you extra *cards*, you still 
cannot go over 5 for the number of cards you get. The above character 
with a 4d12+4 who rolled a 57 would still max out at 5.

3) This is the compromise one. A supernatural quickness can allow you to 
go over 5 cards, but there is a new limit you cannot exceed. The idea we 
had for a limit is five plus the number of steps your quickness is above 
12. A character with a 4d12+4, 2 steps above d12, could get a maximum of 
7 cards.

Has anyone else had this problem come up in their games? I've tried 
looking through the accumulated rulings but haven't found anything. Any 
coments would be appreciated.

--David L. Hoff
dlhoff1@charter.net