Run an Abridged Version of TTRPG Combat
Never, ever, run a combat encounter if it’s not a defining moment in your session, adventure or campaign.
Mundane encounters don’t benefit from your games’ highly involved and time-consuming combat rules. The environment isn’t interesting enough. The enemies aren’t diverse enough. The goal is too simplistic; kill or be routed. There’s nothing to gain from winning or losing besides death and paltry trinkets. Don’t do it.
I’m not saying make combat rare. Just that if you have combat, invest the time to making it unique and interesting. Unless you’ve setup a combat encounter in a cool area with meaningful enemies and actual stakes, don’t use the full combat rules. Run an abridged version. Treat it as any other roll. Succeed at a cost. Montage it.
