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D&D 5E Do you time your players in combat?
- Thread starter Glomb175
- Start date
Satyrn
First Post
My group uses a group initiative where the players can act in whatever order they wish to each round.
So what happens is we are all thinking at the same time, and make up quick group-based tactics - and since a couple of us will know what we want to do without any hesitation, the others can look up what their spells or waffle a little while longer before it's ever noticed.
And because the players are deciding when to act without DM intervention, we are regularly finished our group's turn before the DM has noticed, and we're left sitting around waiting on him.
So what happens is we are all thinking at the same time, and make up quick group-based tactics - and since a couple of us will know what we want to do without any hesitation, the others can look up what their spells or waffle a little while longer before it's ever noticed.
And because the players are deciding when to act without DM intervention, we are regularly finished our group's turn before the DM has noticed, and we're left sitting around waiting on him.
Eltab
Lord of the Hidden Layer
My Tiamat group had an attention-challenged player (in a group that varied from 3 to 8 players on any given night).
I adopted a practice of calling out who was "up to bat" and "on deck" (read ahead on the Initiative List; I also pivoted the List so the players could see it) so the next guy knew he had to pay attention and decide what to do.
This also avoided drawing attention to any particular individuals as if I didn't trust them.
I've been guilty of not paying attention as a player myself (but not as DM - if the DM isn't paying attention to the game, nothing at all happens) so I don't beat people over the head about it. I do chide / scold them if it keeps happening over and over.
I have asked that every phone be put away until the session is over. After a stall-out the week before. The group knew why I had asked, and complied.
I adopted a practice of calling out who was "up to bat" and "on deck" (read ahead on the Initiative List; I also pivoted the List so the players could see it) so the next guy knew he had to pay attention and decide what to do.
This also avoided drawing attention to any particular individuals as if I didn't trust them.
I've been guilty of not paying attention as a player myself (but not as DM - if the DM isn't paying attention to the game, nothing at all happens) so I don't beat people over the head about it. I do chide / scold them if it keeps happening over and over.
I have asked that every phone be put away until the session is over. After a stall-out the week before. The group knew why I had asked, and complied.
Bitbrain
Lost in Dark Sun
Both DMs for my group do not time their players . . .
But I firmly believe that they should.
There is one specific guy at my table who is amazingly slow in combat.
How slow?
Immediately after his turn, he starts thinking about what he wants to do on his next turn, and by the time it gets back to him generally 6 minutes have passed . . . And he's still thinking about what he wants to do for another 4 minutes.
Keep in mind, when he finally gets done thinking and actually takes action, it's generally awesome and effective.
But still, 10 whole minutes . . . Just to decide what to do in one turn. Every single time.
But I firmly believe that they should.
There is one specific guy at my table who is amazingly slow in combat.
How slow?
Immediately after his turn, he starts thinking about what he wants to do on his next turn, and by the time it gets back to him generally 6 minutes have passed . . . And he's still thinking about what he wants to do for another 4 minutes.
Keep in mind, when he finally gets done thinking and actually takes action, it's generally awesome and effective.
But still, 10 whole minutes . . . Just to decide what to do in one turn. Every single time.
pdzoch
Explorer
I had this problem for a while. The way I solved it was to incentivize the players to be ready to act when their turns came up. I gave advantage to anyone who acted immediately when their turn came up.
I use initiative tents on my DM screen to indicate turn order. I place a turn marker (large painted clothes pin) on the player tent to indicate whose turn it is. When I moved the turn marker to the next player, it is their turn to act. If they respond immediately with their turn action, they have advantage. If they do not respond with a turn action right away, then they do not get advantage (other than what is already provided for in the rules of the game). This motivated everyone to always be ready to act on their turn and it really sped games up. It actually encouraged players to give permission to other player to act for them if they stepped out for any reason, just so that they would not lose the advantage roll.
I use initiative tents on my DM screen to indicate turn order. I place a turn marker (large painted clothes pin) on the player tent to indicate whose turn it is. When I moved the turn marker to the next player, it is their turn to act. If they respond immediately with their turn action, they have advantage. If they do not respond with a turn action right away, then they do not get advantage (other than what is already provided for in the rules of the game). This motivated everyone to always be ready to act on their turn and it really sped games up. It actually encouraged players to give permission to other player to act for them if they stepped out for any reason, just so that they would not lose the advantage roll.
Warmaster Horus
Explorer
The only time limit is me (the DM) becoming impatient. If that happens I'll usually say something like, "This is taking too long. Either finish your turn now or lose it."
I run a system where player and NPC cards are set up in initiative order so people know when their turn is coming.
I run a system where player and NPC cards are set up in initiative order so people know when their turn is coming.
Otterscrubber
First Post
This is great advice for running combat efficiently: http://theangrygm.com/manage-combat-like-a-dolphin/
But it sounds like you've got deeper issues if the players are addicted to their phones...
What Robus said....it might be good to set some ground rules for gameplay before the session starts that everyone can agree to. Me and my friends are a bit older, most are married have kids, we dont get to D&D as often as we'd like so when we do, we are there to play. But, yeah, putting phones away would be a good start. Common courtesy. As the DM, I also request that my players come prepared with character sheets updated, please be familiar with your common attacks, bonuses and damage dice, and if you're a spell-cater to know your spells. We don't put timers on anything, but if it gets out of hand that's not a terrible idea. Then again, I'm lucky that the gamers in my group are all pretty mature and generally respectful. If your group isn't like that then yeah, you'll have to come up with something creative to manage the flow of the game or find a new group. Good luck.
CydKnight
Explorer
I do not impose a specific time limit on players taking their turn in combat. However I will ask them to move it along, forcefully if necessary, if they start to be an obvious drag on the combat rhythm and flow. I also do not allow cell phone text or talk at the table unless it is a legitimate emergency. In return I constantly remind players of their position in the combat order especially when their turn comes after the current one.
Mine aren't so bad, we're all close to thirty so not particularly young either. They're focused at the start but after about 4 hours they lose concentration and that's when the phones come out. It's funny you mentioned character sheets as that's a common occurrence, we meet for a session and they spend an hour levelling up their characters. Cheers for the feedback, I'll bear it in mind
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