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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Imagicka" data-source="post: 3242649" data-attributes="member: 4621">Greetings...Speeding up Game Play eh?Well, here is a list of what I do to speed things up in my game: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Though I never use my DM Charts/Screen anymore, occationally they come in handy.  I am right now working on an inter-changable DM Screen with removable charts.  So I can put up the charts/sheets that I need for the time.  But my screen is pretty big, I might be able to fit them all on. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When I roll dice, I also colour code them, and roll all the dice together.  I roll the d20 to attack (or multiple d20s), plus any damage dice all in one throw.  If they hit, just count the damage.  If they miss, well - just ignore the damage dice.  I will also roll multiple monster attacks and damages for the whole round, and just move/organize the dice while I'm waiting for my players to state what they are doing. The whole rolling dice beforehand never sat well with me. But I'm a dice hording fiend.  I can have a full set for about 50 different monsters if I wanted to. -- Plus I love the look on my players' faces when I roll 50 dice at once. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Keep a list of all the characters on one sheet.  I like to keep one page that has all the PCs on it, with their ACs, HPs, Weapon Lists and all the skills that I would want to do hidden rolls for. So I don't have to ask someone what their AC is, just look it up.  I want to do a hidden roll to see if someone spots, or hears something, I don't have to tip off the player by asking them what a particular score/stat/number is.  It also makes combat that much faster when I know people's numbers and just do descriptive content, and not throw any numbers at the players. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Organize Combat through a Scratch-Sheet When running combat I like to pre-make scratch sheets so I can tick off the rounds, and follow combat along one one page, with the quick-stats of the monsters that the players are fighting. -- Sometimes I'll print something out, most times I use a laminated sheet with a wipeoff marker. So I always know who's combat turn it is (checkboxes), and how many turns half past for timed effects/events. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Laminated Sheets for Party List, NPCs, Monster-Combat Scratch Sheet.  I use laminated sheets in stiff laminated stock so I can use a wipe-off marker and reuse it over and over. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cheat Sheets.  If you think you need a cheat sheet for something, don't hesitate to whip one up.   </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Post-It Notes.  Most times when I run a game, there is certain private information that I know I'm going to give to one player or another during the course of the game, so I will pre-write post-it notes to my players, and pass them out as need be.  "You find the McGuffin in the mouth of the Statue, when you reach in, you notice that the gem-eyes of the statue start to ever-so slightly glow.  Your pretty sure that the other party members didn't notice." </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Make Spellcasters know their spells.  What I do is that I like to keep a copy of all the player's character sheets.  That way if they forget theirs or for whatever reason, I have a copy of it onhand.  It also makes it very easy to keep the younger level versions of characters. -- But what I like to do is put copies of all the spells that the spell-caster knows on a couple of sheets along with the character sheet.  That way if a player doesn't know their spells, then I tell them to take their character sheet home and read the spells (if they don't have a book)... and they don't have to flip through the book at the table (especially good if you've only got 2-3 player's guides and 5-6 players who all want to use it right now!) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Make sure that the players know where everything is on their character sheet.  Highlight things for them.  Have the totals for Attack, Damage as well as ACs all highlighted on the player's character sheet for quick access.  (plus if you have a group list, they don't really need to worry about those things either) </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Get your players in the habit of being descriptive with rules when they do something like casting a spell. Especially giving their relevant numbers "Fireball, DC 25" </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Keep rule debates until the end of the session, or over email. If you don't know the rules, and can't find it -- The Silicilian Clause... I like that... *swipe*</li> </ul>As for Battlemaps... the only reason why I use them is because I like to draw, and my players like the candy I use for monsters.  But some people like them... and some people don't... Your milage may vary.</blockquote>

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