D&D 5E Streams or podcasts where the groups complete a "standard adventuring day" in a 4 hour session?

[iserith]

My regular group does this quite frequently, but I doubt most groups do based on the many games I've played in or observed. And even fewer of the groups that do will be streaming. Most streaming I've seen is very slow paced with not a lot of action to begin with. It doesn't look like you'll find what you're looking for, but I'd be interested to watch one that does fit the bill.

 

[bedir than]

My regular group does this quite frequently, but I doubt most groups do based on the many games I've played in or observed. And even fewer of the groups that do will be streaming. Most streaming I've seen is very slow paced with not a lot of action to begin with. It doesn't look like you'll find what you're looking for, but I'd be interested to watch one that does fit the bill.

I would love to hear how you do this.

Because that's less than 2 minutes per party member turn without any monsters doing anything and only encounters, no other description or non-encounter actions.

Assumed 4 hours of play, 6-8 encounters, average encounter lasting 3-5 rounds, average party 3-5 PCs

 

[iserith]

I would love to hear how you do this.

Because that's less than 2 minutes per party member turn without any monsters doing anything and only encounters, no other description or non-encounter actions.

Assumed 4 hours of play, 6-8 encounters, average encounter lasting 3-5 rounds, average party 3-5 PCs

In one of my less regular groups, we did 10 combats in one session recently.

Basically we cleave to the basic conversation of the game outlined in "How to Play" and the players get out of each others' way such that decisions get made fast with no debating. Everyone's ready on their turn. And we use electronic dice rollers.

Just this past weekend I ran a pickup group and we did 6 fights in 4.25 hours. But that was 4 PCs instead of my usual 5.

 

[Scott Christian]

This is an interesting question. I know we are all experienced, but honestly, in my 25+ years of playing, I have never seen it happen; that includes dozens of conventions and playing once or twice a week with regular tables. I can say, I have never had a group that has all experienced "ready to go on their turn" players. There is generally one thumbing through the spell book, etc.
I have seen some roleplay, four encounters and a cave exploration piece completed in four hours with a group of four. But it wasn't D&D. That is about the best I've seen. D&D, from the groups I've played with, would probably only get through the roleplay and two fights. That's at low level. At 10th level, almost no way you're getting through two fights.
DM's have a lot to do with this also. They can definitely slow the pace down. It is difficult to speed it up the actual player.

So the factors seem to be:
- Player awareness (are they ready? do they change their mind upon seeing a previous action? are they experienced? do they know their character?)
- DM (flavorful explanations? knowledge of NPC? roleplay? understanding the opponents tactics and abilities? superfluous skill checks or sticking to ones needed? dissemination of key details?)
- Visuals (grid use? minis? checking out the cool paint job/new mini? etc.)

I too would like to see just one combat filmed at fifth level with four players fighting an average opponent that only takes 20 minutes. Because I have yet in my years to see it. I don't doubt it, but my eyes have never seen it.

 

[Scott Christian]

One last thing. Four hours of play almost always includes time for snacks, drinks bathroom, saying hello and asking how everyone is doing, etc. That's thirty minutes right there.

 

[iserith]

One last thing. Four hours of play almost always includes time for snacks, drinks bathroom, saying hello and asking how everyone is doing, etc. That's thirty minutes right there.

With a pickup group, I do 4 hours, 15 minutes which includes three 5-minute breaks, page-setting, and character introductions.

With my regular group, I do 4 hours which includes three 5-minute breaks. Any socializing is done 15 minutes prior to start. We have a hard stop at 11 pm.

 

[bedir than]

With a pickup group, I do 4 hours, 15 minutes which includes three 5-minute breaks, page-setting, and character introductions.

With my regular group, I do 4 hours which includes three 5-minute breaks. Any socializing is done 15 minutes prior to start. We have a hard stop at 11 pm.

I'd love to experience on of your sessions sometime. I think it will help me grow as a player and DM

 

[Charlaquin]

This is an interesting question. I know we are all experienced, but honestly, in my 25+ years of playing, I have never seen it happen; that includes dozens of conventions and playing once or twice a week with regular tables. I can say, I have never had a group that has all experienced "ready to go on their turn" players. There is generally one thumbing through the spell book, etc.

The key is to be strict about enforcing it. If you tell the players they will lose their turn if they don’t declare an action immediately when their turn comes up, and you follow through on it, it won’t take long before they start being ready to go on their turn. A few players may end up losing a turn or two at first, but they will adjust very quickly after that.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'd love to experience on of your sessions sometime. I think it will help me grow as a player and DM

I’ll second that.

 

[iserith]

I’ll second that.

I'd love to experience on of your sessions sometime. I think it will help me grow as a player and DM

Pickup groups can be a mixed bag. By and large I've never had any real issues. It's just a bit harder to get as much accomplished since some habits have to be broken. On average, once the group figures itself out, it's pretty smooth sailing. With my regular group, it's just as smooth as can be from the jump.

I am on D&D Friends Discord server which is pretty active. I put up a game for Sunday afternoon and got 10 sign-ups in 10 minutes and more will follow. I don't therefore schedule games via enworld or Roll20 anymore as it's not as efficient. I won't stream my regular games either because there's no upside and lots of downsides. But maybe we'll run into each other on Discord sometime.