How long should a standard combat last?

[Grazzt]

I voted 15-20 minutes for that level range. I would expect lower level combats to be a bit shorter. More than 30 minutes, even for a higher level should be a major encounter.

I voted the same. And generally agree with ya on the 30+ minutes for the major encounters.

 

[Zaukrie]

As much as I like 4E, this is my biggest issue so far. Combats seem to go about 5-10 minutes too long sometimes. As DM, I start to lose interest and focus past 20-30 minutes. I can't imagine what it would be like to fight a dragon or some creature at high level with 500 - 1000 hps! There aren't enough interesting options to do cool stuff to have one encounter last as long as that one will.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I voted the same. And generally agree with ya on the 30+ minutes for the major encounters.

KOTS is such a grindfest for us, that I can't even imagine what combat times will be like at high level.

The whole situation inspired me to compose this:

http://http://www.enworld.org/forum...-named-squamous/241937-song-parodies-2-a.html

 

[Janx]

I've run games with 6 combats in 4 hours. It can be done.

It involves keeping everybody moving, no dawdling.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Merric, one thing though -- aren't you the guy whose group was plowing through 3e combats in record time?

I'm imagining that in a year, you'll be back here regaling us with tales of your sessions lasting 3 hours and handling 8 combats.

I think everyone is slower than they'd like, for now, because of rules familiarity. I certainly don't have that "I know the rules like the back of my hand" feeling that I used to have with 3e. At least, not yet.

 

[Obergnom]

So far, our campaign went from level 1 to 7, and combat got faster with every level. I guess it is a combination of better team play and more daily and ecnounter powers.

 

[Goonalan]

I went for 45 minutes.

I have now DM'ed 20 sessions of 4E, and from my log I can see that in that time the various groups I DM for have completed 67 combat encounters, average length of session is 270 minutes, 4.5 hours. I go in for a heaped spoonful of role-play and general chitter-chatter however combat runs at 45 minutes/encounter give or take with the big bad guys/final encounters lasting around ninety minutes.

To be honest it's our biggest gripe about 4e.

 

[el-remmen]

I wish the poll choices gave ranges of time rather than a single number. I would have chosen 45 to 60 minutes - Anyway, I chose 60 minutes. If a combat (any combat!) can't be kept interesting for an hour then I think something is wrong. This time period also allows for multiple combats in one session (we play about 6 hours every 2 weeks).

But honestly, the "clean-up" and consequences of fights tend to take us longer than the fights themselves.

 

[Obryn]

I don't see "It depends on what game or edition of D&D I'm playing."

If it's 3e or 4e, it will be longer. If it's 1e or another game, like WFRP or CoC, it will be shorter.

-O

 

[frankthedm]

If a typical combat takes more than 20 minutes, I have to ask "Where is the time going?". If it's the DM or players giving good descriptions of their actions, that's fine, but...

Idle banter: Not a problem of the system, maybe not even a problem if the group enjoys chit-chat.

Always looking up character data: Do your homework. Read the damned book.

Always looking up rules: This may be an issue of a player not reading enough, but it may be a sign the character or system is too complex.

Lots of rolls: This is probably a system problem. Look for shortcuts like rolling attack and damage at the same time when feasable.

Rules arguments: The DM is final arbiter of the game. The DM needs to do their homework. If a player wants to contend a rule is “stupid”, then the player needs to bring subject up before that rules is acting against the PC.