How long do your battles take

[Quasqueton]

we roleplay it.

3 minutes per Player (assuming 4 PCs and a DM)? A minute is a loooooong time. "Act out" being held for 10 rounds, and you'll see.

The 30 seconds to 1 minute that my Players take isn't like speed play. "I charge forward, into the fray, and arc my great axe across the front rank, hopefully cleaving through a couple enemies. I shout, 'Leeeerrrooooy Jekins!' during my run up," takes what 10 seconds?

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

3 minutes per Player (assuming 4 PCs and a DM)? A minute is a loooooong time. "Act out" being held for 10 rounds, and you'll see.

The 30 seconds to 1 minute that my Players take isn't like speed play. "I charge forward, into the fray, and arc my great axe across the front rank, hopefully cleaving through a couple enemies. I shout, 'Leeeerrrooooy Jekins!' during my run up," takes what 10 seconds?

Quasqueton

but you are playing to the audience.. you have to get your accolades.

the other players respond with laughs... ooooos.. and aaahhhhs... and jokes or serious dialogue of their own.

we let the BBEG in the last fight say his whole prepared speech before we hacked him to pieces...

 

[Hussar]

Quas, I'm with you bud. But, in my experience, some players are slower than you would ever possibly believe. It never ceases to amaze me how much time people will spend on the most simple and basic of tasks.

But, even at 1 minute per player, plus another 3 minutes for the DM, you're looking at about 5-7 minutes MINIMUM per round. And that's pretty fast actually. 10 would be closer. Three rounds of combat - 30 minutes easy. For a 9th level party, a three round combat is pretty standard I would think. If you can go quicker than that, my hat's off to ya bud. I've been prodding buttock with my guys for the better part of a year and I still can't get them up to speed.

 

[TerraDave]

In the campaing started at the end of last year, not to long, yet. But we did just have our first extended-and long-pre battle buffing in the last session. :\

 

[diaglo]

we let the BBEG in the last fight say his whole prepared speech before we hacked him to pieces...

i'm still carrying his head around on my belt so i can get him true rezzed by the good guys for questioning later. besides it makes a great trophy.

 

[Sammael]

There are six players (level 14-15) IMC, and a challenging* battle rarely takes less than an hour.




*Last session, they disposed of 18 6th level fighters, an 8th level cleric and an 8th level wizard in about 10 minutes, but this was not a challenging battle to them.

 

[Nebulous]

Hmm. I recall one adventure sequence i ran years back where the Pc's were in combat for basicially 3 or 4 adventures in a row. It was exhausting, but fun, although i probably wouldn't do it again.

 

[DragonSword]

Be interesting to see the varying degrees of tactics and description that different groups go into. How much actual tactical movement takes place in your combat sequences and how much detail d you tend to go into describing your actions?

 

[bradikus]

Be interesting to see the varying degrees of tactics and description that different groups go into. How much actual tactical movement takes place in your combat sequences and how much detail d you tend to go into describing your actions?

Good question. Let's just say that the 5 foot step, in some cases, has become the biggest cause for abuse that has ever been introduced in the game. Players are always considering what 5 foot step to take to put them in the optimal position, and then the whole party has to discuss it (a la; Quasqueton). To be fair though, our current campaign has been running a lot smoother which may be due to everyone finally getting used to the 3.5 combat rules.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Good question. Let's just say that the 5 foot step, in some cases, has become the biggest cause for abuse that has ever been introduced in the game. Players are always considering what 5 foot step to take to put them in the optimal position, and then the whole party has to discuss it (a la; Quasqueton). To be fair though, our current campaign has been running a lot smoother which may be due to everyone finally getting used to the 3.5 combat rules.

I don't allow the players to discuss each other's tactics or moves in detail. Each player takes his or her turn, other players can, within the six second round, shout out advice such as - 'flank this guy' "lightning bolt him' etc but there is never a committee meeting on every move. I think that would drive me batty (and at least half of my group too).

I choose 30-45 minutes but that is more of an average than anything else. Some take as little as 10 minutes others over 2 hours. For the most part 30-45 minutes is the average though.