IWe’ve all been there at one time or another: your players are checking their phones, doodling on their character sheets, or zoning out while someone monologues about a tavern’s drink menu. The hard truth? Even the most exciting campaign can stall out if pacing goes off the rails.

For new (and even veteran) gamemasters, managing your session’s rhythm is crucial to keeping your players engaged. Here are 7 proven tips to help you pace your TTRPG sessions so nobody gets bored at the table ever again.

Make Every Scene Do Something

If a scene doesn’t advance the plot, develop a character, or raise tension, consider cutting it—or at least speeding it up. Time is limited, and most players don’t want to spend half an hour negotiating iron rations or walking across yet another empty field.

Before each scene, ask yourself: “What’s the purpose of this moment?”

Change the Mode Every 20–30 Minutes

Attention spans drop fast when things feel static. One great trick is to rotate through different “modes” of play every 20–30 minutes: roleplaying, combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, downtime, etc.

If combat just ended, don’t jump into another one. Let the next segment focus on social intrigue or discovery.

Add a Countdown or Urgency

Pacing thrives on pressure. When players know they have time to wander and debate forever, they will. A countdown clock, a ticking bomb, or an approaching threat injects energy and forces decisions. 

Try this line: “You hear boots echoing down the corridor. They’ll be on you in less than a minute.”

Mirror the Table's Energy

As a GM, you're not just running the world—you’re reading the room. If players seem restless, low-energy, or distracted, that’s your cue to pivot. Maybe jump ahead in time, fast-forward travel, or throw in a surprise.

Keep an “emergency beat” ready—like a sudden combat, a strange dream, or a cryptic message.

End Scenes Sooner Than You Think

A scene doesn’t have to play out in real-time. Most don’t need to. Don’t be afraid to fade out once the meat of the interaction is done. You can summarize the rest or let players fill in the blanks.

Try saying, “Unless there's anything else you want to do here, we’ll fast-forward to the next key moment…”

Start With A Bang

Start the session mid-action, not mid-breakfast. Dropping players into a chase, battle, or tense scene grabs attention fast. It also avoids the “slow warm-up” that can kill momentum right out of the gate. I wrote a full article on the subject HERE.

Begin a session with sentences such as: “You kick the door open and arrows fly past your head—what do you do?”

Use Cliffhangers and Milestones

Structure your sessions like TV episodes: with a rhythm, a build-up, and an endpoint that leaves players wanting more. Ending on a cliffhanger or a big reveal gives them something to look forward to and keeps your pacing tight.

Plan your session with one big moment in mind. Once you hit it, start wrapping up. 

Good pacing isn’t about going fast, it’s about going somewhere. By being proactive in managing scene length, player focus, and emotional highs and lows, you keep your group immersed, energized, and excited for what’s next.  TTRPGs are stories that are built by you AND your players, and no one wants their story to drag.

Try a few of these tips at your next session, and you might hear your players begging for more at the end of the night! 

What’s your favorite pacing trick at the table? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more GM tools, tips, and ideas every week.