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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alphastream" data-source="post: 5960672" data-attributes="member: 11365">Opinions will always differ. For many players, combat speed is an issue in 3E and 4E as compared to previous editions and lighter RPGs. 4E is fairly uniform in time spent across levels, while 3E tends to be faster (slightly) at lower levels and both editions are slightly longer at higher levels. The nuances are interesting, but probably not worth discussing for your benefit.D&D Encounters is specifically a program designed to give you a strong dose of combat. Each week's session is supposed to have a strong "bang" factor and to be lighter on the RP and exploration side (though various seasons do that as well). The reason is because this is an in-store program and the audience generally prefers coming in to roll dice and have fun in a combat setting. LFR is a step beyond that. The adventures are 4 hours in length and while they feature 2-3 combats usually, and those combats can be the majority of the time, there are often strong role-playing aspects (though less exploration, generally). This is in part about the audience, in part historical, and in part due to the edition. Living Campaigns are often trying to sum up big events in just 4 hours, so the combats are often big movie-style cinematic scenes and then we 'cut' to the next non-combat scene. This is true of Pathfinder and other living campaigns as well (not to mention many home games). That said, LFR has more than 100 adventures. The newer ones can be really great, including some great scenes such as decisions of how to place defenses prior to a siege or creating your own play involving two deities, then role-playing that out. <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4th-edition-discussion/301888-learn-about-d-d-d-d-4th-edition-organized-play-options.html" target="_blank">Other campaigns</a> experiment a bit further. Living Divine and Ashes of Athas often work to challenge expectations and deliver more role-playing and a greater cohesive story. As an admin for AoA, we work hard to innovate while having a very focused story experience. Pathfinder/3E combat is faster at low levels, but keep in mind that Living Greyhawk (an old 3E living campaign), Pathfinder (3.75), and LFR (4E) all roughly use the same formula of 2-3 fights per 4-hour adventure. The difference between combat length in actual play is not particularly noticeable outside of really short 3E combats that aren't meant to be a challenge. On average I don't think combat length or grid emphasis will be a difference. Edition isn't the only factor. Ashes of Athas (4E) has had several grid-less combat scenes, but we also love tactical terrain-rich grid play. In the end it likely comes down to compelling story. To give any organized play campaign a fair shot, play through a series of linked adventures and decide which you like best. Play the Calimshan LFR series, play the Jade PFS series, play a Chapter of AoA adventures, play some Arcanis linked adventures, Shadowrun Missions, etc. and go with what your group liked best. I won't be shocked if different players have different preferences.</blockquote>

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