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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Primitive Screwhead" data-source="post: 4603629" data-attributes="member: 20805">This is going to sound weird.... Have you ever facilitated a corporate meeting? The skill-set to wrap up on time is the same for running an effective RPG session with a time limit.My regular game runs for 4 hours, and I recently was convinced to introduce a break at the 2 hour mark. Once in the last year I was forced to break mid-combat, due primarily to a late start. I have also had to stop about 15 minutes early because the group did not want to dally and made it to the next combat encounter early. The key points: - start on time - Watch the clock {without watching the clock too obviously!} - have 'milestones' to aim for at particular times   {fx, group should be at the stable by 7:15 pm for combat with X} - know how much 'fluff' your players like - energize action when needed - draw out action when needed - practice, practice, practice - be flexible! - leave 5 to 10 minutes at the end to wrap up and prepare for the next session {end on a high note!}There are a bunch of 'how to run a meeting' guides out there, and most of the lessons from those can be applied to a gaming session.Knowing the module/scenario/world like the back of your hand helps alot. This gives you the lee-way to know where the group is compared to the rest of the plot, and gives you outlets for expanding or contracting the story. I prefer any optional encounters to be skill challenges as they are very easy to manage, and easier to gloss over with narrative if needed. I dislike, as both GM and player, the concept of 'random combat encounters'. IMHO any combat that occurs should have a link to the plot simply from the POV that it takes up so much real-time to play through.One oft forgotten cliff-hanger is the sudden escape... mid-combat the BBEG teleports the PCs opponents out and leaves them with a chilling laugh.... knowing full well that the monsters they almost beat will be back in full force later!   of course, don't do this very often!As to remembering who used what, I rely on my players to keep track of all that. I know that sometimes they slip up, but thats okay because I sometimes slip up on the monsters as well. It all evens out and the game isn't spoiled by it. If I ever get the feeling they are cheating, I kindly ask them about it and remind them about my golden rule of gaming: What the PCs get to use, I get to use....  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devil.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":devil:" title="Devil    :devil:" data-shortname=":devil:" />I haven't had a problem with cheating in over a decade, so I guess it works {or I need to play more often.. not sure which!}</blockquote>

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