Generic Turn Order for Edge of the Empire

Hello I am going to run a game this weekend of Star Wars Edge of the Empire.   I have most everything setup, but now trying to figure out how best to do turn order for the game.   In EoE, everyone rolls an Initiative and this is ranked but it is ranked generically i.e.  PC and NPC.   So if I have 4 PC and 2 NPC, I would have 6 slots and when one of the groups initiative comes up (PC or NPC) then the group gets to choose who of that group goes in the Initiative  Slot.   My question is how best to implement this into roll20.   I was thinking of generic tokens with the names hidden in the GM layer.   Any other suggestions are welcome.    Thanks Erik

First off you add the token to the turn order. Then instead of using a number you just click and move the people in the turn order and set it however the group decides, then you place the NPCs. I believe you just left click and drag to the turn order you want.

Ohhhhhh your not going to have tokens on a map then? If not then yes hidden tokens on the GM layer would work just fine. I believe though I am unsure, you can select token control for All Players and that would allow people to move stuff around on the Turn Tracker. I will have to look into that. Looked into and the only one who can change initiative order is the GM. As for EotE initiative. I though that opposing sides rolled initiative for everyone on that side. Major NPCs get to roll their own separate initiative. The only time run of the mill NPCs would roll separate initiative if is there were several groups working independently. I could be wrong though =)

Thanks, that will work.  I forgot to mention, that it can change every turn.   So the PC/NPC order stays the same, the group can choose each turn who will act in the PC or NPC (GM Chooses) Slot.   

Yeah, I would think of having them hidden in the GM layer as generic tokens.   I have tested it, and only need on PC and on NPC token and then I can add that multiple times to the turn tracker.

Actually putting them on the GM layer does not allow them to show up on Turn Tracker when in the Object Token Layer

I had forgotten that. Why not just have PC tokens on the VTT?

VTT??

Ok so to be added to the initiative order you have to have token on the ... Token Layer. Now you can still hide them if you want. This will take a little more effort. What you do is take a portion of the map you want to hide the PC and whatever.  It only has to be a small area. Now drop this image into the VTT on the Token Layer, place the tokens on the top of this area, then click on them and chose "to back" what this will do is place the image behind the one of the VTT background. Now you can stack as many tokens on the same place as you would like. Does that make sense? VTT = Virtual Table Top

Yeah, that makes sense......I think if they are in the back though, everytime I would need to Add Turn, I would need to bring them to front.  

I just tried this. I found a few things will help. First off pick a portion of the Token Layer you will use to hold the tokens. Now using the the Draw Tool make a shape in the color you want with a differentiating border. For example the fill is green, make the border black or darker green. Whatever you would like. Now place tokens on the Token Layer and add them to the turn order. Now place the Tokens, one on top of the other in the area you want to hold them. Now place the shape you just created over the top of them. Right click on the shape and select "To Front". Now the tokens are hidden on the Token Layer, appear in the Turn Order, and you have an area you quickly check to see what tokens are there, or remove, etc.

Once a token is added to the turn order for a map it stays there until 1) removed from the turn order or 2) the token is removed from the Token Layer.

It might be easier to show you. Send me a link to the game in PM.

You actually don't need tokens to be in the initiatve order. You can just type in the values you want without a Token involved. In the Turn Order window, click the Blue Gear icon at the bottom.  This will pull up the Turn Order Settings window.  In that window is a field "Add Custom Item." Simply type "PC" and then click the "Add" button.  You can add the same custom item multiple times, so you could have several entries for PC and several different entries for NPC and no need of tokens. I hope this helps.

Carl M - Thanks that is perfect.   I guess I just needed to play around with the Turn Order More.  rpgman2013 - You are correct with the NPC group initiative. I am running the Beginner Box and it handles it the same way for the most part, but there are a couple encounters where the NPC are separate.