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<blockquote data-quote="Mark" data-source="post: 483464" data-attributes="member: 5">I couldn't agrre more.&nbsp; Logistically speaking, a small chalk or dry erase board up behind the DM can assist with this immensely.&nbsp; In conjunction with this, make sure to have a handful of extra wet erase pens (never get them mixed with the dry erase ones, btw) and have the players jot down their innitiatives in front of them on the edge of the battle mat.&nbsp; Also, have them keep track of missiles used (with hash marks) and have them jot down the numbers needed to be added to their d20 for their primary forms of attack (and spell DCs).&nbsp; Having this directly in front of them during combat will speed things up tremendously.&nbsp; Think of it as a temporary character sub-sheet. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)"&nbsp; data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />You could do this but it can also take the focus away from players who enjoy having the spot light on them from time to time.&nbsp; Alternately, you can be sure to vocalize some springboards that help to cue them to roll when their turn has arrived, I.E. &quot;Regdar swings his sword at the Orc...&quot; (point toward the die roller and assess the results) &quot;...and he hits!&nbsp; Doing...&quot; (point toward damage die) &quot;...maximum damage!&quot;&nbsp; Getting the player in a rhythm is key to eventually having them be quick during combat and nothing beats showing them how to do it quickly, IMO.&nbsp; Some will do it naturally and take over, being ready on their own.&nbsp; Others will like the cues and enjoy the flavor you add while DMing to such things.&nbsp; No one who has sat through a full session only to resolve a single combat encounter will begrudge the speed. <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&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mark, post: 483464, member: 5"] I couldn't agrre more. Logistically speaking, a small chalk or dry erase board up behind the DM can assist with this immensely. In conjunction with this, make sure to have a handful of extra wet erase pens (never get them mixed with the dry erase ones, btw) and have the players jot down their innitiatives in front of them on the edge of the battle mat. Also, have them keep track of missiles used (with hash marks) and have them jot down the numbers needed to be added to their d20 for their primary forms of attack (and spell DCs). Having this directly in front of them during combat will speed things up tremendously. Think of it as a temporary character sub-sheet. ;) You could do this but it can also take the focus away from players who enjoy having the spot light on them from time to time. Alternately, you can be sure to vocalize some springboards that help to cue them to roll when their turn has arrived, I.E. "Regdar swings his sword at the Orc..." (point toward the die roller and assess the results) "...and he hits! Doing..." (point toward damage die) "...maximum damage!" Getting the player in a rhythm is key to eventually having them be quick during combat and nothing beats showing them how to do it quickly, IMO. Some will do it naturally and take over, being ready on their own. Others will like the cues and enjoy the flavor you add while DMing to such things. No one who has sat through a full session only to resolve a single combat encounter will begrudge the speed. :) [/QUOTE]

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