Combat order is determined by an initiative roll which is a DEX check. Whoever rolls higher goes first.

For combat you post what you think your character will do. I then post what actually happens. You have no idea whether you will be first in order or last until you are in the thick of things. They are not attacking you right now so you do have a chance to plan unless someone does something foolish like open fire.

Here is a visual. For size - think a VW Beetle with legs.

You guys are gonna need, like, a REALLY BIIIIIIG shoe or somethin'!

I'm bring a big can of Raid.

So could I state that my character would wait till others have acted even though her initiative said she went sooner? Just trying to figure out how this will work. I'm sure there will be less questions once we've had a few battles, or we die.

You can say "Mai is hanging back from the melee to see what unfolds. If anyone needs healing, she will heal them but if not she will cast Rock Blast at the most damaged Firebug"

And I never mind you asking questions. I rather you ask than make assumptions.

Ok, I think I see. We'll find out I guess.

Now about that big can of Raid? I'm sure I put that under miscellaneous items on my character sheet.

You said the bug were made to be weapons.

Who developed them?

If they were weapons then at one time they were able to be controlled, would we know about that and how?

Do we know if they feed on living things?

Would we know what they feed on?

Are there webs around?

Can we see any other tunnels or cave areas where there might be more of these or where we could take cover?

Do they only direct the fire in a line behind them?

Do they have mandibles that can grab and draw one in or hold a victim for the bite?

You said the bug were made to be weapons.

Who developed them? - That would be a Intelligence (Historical Lore) cor (Military Lore) check. Would you like to make one? Would anyone else?

If they were weapons then at one time they were able to be controlled, would we know about that and how? - That would be historical lore or Scientific lore check. Se above

Do we know if they feed on living things? -Yes they do. Very much they do.

Would we know what they feed on? Anything living.

Are there webs around? No.

Can we see any other tunnels or cave areas where there might be more of these or where we could take cover? That would be a Perception check (Seeing) or (Searching). See above

Do they only direct the fire in a line behind them? See above on lores

Do they have mandibles that can grab and draw one in or hold a victim for the bite? Historical lore or Military lore. I might even allow Scientific lore. However they do have mandibles.

According to stories you have heard, they bite, they rend with their legs, they have poison, they squirt fire in all directions, their armour reflects blaster fire and they inject a fluid into you that burns you up from the inside out or lays their eggs into your body where you remain alive until the little one hatch and eat you slowly as their first meal.

First time any of you have seen one live, let alone two.

VM Beetle with legs.

Thanks, I'm gonna sit over here, safe from Alacrity's monstrous monsters.

Remember, without a monster or two, it is just a group of friends wandering around in the dark.

This where we throw out the funny look guy in the black PJs to distract them while we move around to the door. He's trained killer after all.

Sure give it an intel roll. Too bad I don't get a bonus. But hopefully we will learn something to distract, control or defeat these critters.

also a perception with a +2 for other tunnels or places to hide.

Well, yeah, give it a roll. For Rhyson as well.

Plus, one more question - do we have any idea how far they can "shoot?"

One more question - I'm not quite sure how far down we have gone so far. Is this right below the "entrance?" Are they located in such a way that we could dump something big on top of them from above? VW Beetles do crush, after all. If it explodes, you should have described it as a pinto.

So what kind of magic spells do you guys have?

Wall of Force? Group invisibility? Maxwell's Silver Hammer?

Rhyson really isn't all about offensive firepower, despite the various posts assuming so. He just isn't a pure healer.

He does have lightning style spells - those are the bulk of his offense. Think lightning bolt and chain lightning. 30 yard range on the bolt, I think.
He also has air abilities - wind gusts and hearing voices on the wind type stuff.
And he can give bonuses to friends and hurt enemies - on ability rolls and stunt rolls - I'm not even sure what stunt rolls are. I'm assuming it is the type of spell to cast before combat or some other type of attempt to give bonuses. For example, he might be able to do it now since there seems to be some time before combat starts. But he only has so many mana points, or whatever they are called.

Stunt rolls are similar to critical rolls in this game. I haven't bothered to explain them in detail because I am doing all the rolling anyway. If you have something that says "using the number on the stunt die" - just assume I will roll a d6 to see the result.

As this is your first encounter, I will assume everyone is doing what lore checks they can - for this encounter only.

Spells are not strong in this game. This is because a lot of magic has been lost in the wars and chaos. Who knows, you might find some spells you never heard of before. Books written in old elven are highly profitable as they may contain a spell.