Speeding Up the Game

[ren1999]

When playing 1st and 2nd edition,
the monsters are taken from the 4e Monster Vault, then from 4e Monster Manuals, etc..

then, the player character with the highest standard, at-will damage causing power is noted. In the current game it is 2d10+6

Minions HP1
Artillery & Shamans HP 1d10+6
Soldiers & Brutes HP 2d10+6
Controllers & Leaders HP 3d10+6

In Slave Pits of the Undercity a tournament D&D game, the player characters are all around 6th level with an average of 25 to 50 hit points while most monsters averaged 10 hit points. Classic D&D combat went much faster and it was more fun.

 

[eriktheguy]

So do what many DMs do and change the HP or damage values to suit your taste. Typical mods are listed all over these forums. Also try using monsters from monster manual 3, they tend to deal damage quickly and have less HP.

 

[Ahnirades]

When playing 1st and 2nd edition,
the monsters are taken from the 4e Monster Vault, then from 4e Monster Manuals, etc..

then, the player character with the highest standard, at-will damage causing power is noted. In the current game it is 2d10+6

Minions HP1
Artillery & Shamans HP 1d10+6
Soldiers & Brutes HP 2d10+6
Controllers & Leaders HP 3d10+6

In Slave Pits of the Undercity a tournament D&D game, the player characters are all around 6th level with an average of 25 to 50 hit points while most monsters averaged 10 hit points. Classic D&D combat went much faster and it was more fun.

I like the idea, although I'd also remove XP for monsters entirely and have the group level up every 4-5 sessions. Things would be too easy otherwise.