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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6576885" data-attributes="member: 82106">But this is of course where the illusionism comes in. The DM has almost surely come up with a really nifty scenario where the PCs, if they arrive at the nick of time, will encounter much drama and fun. So naturally the DM is highly motivated to have lunch take exactly the right amount of time. Since he undoubtedly can't say how long it WILL take (there are 1000 possible variables) things tend to just work out. Ironically this is FINE in Pemerton's game where the contract allows the DM to do just that, but at your table it is pulling strings and 'cheating'.No, 4e doesn't abstract the passage of time more than other editions really. Its just that no edition specifies how long things take, aside from a few specific dungeon-related activities and maybe a few other very specific things. Its never stated how long a meal takes, or any other mundane activities. Frankly I don't see how you COULD meaningfully specify all those things in a realistic way. All you can do is dice for things. In 4e this is encapsulated in an SC, but you could certainly structure the SC such that for instance each failure means 20 minutes of your 1 hour window has slipped past. Again, its easy enough to find reasons for it narratively in the scenario under discussion.</blockquote>