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<blockquote data-quote="Masked" data-source="post: 89655" data-attributes="member: 1000">find the problemFirst make sure it's not you that's slowing down combat.&nbsp; Otherwise, when you start pushing for the players to think faster they'll think you are a jerk.So, if you're going into combat with a comfortable feeling about your creatures for the night, then you can put the pressure on the players.Problem #1 - the power gamer that waits until his turn to decide which spell he'll be using so he can kill the most creatures efficiently.&nbsp; He will then flip through the player's book for 3-5 minutes just deciding what to do.Problem #2 - the plain old indecisive person.&nbsp; This person may or may not have been trying to figure out what they'd do this round, but either way they're still stumped.Solution - Search through your board games like pictionary, balderdash, etc. and find two of the little hour glass timers that empty out at about the same timing.&nbsp; I bought two for this purpose, because my game shop has everything I could ever need.&nbsp; Meanwhile, I found two timers that are off about 20 seconds from each other.&nbsp; Give the PCs that much time to decide what they're going to do.&nbsp; You want two timers, so you're not waiting for them to &quot;clear&quot; and be ready for the next round.&nbsp; You alternate using them.Bonus.&nbsp; Sometimes you want to fill a room with gas or decide how long it takes for the party to figure out how to shut down the trash compactor on level 7.&nbsp; Just sit it out in front of them, and use it to measure time intervals.&nbsp; It's not very fair to only give the PCs 6 seconds of real time between fortitude saves on the gas trap if they're not in combat rounds.&nbsp; It takes a lot longer for you to hear 6 people say they're running like bunnies than it actually takes them to escape in game.&lt;shrugs&gt;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Masked, post: 89655, member: 1000"] [b]find the problem[/b] First make sure it's not you that's slowing down combat. Otherwise, when you start pushing for the players to think faster they'll think you are a jerk. So, if you're going into combat with a comfortable feeling about your creatures for the night, then you can put the pressure on the players. Problem #1 - the power gamer that waits until his turn to decide which spell he'll be using so he can kill the most creatures efficiently. He will then flip through the player's book for 3-5 minutes just deciding what to do. Problem #2 - the plain old indecisive person. This person may or may not have been trying to figure out what they'd do this round, but either way they're still stumped. Solution - Search through your board games like pictionary, balderdash, etc. and find two of the little hour glass timers that empty out at about the same timing. I bought two for this purpose, because my game shop has everything I could ever need. Meanwhile, I found two timers that are off about 20 seconds from each other. Give the PCs that much time to decide what they're going to do. You want two timers, so you're not waiting for them to "clear" and be ready for the next round. You alternate using them. Bonus. Sometimes you want to fill a room with gas or decide how long it takes for the party to figure out how to shut down the trash compactor on level 7. Just sit it out in front of them, and use it to measure time intervals. It's not very fair to only give the PCs 6 seconds of real time between fortitude saves on the gas trap if they're not in combat rounds. It takes a lot longer for you to hear 6 people say they're running like bunnies than it actually takes them to escape in game. <shrugs> [/QUOTE]

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