Combat speed

[Ed Gentry]

Hey folks. I've only played a handful of 4E sessions so far using the KotS adventure. I'm really enjoying it but I've noticed for my group that combat is considerably slower than 3.5.

I'm more than willing to believe that this is due largely to our lack of familiarity with 4e, but I wanted to hear other opinions.

I wondered if it was slow because there were so many monsters for the DM to control. I really like the minion concept (low hp, fixed damage, etc.) but in an average fight the DM is rolling for 6+ monsters where it might have been 2-3 in 3.5.

I'm not complaining about this aspect of 4E. I'm just trying to understand if it gets faster or what ideas those who have played it more than me might have. Does it speed up significantly? Does it get at least as fast as 3.5?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Jack99]

Having played more than 50 hours of 4e, I can say that for us, it is faster than 3.x, and getting faster every time we play. Also my players get many more actions in the same time frame. Whereas 3.x might give us 2 rounds per hour (just an example, not necessarily correct), then 4e gives us 4-6 rounds per hour.

Of course, YMMV.

Cheers

 

[TimeOut]

Nearly every combat in 4e was faster then combats in 3e for us. Including the Irontooth encounter with its tons of minions and other comparable encounter.

Of course it depends heavily on the organizational skills of your DM. My personal trick as a player is the use of Magic like power cards. I can usually play my complete turn, excluding descriptions of course, in about a minute. Unless there are tactical complexities or special group requests (I play a warlord).

 

[Ed Gentry]

Good to hear! Thanks, people.

Timeout, I actually spent last night making playing-type note cards with the descriptions and such of all of my powers. I'm hoping it will speed things up considerably.

Thanks again for your thoughts, folks.

 

[TimeOut]

Timeout, I actually spent last night making playing-type note cards with the descriptions and such of all of my powers. I'm hoping it will speed things up considerably.

Thanks again for your thoughts, folks.

Well, it helps. Especially if the user likes Magic or other trading card games. But be prepared that some players might find it silly. I am the only one in our group which likes the cards in actual play, but many used them during chargen or for reference.

(I created the races, some feats and racial / class abilities as cards too.)
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Sample, based on a Magic Set Editor template made by someone here on ENWorld (sadly I forgot the name, but its somewhere in the "make your own power cards"-thread).

Edit: Please note, the Warlord lists only the Inspiring Presence feature, because this is my version for the inspiring warlord build.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

Combat will be slower in 4e if your players are used to taking their turn and then daydreaming (lord knows my 3.5 players are used to doing that). Since rounds are so much shorter in real time in 4th edition, there's an even greater need for players to have their actions planned out and ready, and to pay attention to the tactical situation while other players are taking their actions. Luckily, since the combats move quickly, there's more incentive to plan things and pay attention. The 30 seconds per turn that we're taking at the table these days is just not enough time to get any quality daydreaming in.