D&D 5E How many rounds do most of your combats last?

[Zaukrie]

I know they don't all last the same, but I'm curious if many combats go past round 5.....This isn't for a research paper, just go with your gut.

thanks!

 

[Asisreo]

Most of them, I try to keep within 2-3 rounds. That's because most of them are medium-hard encounters. My boss fights may last 5-6 rounds but I still try to keep things fresh.

 

[LordEntrails]

My gut says 5-8. Never understood or enjoyed all these 2-3 round encounters people talk about. They don't sound like very interesting stories to me. (except occasionally when you run across the mook in the alley who pulls a knife on someone they shouldn't!)

 

[atanakar]

4-6 is the average.
7+ for epic fights against BBEB and large number of opponents.
2-3 only for very weak encounters.

 

[Draegn]

Time in our game is different; we have 1 minute combat rounds, each round has six 10 second combat phases. There are two weapons tracks. Melee attacks per phase, ranged attacks per round.

This was done to better simulate the rate of fire for missile weapons when compared to how many times a melee weapon could be wielded.

It is with the opponents faced that determines the length of combat. Goblins 1 or 2 phases, a dragon multiple rounds. Also theatre of the mind is applied.

 

[Odysseus]

When I first started running 5e they were all 2-3 rounds. But as I've grown more experienced with the rules and tactics they vary from 2 to 10 rounds depending on the difficulty.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Probably in the 3-4 range. For a while one of my tables had about 8-10 people, depending, and combat only lasted 1-2 rounds (and still took over an hour). So glad that that table eventually shrunk to a sane size.

 

[Oofta]

I voted 5-6 but it's all over the board. Depends on the goal of the encounter, number and type of opponents.

Maybe the biggest is the players, if they split up and don't focus fire it takes longer. Some groups are just more efficient than others.

 

[OB1]

Easy 1-2 Rounds
Medium 2-3 Rounds
Hard 4-5 Rounds
Deadly 6-7 Rounds
Deadly+ 8-9 Rounds

I shoot for 18-22 rounds in a day if I'm looking to push the PCs to their limit

 

[Asisreo]

My gut says 5-8. Never understood or enjoyed all these 2-3 round encounters people talk about. They don't sound like very interesting stories to me. (except occasionally when you run across the mook in the alley who pulls a knife on someone they shouldn't!)

Not every single fight I have is the story of a lifetime. They're interesting but I don't want them overstaying their welcome. If I have a fight where the gimmick is the enemy can fly, it's interesting up until the party is still in combat an hour and a half later where they feel they should just continue.

The BBEG fights, though, last long because there's plenty interesting stuff each round.

When the enemies are doing the same thing they did last turn, things have started to slow down.