Why 4hrs is the Perfect Length for a D&D Session
Why 4 hours is the perfect length for a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
It’s long enough to get invested in the story, but short enough to keep players looking forwards to the next session.
What is the ideal length for a game of D&D?
Roleplaying games are a lot like life, some elements are subjective, while others are totally objective. No class is better than the other, yet so often beginner players asked “which is better the sorcerer or the wizard?” which of course falls under subjective, but “how much maximum damage can the fireball spell do?” has a definitive answer.
The question “what is the ideal length of a game of D&D?” might seem subjective, as so many factors can fall into play, such as the number of players, time of day and the collective energy levels or the number of unopened Monster cans laying dormant in the fridge.
Having spent the last 3 years hosting a gazillion games, I can tell you that Rolldark has a quantifiable answer.
The ideal length of a D&D gaming session is 4 hours.
On a weeknight, this will see you have finished your tea and are ready to roll the dice. Chances are you’ll start the game at 7pm-ish, and finish around 11pm.. Bed by 12, and busy dreaming of all those gnarly moments things got hairy and your character saved the party's skins.
On a weekend, you can start at any time, though perhaps the best time is noon, roll the dice to 4pm and still have enough time to put the kids to bed, go to the gym and pour yourself a beer/wine/cherryade, pop a film on and chill.
4 hour gaming sessions also hurry along with the slow players… you know the ones… they want to investigate the plate, spoon, bowl, that other plate while convinced the tavernkeeper’s moustache is a killer plot point we missed, so let's chat about it for an hour and annoy everyone. With limited time, the GM can hurry along with PCs to make quick choices and keep the game flowing. Nobody likes to waste time, and with just 4hrs in the game world, you will always find folk pulling up their socks and cracking on with the story.
Often I like so many other D&D players and GMs fail to take notes. But with a 4hr session, hopefully there hasn't been a great deal of super complexity or made-up stuff to remember. It is what makes the D&D 4 hour playing session perfect. You can remember the details from it. You also dont get super tired and its easier to break up with plenty of breaktimes. So the next time you’re planning a session, remember to keep it to just 4 hours and watch how your game is enjoyed more with a faster pace, energetic players and not a mountain of notes to take away.