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<blockquote data-quote="scrubkai" data-source="post: 2140731" data-attributes="member: 9766">We have found that you really have a couple of options to make these kind of fights go faster:1) If your DM isn't doing it already, let the players do the math for their character.Don't make the DM calculate all the bonuses each player has... He/She has enough to do with just tracking the buffs on the monsters.2) Do you have laptops and know how to use a spreadsheet program? (e.g. excel)&nbsp; If so use it. There are numerous electronic aids that will hold a character sheet/calculate the bonuses for you.&nbsp; It's always faster at the gaming table if you can just drop a &quot;+4&quot; in for your dex score and have everything automatically update rather then having to recalculate, AC (Normal, Flat footed, and Touch )&nbsp; and Ranged To hit for each weapon on paper.3) If you have a long time to prepare, do so out side of the gaming session.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our group often lays out the encounter at the end of one playing night, then has all the players go home and discuss over email their strategy.&nbsp; Those of us with Buff heavy characters also normally lay out the order we'll cast the spells and do any needed calculations so that when we get back together the next time, we know exactly what bonuses we have and combat can move quickly.I personally normally write the Spell name, Effect, Duration and round started/expiring on a sheet of scratch paper.&nbsp; Then at a glance I can see all my bonuses and what's active/not active.4) We keep a round count on our battlemat so that you can look over and say OK it's round 14, that means Spell A, B, and D are still going, but C, E, F and G have already expired.Add that to excel and you can have it auto-calc for you. One of our players has his excel character sheet so loaded with if() functions that he just puts an x in cell next to the buffs that are active and all the effects auto calc for him... When the round count hits the number he knows one of his buffs expire he just clicks off the x and goes on.&nbsp; Everything else calculates for him.&nbsp; It makes combat fast... Roll to hit, roll damage add the bonuses at the top of the sheet and you are done.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="scrubkai, post: 2140731, member: 9766"] We have found that you really have a couple of options to make these kind of fights go faster: 1) If your DM isn't doing it already, let the players do the math for their character. Don't make the DM calculate all the bonuses each player has... He/She has enough to do with just tracking the buffs on the monsters. 2) Do you have laptops and know how to use a spreadsheet program? (e.g. excel) If so use it. There are numerous electronic aids that will hold a character sheet/calculate the bonuses for you. It's always faster at the gaming table if you can just drop a "+4" in for your dex score and have everything automatically update rather then having to recalculate, AC (Normal, Flat footed, and Touch ) and Ranged To hit for each weapon on paper. 3) If you have a long time to prepare, do so out side of the gaming session. Our group often lays out the encounter at the end of one playing night, then has all the players go home and discuss over email their strategy. Those of us with Buff heavy characters also normally lay out the order we'll cast the spells and do any needed calculations so that when we get back together the next time, we know exactly what bonuses we have and combat can move quickly. I personally normally write the Spell name, Effect, Duration and round started/expiring on a sheet of scratch paper. Then at a glance I can see all my bonuses and what's active/not active. 4) We keep a round count on our battlemat so that you can look over and say OK it's round 14, that means Spell A, B, and D are still going, but C, E, F and G have already expired. Add that to excel and you can have it auto-calc for you. One of our players has his excel character sheet so loaded with if() functions that he just puts an x in cell next to the buffs that are active and all the effects auto calc for him... When the round count hits the number he knows one of his buffs expire he just clicks off the x and goes on. Everything else calculates for him. It makes combat fast... Roll to hit, roll damage add the bonuses at the top of the sheet and you are done. [/QUOTE]

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