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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercule" data-source="post: 4883193" data-attributes="member: 5100">Honestly, I've been amazed at how much more quickly 4e combat runs than 3e.  We'll see whether I still have that opinion when the groups hits Paragon tier, but life's good, right now.Of course, I think 90% of what slowed down my 3e game was complicated effects -- and having the newbie play the wizard and a non-detail-oriented player run the druid.  I didn't think I was going to like the short power descriptions, but they do run so much faster without losing much flavor (I could handle having more complex rituals, though).  Just simplifying stuff has sped up combat incredibly for my group.I've also found visual cues to be beneficial, whether that's pipecleaners on minis, poker chips for conditions, or something else.  Find something that works.  On that note, photocopy the conditions page of the PHB, if you don't have a DM screen.Something else that helps more than I thought it would is to let the players know not just who's up now, but who's next: "Okay, Jim, it's your turn.  Sally's next.  What do you do, Jim?"  And, clarify when someone is done: "Jim, you've used a minor and standard action.  Do you have a move or are you done?"Finally, the first thing I changed.  Accept that it's okay for monsters to run (or even drop before they're time).  Yes, healing resources are still limited, but not as finely as they were in prior editions.  Those five extra hit points the orc is going to do before it dies ain't gonna matter when you're spending surges.  It certainly isn't gonna matter as much as the 10-15 minutes it could take to cycle through everyone but the fighter holding their actions untill the turd dies.  As a DM, you know when the fight is done.  Just let it be done.The first couple fights we had in 4e ran 90+ minutes.  We're down to 45 minutes for boss fights and 30 minutes, max for others.  I don't know that I want combat to take less than 20-30 minutes, anyway, so that's good for me.  I plan to continue to streamline things, though.  As I said, Paragon tier is coming.  Plus, having the ability to tinker with timing is never a bad thing.</blockquote>

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