Continuing with Primach's bit, it's also not a good sign to the players that things are supposed to get better.  I realize that you said that these Supermen were boosted to beyond what they<em>should</em>have been, but two things.<br/><br/>A: Most of us are still learning the system.  I don't think half the group even has the book, we're having to rely on the resources you gave us to put this all together.  And generally, people like to think that the GM will softball them while they're doing such a thing, even if they have all the books.<br/><br/>B: The stakes are supposed to get<em>higher</em>, and therefore the fights<em>tougher</em>as it goes on.  Losing the very first fight, even if everyone survives, does not bode well in the minds of gamers.  Even<em>if</em>the fight is supposed to be one that you can't win.