Comments on: The battle of the bog: ways to keep your game from bogging down http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/ Inspired 4e Design Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:35:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: ethan http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1741 ethan Mon, 18 May 2009 17:42:30 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=566#comment-1741 I can see the appeal behind wading through a ton of minions, but there are efficient ways to do it. You can still have that big fight feel by changing 25 minions into 5 large creatures that are mobs/swarms. If your players really leap for joy when they hit, keep the defenses low and the HP high. Thematically you have the same huge encounter, but the monsters now take up less of the turn roster, letting your PCs act more often. I can see the appeal behind wading through a ton of minions, but there are efficient ways to do it.

You can still have that big fight feel by changing 25 minions into 5 large creatures that are mobs/swarms. If your players really leap for joy when they hit, keep the defenses low and the HP high. Thematically you have the same huge encounter, but the monsters now take up less of the turn roster, letting your PCs act more often.

]]> By: Asmor http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1740 Asmor Mon, 18 May 2009 17:26:30 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=566#comment-1740 I actually have to disagree with the smaller fights idea... In my experience, I find that fights with lots of weaker monsters are more fun. They may or may not go longer (I can't really say, my group tends to take forever in combat regardless), but it seems like when there are more monsters the players are more engaged and have more options and things to keep track of. On top of that, since the monsters are weaker, the PCs hit more often meaning the PCs have more fun and the monsters go down pretty quickly. I actually have to disagree with the smaller fights idea… In my experience, I find that fights with lots of weaker monsters are more fun. They may or may not go longer (I can’t really say, my group tends to take forever in combat regardless), but it seems like when there are more monsters the players are more engaged and have more options and things to keep track of. On top of that, since the monsters are weaker, the PCs hit more often meaning the PCs have more fun and the monsters go down pretty quickly.

]]> By: gamefiend http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1711 gamefiend Wed, 13 May 2009 00:06:54 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=566#comment-1711 First off, I want to congratulate ethan on a great first post! I'll be doing formal intros at week's end. Next --I totally agree...one thing I've found you can do if you want a lot of creatures is to either batch them in groups or make hordes out of them. It gives the feeling of bigness without weighing you down in a lot of actual opponents. First off, I want to congratulate ethan on a great first post! I’ll be doing formal intros at week’s end.

Next –I totally agree…one thing I’ve found you can do if you want a lot of creatures is to either batch them in groups or make hordes out of them. It gives the feeling of bigness without weighing you down in a lot of actual opponents.

]]> By: ethan http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1709 ethan Tue, 12 May 2009 14:17:08 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=566#comment-1709 It's not just the number crunching that give smaller battles a faster pace, but also the ratio of player turns to NPC turns. At most, I don't think the players should have to wait more than 10 turns before they get to act again. So, for a party of 5 players, the opposition should not get more than 5 turns. It’s not just the number crunching that give smaller battles a faster pace, but also the ratio of player turns to NPC turns. At most, I don’t think the players should have to wait more than 10 turns before they get to act again. So, for a party of 5 players, the opposition should not get more than 5 turns.

]]> By: bonemaster http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2009/05/the-battle-of-the-bog-ways-to-keep-your-game-from-bogging-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1704 bonemaster Mon, 11 May 2009 15:50:27 +0000 http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?p=566#comment-1704 I agree with smaller fighter against tougher foes. As GM, you already have quite a few things to keep track off. Through a bunch of foes out there and your likely to be ready to hurt yourself by slamming your head into the table, just to make the pain go away. I agree with smaller fighter against tougher foes. As GM, you already have quite a few things to keep track off. Through a bunch of foes out there and your likely to be ready to hurt yourself by slamming your head into the table, just to make the pain go away.

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