How can I make balanced fights?

I've played Fate Core a few times, and run a few homebrew games, but I'm still having some trouble making fights last longer than a round or two at most. How can I make a fight that is both interesting and not over in an instant (for either side)? Mind that I am using a custom setting with homebrew elements.

Adran06 said: I've played Fate Core a few times, and run a few homebrew games, but I'm still having some trouble making fights last longer than a round or two at most. How can I make a fight that is both interesting and not over in an instant (for either side)? Mind that I am using a custom setting with homebrew elements. Have you tried all four actions (Attack, Create Advantage, Defend, Overcome) plus the individuals Aspects? Attack and Defend are straight forward. Create Advantage includes figuring out what Aspects apply to your opponent via an appropriate skill roll. Then it gives a +2 on a future action. It also can create environmental circumstances, like busting up a crate full of marbles to create an “uneven ground” aspect. In fact, even a success that just creates a boost is advantageous with a +2 on the next action. Created Advantages can then be stacked. Overcome involves overcoming environmental aspects, from vision to movement. Character Aspects can be invoked using Fate Points, rewarding the player by putting him in sub-optimal situations. Nameless, faceless nooks become problematic people in the character’s life. “Your Irish Aspect is coming to the fore because one of the guys you spot is Timmy O’Roark, your ‘pal’ from childhood that used to pick on you daily. Unless you don’t want this Fate Point....” or “Hey, your Trouble Aspect is Hunted by the Blues Gang. Isn’t that one of them here for a Fate Point?”

If I'm allowed to simplify a bit, this might be of assistance: - Most "traditional" systems (such as D&D) are about number crunching and tactical use of mechanics. - Fate is about "What makes X interesting?" Solving X and then applying it is what often makes Fate Conflicts fun. No enemy should be just a boring pile of stats (as most are in most traditional systems) but they should always have a thing or two that makes a difference between them and another enemy. The same applies to the Scenes in which the Conflict happens. Conflicts should never happen just because there needs to be a battle (unlike in most traditional campaigns of most traditional systems). There should always be interesting narrative why the Conflict happens. Was that too abstract? There is no "One size fits all" solution to this question. In fact, the way Fate is designed, there usually isn't that kind of solutions to any questions. Fate is more of a toolkit than strict rules and mechanics. "How can I make a fight that is both interesting and not over in an instant?" What's going on in the narrative? Who are fighting and why? If this was a movie, how would that Scene look like? What would the enemies do to make the battle look cool and engaging to the viewer? What makes the enemies dangerous (numbers, special weapons or tools, some ability...)? Answers to these and similar questions helps you creating interesting Scenes. Then whatever is going on in the narrative, can be translated mechanically, often in many different ways. In addition to the basic rules such as different Actions, remember the Golden, Silver and Bronze rules.

Adran06 said: I've played Fate Core a few times, and run a few homebrew games, but I'm still having some trouble making fights last longer than a round or two at most. How can I make a fight that is both interesting and not over in an instant (for either side)? Mind that I am using a custom setting with homebrew elements Here are some ideas that may help     Stagger your combat, maybe on the first round henchmen show up before the main show      Add multiple levels of combat that require multiple rounds to resolve (Physical, Mental & social?)    Raise the stakes; some of the best scenes are when the party first think the odds are stacked against them before they eak out a win. This typically takes a few rounds to unfold   Add more bad guys, Action economy is very important and why players have an advantage, SO add more bad guys and even out the score.  Use the environment; chase scenes, using different zones/ levels or moving parts to spice combat up.   anyway good luck!