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General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
4E/3E Combat Time Question...
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<blockquote data-quote="timbannock" data-source="post: 4172128" data-attributes="member: 17913"><p>Agreed. As a DM, playing a monster effectively either takes lots of prep-time beforehand to memorize certain facets, or lots of lookup time in play (usually the latter...I don't have lots of free time before a game).</p><p></p><p>Players often have to reference something, or take into account multiple buffs. I just started a new campaign and have slowed XP to a crawl, so we're spending a LOT more time at levels 1 and 2 (the PCs have gained about 1 level every 4-6 sessions, and just hit 3). Oddly enough, I'm seeing that even low-level characters are dealing with a lot of numbers. Not high numbers, per se, but just so many different SOURCES of numbers:</p><p></p><p>+n from the bard's singing</p><p>+n from a feat that only applies at this particular moment</p><p>+n from flanking</p><p>-n from a status effect placed on them the previous round</p><p>-n due to range increment</p><p>-n due to firing into a melee</p><p></p><p>It's a damn good thing my players know mathz.</p><p></p><p>Seriously, if more modifiers were "static" (as in "always on") then it'd be a lot easier to remember. The bard singing doesn't always occur...the feat doesn't always apply...the range increment changes everytime either you or the opponent moves...</p><p></p><p>It's still fun though. But I'll be looking at 4E as I've already seen some neat things that cut down on this kind of stuff (static mods, different ways of tracking effects, etc.).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="timbannock, post: 4172128, member: 17913"] Agreed. As a DM, playing a monster effectively either takes lots of prep-time beforehand to memorize certain facets, or lots of lookup time in play (usually the latter...I don't have lots of free time before a game). Players often have to reference something, or take into account multiple buffs. I just started a new campaign and have slowed XP to a crawl, so we're spending a LOT more time at levels 1 and 2 (the PCs have gained about 1 level every 4-6 sessions, and just hit 3). Oddly enough, I'm seeing that even low-level characters are dealing with a lot of numbers. Not high numbers, per se, but just so many different SOURCES of numbers: +n from the bard's singing +n from a feat that only applies at this particular moment +n from flanking -n from a status effect placed on them the previous round -n due to range increment -n due to firing into a melee It's a damn good thing my players know mathz. Seriously, if more modifiers were "static" (as in "always on") then it'd be a lot easier to remember. The bard singing doesn't always occur...the feat doesn't always apply...the range increment changes everytime either you or the opponent moves... It's still fun though. But I'll be looking at 4E as I've already seen some neat things that cut down on this kind of stuff (static mods, different ways of tracking effects, etc.). [/QUOTE]
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