How long did this session take?

[Beckett]

I went with seven hours, was leaning toward eight. Looking again at the levels, it's probably less than that; the two campaigns I've run most recently have higher level characters, and when they go full buff, that can take an hour right there. Lower level characters have fewer options, so I imagine things could go faster.

Ugh. This is reminding me of my frustration at my Wednesday game. It was the final two battles ending a 13th level Eberron game. The second fight, featuring a single opponent, went pretty fast, but the first one dragged. Yes, there were lots of opponents, but there were also a lot of distracted players. It gets very irritating to have to call a player's name two or more times to get them to take their turn, especially since I have a wipeboard on the wall showing when everyone is going.

I want to start penalizing them for not paying attention, but then I'm the bad guy. Two of our players are moving, and people were talking about keeping them involved via webcams and voice chats. Not a chance- I can just imagine how much more that would slow things down.

To bring this back around to on topic, I want to change my guess to 6 hours. I've always felt Merric's style is a lot like mine, and I think his game runs like I'd like mine to.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

6 hours is my guess. My group, at those levels, would probably take either 3 hours or 9 so I split the difference.

 

[Hussar]

In my OpenRPG games, this would take about 6-7 hours. Face to face, five. So, I went with a five hour session.

 

[Corsair]

I voted 6, but that is not including chit-chat time, dinner time, set up time, etc. 6 hours of actual game play.

 

[the Jester]

Given the frantic pace of that adventure, I'm going to say 5 hours.

 

[Nyaricus]

Dang! Several people voted for 10+ hours. They must have either slow groups or they do a lot of talking in the middle of gaming.

This is (regrettably) my group (I voted 9 hours, FYI). Two of my players are horrendous at getting off-topic whenever and however they can. I mean, they are both friends of mine, but it peeves me off - we only have Saturday evenings to play, and they go completely OT every time. Eventually, they settle in, but usually halfway in the game, and that's not counting dinner, and everyone showing up (these two guys are also consistantly - and considerably - late) et al.

I passionately DM, and worldbuild, and learn a much as I can about whatever I'm into, but it can be a drag to have OT players.

Hmmm, sorry for the rant. In any case, yeah: 9 hours, for my group.

cheers,
--N

 

[Illirion]

Based on my own group a session with 6 combats would have taken easily 10+ hours. asuming yours is a little faster I went with 8. Each combat takes a lot of time for us to set up on the battle grid and in my group I'm the only one who has a general idea on how the combat rules work. Other players don't even own a players handbook.

Stuff like that makes an evening filling encounter out of something that is supposed to be a push over.

8 hours would be incredibly fast for a group like mine. I don't know your group, but if you're faster than that you're probably all reasonably experienced players and you have a very methodic aproach to a session.

For example: the combat with the manticore you decribed would have taken my group at least half an hour including the wizard having to look up what exactly his spell did, me having to look up the dc for the climb check, the rogue taking a lot of time and debate about whether he should shoot at the manticore or climb up with the fighter, etc. etc.

Cheers,
Illirion.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I say 7 hours: Roughly 5 hours for the combats, and 2 hours for the other stuff.

 

[Terwox]

Here was my guess, knowing you've often marveled at how people say D&D combat lags, so I figure your group whipped through things quickly (not that it was easy, just that combat moved!)

* 12 Hobgoblin (Ftr 2), 1 Hobgoblin (Clr 5), 2 hellhound, 1 Hobgoblin (Ftr 4) (20 minutes, lots of stuff going on)
* 1 six-headed Hydra (10 minutes)
* 1 Manticore (10 minutes, this is before I read the fight, although this still sounds true)
* 2 Goblin Worgriders (Ftr 2) and their mounts, 4 Hobgoblin (Ftr 2) (20 minutes)
* 1 Minotaur and 1 Bugbear Sorcerer 6 (10 minutes)
* 4 Goblin Worgriders (Ftr 2) and their mounts (20 minutes)

Just guessing the mobility fights had more duration to them. Double the time to account for me guessing really low, and to add in non-combat interaction, and I said 3 hours.

I'd say 5 hours for my group, and the extra two hours would be off-topic chatter. Which I'm fine with, although I could go for it being a little shorter, but no big deal.

I'm considering posting a similar thread about my last session. Hmm. Nah!

 

[Imruphel]

Ten hours.

Nine hours of that was deciding the rules for the hydra.

(snip) Here's something: Today, the top temperature in Ballarat is about 35 degrees Celsius. (95 F). Last Wednesday, it was snowing. Go figure. (snip)

And that is why I regularly thank God that my parents moved from Victoria after I was born (even though I still love Victoria). So, Merric, move to Singapore and enjoy the Government-mandated 24 min and 32 max temperatures all year round: Welcome to Mechanus!