This method increases the survivability of characters while also allowing them to utilize armor (the heroics option gives characters an armor rating of 4, making armor irrelevant). Step 1
Make a normal damage roll if the target is wearing armor or his fitness rating is four (4) or greater. Otherwise, skip to Step 2. Step 2
If the target is a Player Character (or unique NPC) and there is any injury damage, make a second damage roll—one die for each point of injury that penetrates from Step 1. Each die that is equal to or less than the the character’s fitness rating is converted to fatigue damage instead of injury. Step 3
If the target is a Player Character (or unique NPC) and there is any fatigue damage, make a second damage roll—one die for each point of fatigue that penetrates from Step 1. Each die that is equal to or less than the the character’s fitness rating reduces the amount of fatigue damage by one point. Example
Stormtrooper Bob levels his Blaster Pistol at Han Soslo (a Player Character with a Fitness of 4 and wearing a very stylish Flight Suit with a rating of 3), the Director rolls the dice and Han is hit!

1.	Han’s player is stunned that Bob the Stormtrooper was even pointing in the right direction let alone likely to score a hit; consequentially, no defensive actions were considered.

2.	Bob’s Blaster Pistol has the potential to deliver 4 grades of INJ damage, which is generally considered a bad thing amongst those in-the-know.

3.	Han’s player initially breathes a somewhat laboured sigh of relief, remembering the 3 point Flight Suit until the Director points out that the Flight Suit is good for soaking up FAT damage but worthless against the Blaster Pistol.

4.	However, as Han is a player character he gets to use his heroic toughness. Han’s player rolls 4 dice, the same as the Blaster Pistol’s damage value, and rolls 1, 6, 3, 5 and 2.

5.	The rolls of 6 and 5 are ignored as they are above Han’s Fitness of 4. The rolls of 1, 3 and 2 reduce the 4 points of INJ damage to 3 points of FAT (thanks to the second damage roll) and one point of INJ.

6.	Han was completely unscathed prior to Bob’s unexpected attack so he suffers 3 grades of FAT and one grade of INJ instead of 4 grades of INJ.

7.	If Han had already taken 4 points of FAT, the additional 2 grades of FAT would be converted to INJ.

Notes
This alternative damage system is designed to promote more ‘heroic’ play by adding some longevity to the characters’ careers. However, characters are still at the mercy of the dice and are still only mortal; a shot from a Blaster Carbine can still reduce a hero to incapacitated status in one short burst! A successful damage roll completely erases a point of FAT damage so player characters are less likely to knocked out in the short term.