D&D 5E Do you use a clock?

[atanakar]

There are several ways I use a «Clock» in my D&D games.

1) The Timer : When I want to impress a «hard» sense of urgency to the player I use a timer set to 2-3 hours. They must complete the mission within that time frame or they fail and consequences happen. The game is played almost real time. If they loose time arguing out of character I don't stop the clock. The first time we did this was with the RPGA module The Ghost Tower of Inverness. It was stressful but very captivating. Don't do this too often as it is even harder for the DM.

2) Clock (revealed) : Usually the characters know from the start they have a fixed number of time to complete the mission. If they do not consequences happen. For exemple, a kidnapped person will be killed if a ransom is not provided or if the characters don't manage to find the location and rescue the hostage before it is too late.

3) Clock (hidden): The opponents of the characters have a secret plan in motion. Parts of the plan goes into effect, step by step, until it is fully active.

Do you use Clocks in your game?

 

[Stoutstien]

I use the Dice pool style time keeper. each die represents either 10 minutes, one hour, 1/6 of a day, or a day depending on current pacing. 6 dice rolls its over and such. If i feel the players are sitting around talking or wasting time i just add a die. works pretty well and is simple and visual so the party knows how much time has passed in game.

 

[iserith]

Almost all of my adventures and campaigns have time pressure in some form or another. I don't think the game works very well without them. If there is a time pressure, the players are made aware of it so they can factor it into their decision-making. I wouldn't use a "hidden clock" on them. This defeats the purpose of it in my view.

It is pretty rare for me to tie game time to real time. I've done it, but it has to be for very specific scenarios in order for me to consider it a viable option.

 

[prabe]

There have been things happening offscreen in the campaigns I run, but I don't think of them as clocks, exactly, because the things aren't necessarily adversaries. For the most part, the only clock I bother with is the real-world time, because I run at game stores and we have to end at [time]. I'll wrap early rather than have to interrupt a combat.

 

[DemonSlayer]

No. I have been toying around with the idea of using a small hourglass timer, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. If I come up with a situation like the walls are closing in, then I might actually do it.

 

[Count_Zero]

I haven't used a clock, but where necessary I will use a timeline.

 

[dave2008]

There are several ways I use a «Clock» in my D&D games.

1) The Timer : When I want to impress a «hard» sense of urgency to the player I use a timer set to 2-3 hours. They must complete the mission within that time frame or they fail and consequences happen. The game is played almost real time. If they loose time arguing out of character I don't stop the clock. The first time we did this was with the RPGA module The Ghost Tower of Inverness. It was stressful but very captivating. Don't do this too often as it is even harder for the DM.

2) Clock (revealed) : Usually the characters know from the start they have a fixed number of time to complete the mission. If they do not consequences happen. For exemple, a kidnapped person will be killed if a ransom is not provided or if the characters don't manage to find the location and rescue the hostage before it is too late.

3) Clock (hidden): The opponents of the characters have a secret plan in motion. Parts of the plan goes into effect, step by step, until it is fully active.

Do you use Clocks in your game?

Yes, players have 30 seconds to resolve their turn (decided what to do and make an required rolls)

 

[prabe]

Yes, players have 30 seconds to resolve their turn (decided what to do and make an required rolls)

I can see the time limit thing, but I'd maybe want a little flexibility. I can see events obviating my planned action/s, and I can see some turns (especially with multiple actions) just taking a while to resolve (or roll). Then again, I've never timed how long it takes me to resolve my turn.

 

[dave2008]

I can see the time limit thing, but I'd maybe want a little flexibility. I can see events obviating my planned action/s, and I can see some turns (especially with multiple actions) just taking a while to resolve (or roll). Then again, I've never timed how long it takes me to resolve my turn.

To clarify we only strictly enforce that in combat. It works for us because it makes combat feel more urgent, if you make a mistake - too bad, that just is the craziness of battle. It only took a combat or two to get used to it, and now it feels strange without it.

 

[prabe]

To clarify we only strictly enforce that in combat. It works for us because it makes combat feel more urgent, if you make a mistake - too bad, that just is the craziness of battle. It only took a combat or two to get used to it, and now it feels strange without it.

I figured it was in combat (doesn't make much sense without it), I'm just thinking about some characters I've seen with, e.g., lots of attacks and lots of rolls, and I'm wondering if one could do all that rolling in 30 seconds. As I said, I haven't timed myself (or anyone else). I do understand the motivating impulse, I'm just ... thinking, I guess.