Combat is, in many tabletop roleplaying game, central piece. They usually set the tone, build tension, and create some of the most memorable moments in your campaign. But let's get real for a second here: combat can also drag on, leaving players bored and distracted.

Now I can hear you asking: How do you keep combat encounters exciting, engaging, and perfectly paced? Let’s break it down together!

It's All About Purpose

Every combat encounter should have a reason to exist. Ask yourself: does this fight serve the story? Is it highlighting a theme, creating tension, or giving the players a chance to showcase their abilities? If the answer is "no" you might want to consider not running that fight.

If combat feels like filler, your players will sense it, and the energy level around the table will drop. Give the encounter stakes—a kidnapped ally to save, a treasure to protect, or an ambush to escape. Purpose drives engagement.

Know Your Players’ Preferences

Some players live for crunchy tactical combat, while others just want to tell an epic story. Tailor your pacing to suit the table. For the tacticians, you can lean into strategic complexity with dynamic environments or multi-stage battles. For narrative-focused groups, keep the action fast and cinematic, emphasizing the "rule of cool".

And if you’re not sure what your players prefer, just ask them! There's no better ways to know!

Keep Rounds Snappy

Combat tends to bog down when turns take too long. You know the drill: one player’s deciding whether to swing their sword or cast a spell while everyone else starts checking their phones.

Here’s how to speed things up:

• Encourage Preparedness: Give players a heads-up when their turn is coming so they can decide their actions beforehand instead of doomscrolling.

• Set a Time Limit: For tables where players are prone to analysis paralysis, establish a gentle (but firm!) time limit for turns.

• Streamline Rules: Skip the nitpicking. If a rule check would take too long, make a quick ruling and keep the momentum. Make sure you establish this rule on Session 0 to avoid angry Rule Lawyers!

Use Dynamic Environments

Nothing kills pacing faster than static, repetitive encounters. Spice things up with terrain, hazards, or shifting objectives:

• Environmental Hazards: Lava pits, collapsing walls, or sinking ships add urgency.

• Interactive Elements: Let players push barrels, swing on chandeliers, or pull levers mid-fight.

• Changing Objectives: Halfway through the fight, the enemy calls reinforcements, or the building starts collapsing. Keep your players on their toes!

Vary The Challenge

Not every fight needs to be a nail-biting struggle for survival. Mix up your encounter difficulty to create a rhythm:

• Quick Wins: Throw in some easier encounters to let players feel powerful and keep the action moving. I loved the rule for minions in the Dragon Game (4th Edition) where you could have loads of opponents at 1 HP each to make the players feel epic!

• Tough Boss Fights: These should be rare and special, with high stakes and intense strategy.

• Puzzle Fights: Include mechanics that require more than brute force, like disabling runes or solving environmental puzzles during combat. 

Variety keeps combat fresh and prevents burnout.

Add Roleplaying Opportunities

Combat doesn’t have to be all dice rolls and damage calculations. Let players roleplay in the heat of battle:

• Enemy Dialogue: Give your villains personality. Taunts, threats, or bargaining can make the fight more engaging.

• Player Creativity: Reward off-the-wall ideas, like using an improvised weapon or bluffing their way through the fight.

• Moral Dilemmas: Add complexity by introducing non-combatants or enemies who could be reasoned with.

This helps players stay immersed in the story, even while rolling initiative.

Know When To End The Fight

Know when to wrap it up. If the battle’s outcome is clear—the party’s winning, or the enemy’s obviously got the upper hand—don’t drag it out. You can narrate the final moments instead of playing every turn to conclusion. "The goblins flee in terror" or "the boss collapses after a final blow" are perfectly satisfying ways to close a fight.

Some will say this is anti climatic but remember to use this only if the outcome is clear and that it's only a matter of adding another round just for the final hit to land ...

Debrief and Transition Smoothly

After the fight, give the players a chance to reflect on what just happened. What did they learn? What loot did they find? What’s the next step in their journey? A quick post-combat scene keeps the momentum going and helps tie the encounter back into the larger narrative.

Final Thoughts

Combat encounters are a dance of tension and release, challenge and triumph. By keeping the purpose clear, the pacing tight, and the encounters varied, your players will stay engaged and invested. So, go ahead and give them a fight they’ll never forget!

What’s your favorite tip for pacing combat? Let me know in the comments below! And may your dice always roll in your favor.