How long should a standard combat last?

[ExploderWizard]

My point is that D&D is not the game for someone who, as a whole, does not want combats to last longer than 10 (or even 20) minutes. Combat is the primary focus of D&D (3.x and 4e in particular). If combat is uninteresting enough to you that you don't want a combat encounter to last more than 10 minutes, D&D will waste a lot of your time.

I am perfectly fine with the idea of long combats, if they need to be that long, or are particularly important events. I would say that exploration and encounters are the primary focus of D&D. If the players and the circumstances turn all encounters into combats then yes it could be very combat heavy. I do agree that the 3E and 4E systems have turned combat into a primary role because of increased detail and complexity that was introduced.

There are some sessions that are combat heavy. In cases where all I want to do is fight then I would rather have 6 combats in the session rather than just 2 or 3...........or 1!! (Assuming all were normal non-BBEG)

If I do want lengthly detailed combat then GURPS can provide that fix better than an abstract system. For me, the point of D&D combat is quick resolution that allows plenty of time for other activity or even more combat if thats what we want.

 

[xechnao]

I believe that there should be some risky encounters that they could bother players even for two hours. For exaple trying to escape from some castle full of guards where guards are aware and alert and some are even actively searching for you.
Cadwallon by Rackham has explicit rules for using minis in such scenarios if you are interested.
OTOH a simple confrontation should not take more than 10 mins.

 

[Benimoto]

I should time how long the combats in my home game are taking. To tell you the truth, I don't really know how long they're taking, but I know that it seems about right. I voted 45 minutes, just off the top of my head, not backed up by any empirical data.

I've played console games, like Final Fantasy Tactics, etc. where the quick non-boss combats can take 15-30 minutes, and I feel as though that's too short--it makes the combats repetitive, infused with a feeling of deja vu.

If the combats are 45 minutes long, it means that a 4 1/2 hour session with three combats has 2 hours and 15 minutes worth of combat, exactly half the session. If it has 4 combats, or two normal combats and one big combat, that's 3 hours of combat and 1 hour of other stuff. That feels about right to me, but that's all personal preference talking. I like combat, and while I like the other stuff (exploration, NPC interaction, shopping) too much of it in one stretch starts to feel long.

To put it another way, I think probably 50% of my current sessions follow the 4 1/2 hours session, 3 combat model above. Some sessions have more roleplaying and some more action, but I have players that when we spend more than about 45 minutes out of combat, unless it's exceptionally engaging, they ask straight out "are we going to fight something here?"

I have felt some 4e combats getting long, and I have some techniques that I've developed to avoid that. Maybe I should start a new thread on that though.

 

[buzz]

If the players and the circumstances turn all encounters into combats then yes it could be very combat heavy.

If we look at published adventures, though, easily 90% or more of the encounters are combat. If you look at the rulebooks, the majority of the content centers around the combat encounter and the PCs' capabilities therein. Sure, homebrew campaigns will vary this, but I can only really speak to my experience and what's presented in the product.

For me, the point of D&D combat is quick resolution that allows plenty of time for other activity or even more combat if thats what we want.

I guess we must play D&D pretty differently, then. 4e combats are, for our group, running faster than 3.5, but I wouldn't call them "quick". IMO, there are other RPGs that readily provide "quick" if that's what you want (i.e., you are not interested in robust tactical RPG combat).

Sorry for drifting the thread, Merric!

 

[buzz]

I should time how long the combats in my home game are taking. To tell you the truth, I don't really know how long they're taking, but I know that it seems about right. I voted 45 minutes, just off the top of my head, not backed up by any empirical data.

Our current KotS game is averaging 3-4 encounters a session, and our sessions are probably 4-5 hours of play time. This feels pretty fast to us, compared to 3.5. Granted, we're still at level 3.

 

[xechnao]

you are not interested in robust tactical RPG combat

I am interested in tactics but I want quickness too. This is why I am still not convinced about minis and mini rules (in fact I am trying to make a new game and still deciding whether to add mini rules or not).
I would like to be able to play out a complex action encounter of half an hour PC time by devoting maximum 2 hours game time. What I intend with complex encounter see above.

 

[buzz]

I am interested in tactics but I want quickness too.

You can have quick tactics; you just won't likely have robust tactics. E.g, compare BattleLore to, say, Advanced Squad Leader.

I would like to be able to play out a complex action encounter of half an hour PC time by devoting maximum 2 hours game time. What I intend with complex encounter see above.

That sounds like an entire scenario, not just one encounter.

 

[Thanee]

Probably one of the most important questions to ask: How long do you believe a standard combat should take?

None of the answers is applicable.

As long as it takes, as long as it doesn't get boring.

Doesn't matter whether it's 15 minutes or 2 hours, as long as it's fun.

Bye
Thanee

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I voted 5-10 minutes and that seems to be the norm for most of our fights, unless some breaks out web. Of course, we play first edition, so there's hardly anything with more than 80 or so hit points.

 

[Monkey Boy]

I agree, that is kinda insane. I've had a 2.5 hour combat, but it was a massive BBEG fight with a solo black dragon that went more than 9 rounds...more closer to 19.

I think Black Dragons are poorly designed. The darkness ability makes them really hard to kill. We suffered a similarly drawn out combat against one. It was a relief to finally kill it. It wasted 2.5 hours of our life!