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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Frostmarrow" data-source="post: 89845" data-attributes="member: 1122">I agree with WaterRabbit - know the rules. It's important that the players know the rules for combat. I teach my players in game (in my newbie campaign) how to run fights with all those AOOs, tumble checks, flanking maneuvers, reach and so on. I let them face various opponents as to force them into using their abilities.Last night one of the characters were imprisoned by a gladiator-owner. The character, an elven rogue, was deeply in debt with the gladiator owner and had signed a contract for five arena bouts (whilst under the influence of alcohol).The other characters struck a deal with the gladiator-owner that the entire party would fight in one bout if he'd release the elf.The gladiator-owner's whip-man, Munch, invited the characters to come to the arena early so that he might teach the characters some tricks. They came and Munch told them how to avoid reach, how to set up a flanking attack and so on.When they entered the arena they realised that they would be fighting two ogres with longspears (reach 15'!). They could immidiately utilise their newly found tactical skills. The characters were victorious. (Also by warning the players that the audience charges the field to beat the contestants up if they see any magic or bows being used made them use throwing weapons instead, something that has never happened before <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> .)Since we don't play too often I find that I need to teach the players the basics of combat every session. That's why I set things up this way. Combats still take a great deal of time but I'm patient and I repeat, repeat and repeat the rules. I see signs that things are beginning to pick up pace.If combat takes a lot of time the players will interfere with the other player's decisions, for even more lag. Don't let the characters order each other around more than what one free action each round allows.</blockquote>

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