I'm fairly new to FFG's Star Wars, but I had an idea I'm going to try next time we play (which will probably be next year): Binder clips.

I got myself a bunch of small (19 mm) binder clips in different colors (white, black, gold). My plan is to set them up on top of the GM Screen - gold for a PC slot, black for an NPC slot (with whites for extras). That way, both I and my players can see the initiative order at a glance.

You might consider having a magnet per character, and as players and NPC's take their turns, put the magnet on it to show that they've acted...

That's a pretty good idea. I'll see if I can find magnets small enough and with enough different colors to work.

Just do this for cool:ranks in cool + presence.

for vigalence:ranks in vigalence + willpower.

I've been trying to think of ways to speed this up myself recently. I suggested the idea of only rolling once per day, we haven't properly tested this, but it was not a universally popular idea. I think my players main area of concern was being stuck with a bad roll.

It's not a major issue, but I'm trying to eliminate things that slow the pace of a session down (and with a decent sized group of players it can take a while to get initiative sorted).

I've been trying to think of ways to speed this up myself recently. I suggested the idea of only rolling once per day, we haven't properly tested this, but it was not a universally popular idea. I think my players main area of concern was being stuck with a bad roll.

It's not a major issue, but I'm trying to eliminate things that slow the pace of a session down (and with a decent sized group of players it can take a while to get initiative sorted).

This is a summary of all the best techniques I've heard used:

Pre-roll all your NPC's before the session.

Delegate Initiative order management to a Player

Ensure enough dice (or dice apps) at the table for everyone to roll at the same time as soon as you call for initiative.

Have a small dry erase(and magnetic?) board to track on, with either magnetic different colour labels for PC/NPC's or just write it down. Then use a single magnetic token to track current position.

When you call for an initiative roll, declare the type (Cool or Vigilance), then ask who beat the Highest NPC roll you had for that encounter, and progress down through the NPC's.

Only worry about advantage when there is a success tie.

The do nots:

Go around the table rolling 1 at a time.

Roll the NPC's while PC's roll

Ask everybody their results, then try to collate them. It's much simpler to say "who beat 4?, ok now who beat 2?"

Roll every round...

The do nots:

...

Ask everybody their results, then try to collate them. It's much simpler to say "who beat 4?, ok now who beat 2?"

I'm not sure how that works. It doesn't matter which PC beat a number, their number becomes a PC slot. I collate them, it takes no time to turn one list of numbers into a list of PC, PC, NPC, PC, NPC etc... You only have to do it once at the beginning of the encounter.

Or maybe I'm missing something?

The do nots:

...

Ask everybody their results, then try to collate them. It's much simpler to say "who beat 4?, ok now who beat 2?"

I'm not sure how that works. It doesn't matter which PC beat a number, their number becomes a PC slot. I collate them, it takes no time to turn one list of numbers into a list of PC, PC, NPC, PC, NPC etc... You only have to do it once at the beginning of the encounter.

Or maybe I'm missing something?

Its probably a group size thing. i think if your in the rhythm with the group then both ways work well. but for a group just starting out in this system then the call out system results in less downtime for Players while they wait for the GM to put them in order. it keeps the players listening for longer, but as you and i know when your used to the system its quick no matter how you do it.