Weasel,
I don't know whether you are familiar with the D&D rules considering initiative. It basically comes down to the point where everyone roles for initiative at the beginning of combat. This determines the order in which everyone gets to fight. This could mean that one of your characters gets to go first and then three opponents. So it is not side by side, but per individual.
Are you familiar with games such as Jagged Alliance. They use a similar system.
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