It occurs to me that I've been doing a little trick from back with Exalted and never announced it:<br/><br/>If PCs and NPCs tie on the tick count, I let the PCs go first, but then have the NPCs go as if they were a tick later.  Simultaneous rules tend to be a pain in the butt, so I've found that it's a little easier.<br/><br/>Although it provides a minor detriment to the players because they get the -1 to DV which they wouldn't otherwise, I think that effectively going before the NPCs trumps any such issues.<br/><br/>If folks want me to use simultaneous, I can, but it tends to be a pain in my experience.