[Mach]

I'm just being curious about this one. Not including surprise rounds, what is the first action your characters usually take in combat?

My characters standard first action is move to cover. Not very flashy but its saved my hoop more times than I care to count.

[DWC]

Depends on the character. For one who has no business in a gunfight, it is "pray no one shoots me before my initiative comes up, then flee to cover when possible", and for the rest, it depends on how martial they are.  For some it would be " mark targets in AR as a free action, ready weapon as a simple, fire a long burst at the nearest threat in my sector, and advance to cover".  Others will scream and charge.

[CanRay]

"For my first free action, I pee myself so I get that out of the way as soon as I can." 

[Red Canti]

"I run like a sex offender in a nunnery."

[CanRay]

"I hook my finger in the ring connecting all the pins on my grenade vest and smile wickedly at everyone."

Not original, but you can't beat that scene!

[Critias]

Depends entirely on the character and the situation.  Does the team have good odds of taking out all the baddies in one phase?  How outnumbered are we?  What cover is available, if any?  What kind of range are we talking?  What obvious guns/armor are the baddies packing?  Is it the first fight of the night, or (hopefully) the last?

[CanRay]

If the beer if your hand is finished or empty...

[JoeNapalm]

My characters standard first action is move to cover. Not very flashy but its saved my hoop more times than I care to count.

Cover is almost always a good idea.

Of course, basic movement is a Free Action. With the rest of my actions, I am usually a fan of doing unto others before they can do unto me. Starting with Mages and/or officer-looking types and/or dudes with swords.

[Teknodragon]

After an incident last night, my non-combatant mage will be doing her best to quickly remove herself from the combat. Probably summon up a spirit to hide or protect her as well.

[squee_nabob]

Foosh Foosh riot suppression water cannon

[SirDelta]

Step 1: Observe in Detail
Step 2: Free Action running jump sideways
Step 3: Quickdraw
Step 4: Bang Bang
Step 5:
Step 6: PROFIT!

[Charybdis]

Step 1: Observe in Detail
Step 2: Free Action running jump sideways
Step 3: Quickdraw
Step 4: Bang Bang
Step 5:
Step 6: PROFIT!

1. Simple Action
2. Free Action
3. Part of action
4. BANG (Simple Action) BANG (simple Action)

That's 3 simple actions, champ, and a penalty for running while shooting

As for OP Query, I'm playing a mage in a group of reaction-tweakers, so my first action is normally last in line. Normally it's along the lines of:

*cue gunfire and several people returning fire, PC's and enemies*
Step 1: Hide (simple action)
Step 2: Find good cover  (free action)
Step 3: Observe in Detail (simple action)
Step 4: Keep as many PC's  as possible in LOS for Counterspelling protection (no action required)

[SirDelta]

Step 1: Observe in Detail
Step 2: Free Action running jump sideways
Step 3: Quickdraw
Step 4: Bang Bang
Step 5:
Step 6: PROFIT!

1. Simple Action
2. Free Action
3. Part of action
4. BANG (Simple Action) BANG (simple Action)

That's 3 simple actions, champ, and a penalty for running while shooting

I'm using 2 pistols.  Both fire in the same action, as far as I understood.

[KarmaInferno]

1) Check MeFeed to see if any new funny trideos are up.
2) Answer a post on Jackpoint with a funny anecdote on pig farming.
3) I dunno, some combat stuff? Hey! Drone! Kill those guys over there lots!

The character is a rigger adept with Multitasking and the Media Junkie negative quality.



-k

[Charybdis]

1. Simple Action
2. Free Action
3. Part of action
4. BANG (Simple Action) BANG (simple Action)

That's 3 simple actions, champ, and a penalty for running while shooting

I'm using 2 pistols.  Both fire in the same action, as far as I understood.

You are correct

but the quickdraw threshold is a bit chancy. Threshold of 3 to QD both weapons (4 if they're not in QD holsters)