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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DND_Reborn" data-source="post: 7637625" data-attributes="member: 6987520">First, I pity groups that meet infrequently for so little time. Our group plays twice a month (roughly), but our sessions are typically 12-15 hours so we can get a lot done.I've never minded the resource-drain since that is how it works (you fire arrows, you lose some, you get some back, etc.), but game-time is one resource we hate getting drained.We keep the socializing to the first 15-30 minutes, reviewing and updating characters and the current situation in the adventure all at the same time.Some time-saving tips that work for us:Roll Initiative only once or use side-based Initiative. Don't roll every round. The complexity it adds to the combat is not worth the time.Use average damage for monsters, and even encourage the players to as well. Not rolling damage or having to calculate it each time saves tons of time and the game is just as much fun!Use a morale system. If the players are steamrolling the encounter, the monsters should flee if they can IMO. Ex. Once we encountered a band of orcs and such and our half-orc called out to them to turn back or be destroyed. The Sorcerer then hit them with fireball, average damage (28) is nearly enough to kill an orc even if it saves. Several were killed, the rest fled immediately.Easy encounters should go quickly (5-10 minutes max). If you have many foes (like dozens of stirges attacking a group of 7th-level characters) I suggest mob-style rules. The ones in the DMG work for us.Otherwise, focus on narrating them and even award XP if you want, but stress medium or harder encounters. While you don't want every fight to be a knock-down-drag-out fight, those are the most exciting ones. Every once in a while, play out the easy encounters just to remind the players how powerful they are.Moderate and hard encounters can vary from 5 minutes to 20-30 even IME. Deadly encounters can run an hour or more depending on the number of foes and the complexity of the set-up.</blockquote>

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