I remember one session I put a 3-IP, black belt, kung-fu master dude from hell against the players' street sam. The Combat Mage had -3 dice due to damage, but facing this oponent, decides to Improve the street sam's Reflexes, to make him with an even 3-IP turn.
Halfway through combat, with no side dealing damage to the other yet (all parries and blocks and dodges with some minor damage-dealing hits that got soaked), I decide the 3-IP, black belt, kung-fu master dude from hell is going to interrupt the street sam's attack with a sweet arc'd elbow thrust on the street sam's chin.
3-IP, black belt, kung-fu master dude from hell's 17 dice + 4 edge vs. street sam's 14 dice to dodge. And I rolled 10 1s and no hits.
My sweetly-planned oponent just went straight past the street sam and lodged his elbow on the industrial-sized fan behind him, for a total of 20P damage.
Like I was gonna give 'em the satisfaction of killing him, oh no.