diff --git a/megamek/src/megamek/common/AbstractGame.java b/megamek/src/megamek/common/AbstractGame.java
index b5968b76fae..6ea08c90635 100644
--- a/megamek/src/megamek/common/AbstractGame.java
+++ b/megamek/src/megamek/common/AbstractGame.java
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ public abstract class AbstractGame implements IGame {
      */
     private final Map<Integer, List<Deployable>> deploymentTable = new HashMap<>();
 
-    protected int currentRound = 0;
+    /**
+     * The round counter. It gets incremented before initiative; round 0 is initial deployment only.
+     */
+    protected int currentRound = -1;
 
     @Override
     public Forces getForces() {
diff --git a/megamek/src/megamek/common/Game.java b/megamek/src/megamek/common/Game.java
index 4f577171d90..23eea4cab11 100644
--- a/megamek/src/megamek/common/Game.java
+++ b/megamek/src/megamek/common/Game.java
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ public void removeEntities(List<Integer> ids, int condition) {
     public synchronized void reset() {
         uuid = UUID.randomUUID();
 
-        currentRound = 0;
+        currentRound = -1;
 
         inGameObjects.clear();
         entityPosLookup.clear();
diff --git a/megamek/src/megamek/server/GameManager.java b/megamek/src/megamek/server/GameManager.java
index 4241df17bcf..bc8e19b7476 100644
--- a/megamek/src/megamek/server/GameManager.java
+++ b/megamek/src/megamek/server/GameManager.java
@@ -1864,10 +1864,8 @@ private void prepareForPhase(GamePhase phase) {
                 // commander initiative bonus. Now that initiative is rolled, clear the flag.
                 game.getEntities().forEachRemaining(e -> e.getCrew().resetActedFlag());
 
-                if (!game.shouldDeployThisRound()) {
-                    incrementAndSendGameRound();
-                    asService.performRollingAutosave(this);
-                }
+                incrementAndSendGameRound();
+                asService.performRollingAutosave(this);
 
                 // setIneligible(phase);
                 determineTurnOrder(phase);
diff --git a/megamek/src/megamek/server/SBFGameManager.java b/megamek/src/megamek/server/SBFGameManager.java
index 430ff71b671..60388f03c97 100644
--- a/megamek/src/megamek/server/SBFGameManager.java
+++ b/megamek/src/megamek/server/SBFGameManager.java
@@ -478,10 +478,8 @@ private void prepareForCurrentPhase() {
                 // commander initiative bonus. Now that initiative is rolled, clear the flag.
 //                game.getEntities().forEachRemaining(e -> e.getCrew().resetActedFlag());
 
-                if (!game.shouldDeployThisRound()) {
 //                    incrementAndSendGameRound();
 //                    asService.performRollingAutosave(this);
-                }
 
                 // setIneligible(phase);
 //                determineTurnOrder(phase);