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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emirikol" data-source="post: 1473967" data-attributes="member: 10638">Mmmmm.  My favorite subject next to discussing adventure formatting (no really).Alrighty, I do talks to DM's for the RPGA on just this sort of thing.Here's the deal:Just like in mental health, the entire group can only get help if they want it.  Here are the vital questions before you can get more help:  Do the rest of the players know that there is a problem?  Does the DM care?  Are there one or two players who specifically slow down the game or get distracted?  Until you can answer those questions, you will never have a solution.Now, the shotgun fixes (besides shooting the person who is slow):*  The NUMBER ONE method for speeding up combats is...DM ENFORCEMENT.  If the DM doesn't igive a crap enough to enforce speedy and efficient combats, nothing can help your group.  Other players can help the DM by putting pressure on the losers that can't seem to get organized, but the DM is the ultimate requirement for enforcement.  The DM needs to POINT his finger at the player who is up and announce who will be up next.  For those of you who ever competed in Track & Field, you've heard at the High/Long jump:  Bob is UP; Jim is on DECK..start preparing your action; Dan is in the HOLE..be ready.*  The NUMBER TWO method for speeding up combats is...PLAYER ORGANIZATION.  Players MUST first have accurate and legible numbers for the combat section of their character sheet.  Next, they need to be able to hold TWO DICE in their hands and be able to drop them on the table.  That means rolling your attack die with your damage die if you are still gaming in the dark ages.  Last, they must know how to add a d20 to whatever number is CLEARLY LEGIBLE for each attack and damage.  Sounds obvious doesn't it?  Well, players are stupid and need to be criticized by the DM and the other players when they don't keep up.*    The NUMBER THREE method for speeding up your game is to skip people who aren't ready (like the other poster noted).  A house rule will need to be made BEFORE you do this.  A 10-15 second rule is needed and players need to be reminded to roll ahead if necessary.  I'd also second that spellcasters cannot look up spells until after they've decided what to cast.  If they find out later that something doesn't work, no SPELLCRAFT checks are going to get that wasted spell back.  Now, those are the biggest three.  These will save you the most time.There's lots of little things, but those will come along later and are not as effective at cutting down wasted time.You will have more fun when your combats run faster.  Slow combats are the #2 reason why home groups break up.  I'll post the number one reason in another topic...Remember:  HOUSE RULE that players need to be ready, then have the PLAYERS AND the DM enforce it.  Maybe an x.p. penalty would help.jh..</blockquote>

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