Jeff Carlsen
Adventurer
OK. So you're changing the argument. No longer that six second exchanges being an abstraction of a flurry of blows is ridiculous (which I believe I've proved it isn't), but you find that one minute combat rounds can cover everything and fast.
The reason one minute combat rounds are horrible isn't shown by a duel. In a duel you don't need to refocus - which is when you really need to take control of your PC. Better would be Legolas vs the Oliphaunt (see clip below if you don't know the scene). Awesome scene, epic battle - and you want to make it into a single round with Legolas one-shotting everything in a single round. To me there are at least four separate decision points, three of which are unfolding as a response to what else happened.
1: Legolas jumped on the oliphaunt
2: Having swung to safety he shot the guards off the back. (And remember that those are separate targets).
3: Legolas cuts the howdah with his dagger.
4: Legolas shoots the Oliphaunt in the back of the head.
Now I take the idea that you shouldn't tie combat to set amounts of time. But I make that at least four major actions with completely distinct intent - or four rounds at a bare minimum. (It's entirely possible to argue for more). And the Oliphaunt should not be the victim of a one-shot attack. It's even clearer in skirmish fights such as in 300 or Troy.
Legolas kills the Oliphaunt - YouTube
That's a very solid example. There are a number of things that feel like rounds:
- Running (movement) and then jumping onto the oliphaunt (action).
- Leaping from the front leg to the rear (action) and then climbing (movement)
- Shooting arrows at the orcs (action) while dodging their attacks. Also, a Dex check to keep his balance.
- Cutting the howdah (action), and running to the oliphaunt's head (movement). Also, a Dex check to keep his balance.
- Killing the oliphaunt (action, probably with an ability like Deadly Strike), sliding down the trunk (movement, Dex check). Gimli shouts, "That still only counts as one!" as a free action.