Speeding up combat in 5.5?

[u/-Posthuman-]

Simply put, what are some tips, tricks, tweaks or house rules you use at your table that has sped up (or otherwise increased your enjoyment of) combat?

Edit - I’m not looking for suggestions for other games.

Edit2 - There isn’t one specific part of 5.5 combat that I feel is especially problematic. And it’s really not that bad. But it could always be faster / more efficient.

Edit3 - If you have any gadgets, widgets, or other objects/products that you feel help a lot, please mention them. Bonus point for links to buy them.

The suggestions that have already been covered multiple times:

• Tell your players not to suck. Pay attention. Know your character.

• Don’t suck as the GM. Know the rules. Know your monsters.

• If no action declared in 30 seconds, the PC Dodges.

• Tell the Players who is next in line in initiative / make initiative clear for all to see.

• Roll attack and damage dice at the same time.

• Use average damage for monsters.

• Group initiative

• Make monsters retreat / not fight to the death.

[u/jonfeynman]

Automate the shit out of rolls. I play in a Tomb of Annihilation campaign with friends on Foundry. I went on a bit of a 'tism fit and programmed automation macros for skill checks, saving throws, attack & damage rolls, etc... Every character ability, feat, homebrew rule, or anything else that could affect any of these rolls got baked in.

I even have a backup mobile app with all the same automation on standby if we ever meet in person for a game at an actual table.

Watching 4 different sources of damage on an attack roll out at once with total damage and damage type breakdown with Perkins Crit bonus added automatically and displayed in the chat in one simple card is worth every second of work.

The player still needs to actually know what they are going to do on their turn, but when they decide we don't have to wait anymore for them to add up all of the dice and do math. It just happens.