Battle System

[Andrinor]

So what you're saying is don't be bland and boring. Make the battles come alive. Instead of saying, you hit with 10 dmg. I'll say, your sword sliced the enemies chest with 10 points of damage. Thanks.

 

[Saeviomagy]

My suggestion - stand up, walk around the room, act out swings, describe their results, speak in a loud raucous voice and keep the pace up (often this can be as simple as suggesting a course of action to a player).

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, I act out stuff a little too. If someone does a crit or deal the killing blow, they do especially cool stuff. "Oh, that's a lot of damage. Your axe finds its way through his armor and sinks into his body -- he's a little shocked at the pain. *imitates the axe swing and then imitates the wound*"

 

[pogre]

I physically beat my players.

Although this has nothing to do with combat - just for too many Monte Python quotes...

and now, hopefully something useful -

I know there are a lot of third party books out there that give some combat options that might interest you. Bastion Press has one on critical hits and I know there are many others.