Leonine Roar

D&D 4e’s combat system is rich and deep, and its many hampering conditions are important to track – visually and with color-codes highly recommended. 

Here’s what we do in my games, as DM or player.  Use any of these ideas or tools to help you and your friends more easily track the chaos of combat and  save some precious session time:

Conditions: We use colored hair bands and bottle rings instead of solid tokens, since they’re a) inexpensive, and b) can often fit around minis instead of underneath, saving some space.  Kudos to Mike Shea of Sly Flourish for the fantastic bottle ring idea.  His Three Cheap 4e Game Aids post alone is worth its weight in platinum!

Condition Cards: We also use condition cards – a short summary of its rules on a power-sized card, next to the player or DM.  You can find the PDFs of the ones I like best @ Weem’s Updated 4e Condition Cards.  I’ve seen many others, but Weem’s are best I’ve found so far because they have a nice design, some color, a quick, simple visual or icon on them, plus the rules.  Perfect to put right in front of the player or DM as they happen.  Efficient, space-saving, and they don’t get in the way of seeing the battlemap or minis.

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Wish your D&D game ran a little smoother?  Especially during combat? 

Sometimes – or often – turns lag with all the tactical richness that 4e offers.  You have a lot of choices in the moment to make.  And more than ever, teamwork is rewarded in D&D.  So it helps to think of your allies before, during, and after your turn.  Make this the good habit that it is, and you’ll find your playgroup’s turns moving along a lot more smoothly.  And smoother combats mean more time to ensure the precious balance of storytelling and game that has always been D&D remains intact throughout your game sessions.

Tactical Awareness

How many free, immediate and opportunity action powers have you forgotten or missed in the chaos of battle?  Or this or that hit bonus, damage bonus, or other temporary modifier? If you’re like me, your fair share.  There’s a lot going on, and every little bonus or penalty adds up – and everything you do impacts not just you, but your entire party too.

For example, your melee is going to want flanking opportunities to gain combat advantage as much as possible.  Flanking is one of those mechanics that requires help – a teammate.  You could say the same thing about many free actions and almost every immediate and opportunity action.  That help is usually some sort of combat situation or trigger and it’s important you be on the lookout for that “help,” both in and outside of your turn.  Your allies, your friends, are counting on you! 

Consider sports teams.  Better yet, consider a few of the arguably greatest and winningest sports teams either in the past decade or all-time: The New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.  A huge reason for their team success is that each individual: (more…)