jmucchiello
Hero
We stop in the middle all the time. It really isn't that hard to note the mini-positions and write down init order and a list of on going spells/effects.
Stopping A Game Session During Combat
- Thread starter Thunt
- Start date
I've done both.
I try not to stop mid fight, but depending on the advneture and what the party does you just don't have a choice.
If I have to stop.....
I always stop at the end of a round.
Paper clip my Init cards in the correct order
Make notes on what NPC's have done / need to do
Take multiple pics of the board with the camera phone ( I actully think I have two or three games stored on it as we speak
)
Depending on the fight will also note locations on a paper map as well
Have everyone note status of HP, Spells up/used on a sticky
When we get started have everyone tak a couple min to review what then had done, and what spells they had put up for the party.
I'll give a quick recap of why they are where they are and what the goal is beyond surviving.
While running RttToEE I even had several fights that woud span 3 sessions, start one, take the entire next session and then finish sometime during the third.
Of course this only works if you are doing a weekly game and know you should be able to play the following week.
I have also just ended the night a little early instead of getting a round or two into the fight and then have to stop.
With something like this I think its really depends on the group and what the repercutions of playing that extra couple hours is going to have on the real world the next day.
I try not to stop mid fight, but depending on the advneture and what the party does you just don't have a choice.
If I have to stop.....
I always stop at the end of a round.
Paper clip my Init cards in the correct order
Make notes on what NPC's have done / need to do
Take multiple pics of the board with the camera phone ( I actully think I have two or three games stored on it as we speak
)Depending on the fight will also note locations on a paper map as well
Have everyone note status of HP, Spells up/used on a sticky
When we get started have everyone tak a couple min to review what then had done, and what spells they had put up for the party.
I'll give a quick recap of why they are where they are and what the goal is beyond surviving.
While running RttToEE I even had several fights that woud span 3 sessions, start one, take the entire next session and then finish sometime during the third.
Of course this only works if you are doing a weekly game and know you should be able to play the following week.
I have also just ended the night a little early instead of getting a round or two into the fight and then have to stop.
With something like this I think its really depends on the group and what the repercutions of playing that extra couple hours is going to have on the real world the next day.
iwatt
First Post
DonTadow said:
Might I reccomend letting her deal with it first hand. If she's serious about DMing she'll have to deal with it sooner than later anyway. Mighta as well deal with it now.
By the way, I agree with you on the fact that time management is very important as a DM. Lately I've been having trouble with this due to intermitent long breaks betweeen sessions and casual gamers as players.
El Ravager
First Post
I've had to do it on several occasions. Of course I try not to, but sometimes the real world intrudes suddenly and it is unavoidable.
I've found that it works best if the DM takes GOOD notes on exactly the status of everyone involved.
It sucks when the DM says...
DM "Okay Jed, the ogre fiend fires at you and you are struck by a giant crossbow Bolt of Reaving Doom that impales you. You feel your guts spill...."
Jed "Uh, how did he see me? Remember, I cast invisibility and flew around behind him right before we ended last time?"
DM "Ooh, yeah. Um.... hmmm... Mike, about that crossbow bolt, turns out it was actually pointed at you...."
I know, I've been that DM
=====
El Rav
I've found that it works best if the DM takes GOOD notes on exactly the status of everyone involved.
It sucks when the DM says...
DM "Okay Jed, the ogre fiend fires at you and you are struck by a giant crossbow Bolt of Reaving Doom that impales you. You feel your guts spill...."
Jed "Uh, how did he see me? Remember, I cast invisibility and flew around behind him right before we ended last time?"
DM "Ooh, yeah. Um.... hmmm... Mike, about that crossbow bolt, turns out it was actually pointed at you...."
I know, I've been that DM
=====
El Rav
