[HoE] Some Rule/Mechanic questions

[Draxus@aol.com]

Howdy. This is for any Marshals who've been using the Deadlands
system for a while. I just got the game and in preparing for my
first session have a few questions about the way the game plays.

First, looking at the TN rules and various power/ability descriptions,
it seems like the game assumes players will be rolling a fair
number of aces during the game. Given the need for raises
to make a lot of abilities and what not useful, do starting-level
characters need any special help or consideration when designing
adventures?

Second I just had a general question about the flow of combat. I
read the notes in HoE about how to speed combat up, but
given the number of hit locations for PCs, plus wind, strain, stun
and what not, it seems like a lot of bookkeeping to keep track of.
That and the fact that you're making two separate types of dice
rolls for melee combat (attribute check and then weapon damage).
Does combat go pretty quick, and what suggestions does anyone
have for helping to keep things moving?

Thanks.

Andrew Ross