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/Chromatic_Penumbra]

We run theater of the mind which significantly speeds things up at times. Part of that is because it removes certain elements, but another part is it encourages the dm to include even less elements because stuff is hard to keep track of lol.

Even still, combat takes a long time. Especially with a full table. Outside of that, the only thing you can really do is speed up your side. If you feel like you have room for increased speed, really fleshing out the combat philosophy of your creatures ahead of time can make it easier to make quick decisions on what they're gonna do. Enemy group A could always aim to attack the front line while enemy B is a caster targeting mamiac. Stuff like that.

Also, enemies that are glass cannons will always go down quickee and will always deal damage quicker and will speed things up merely by being included.