I must diverge from the previous posters, who seem to blame yer players - sadly, combat is clunky and slow in this game…which is odd for a game so focused on combat…..if yer players get distracted waiting for their turn, it's because they're waiting for their turn - this is not good!  A combat round, in real time, should take as much time as it takes to state yer actions and roll/sum yer dice; this is not the case with dw….the fix must, unfortunately, come from you and yer players together……you folks will hafta decide what rules to modify for yer game to flow smoothly - i can't offer specific advice, because it seems to me that each game group will have different idears and attitudes on this subject; i can say that we use a cinematic, storytelling system wherein plot and character outweigh mechanics - but such a system freaks a lot of people out, people who need the structure of a solid rules set (which dw, let's face it, is not).  So, if you guys can 'wing it,' I say wing it; if you guys prefer structure, I say get together one night and hash out a house-rule system you can all live with (and, hey, fixing and tweaking the rules can be fun, if done right).  Remember, the game's about bein' friggin' space marines in the grimdark; not about how to squeeze an extra coupla attacks out of the rules…..so whichever way you go, just remember to keep havin' fun!

I must diverge from the previous posters, who seem to blame yer players - sadly, combat is clunky and slow in this game…which is odd for a game so focused on combat…..if yer players get distracted waiting for their turn, it's because they're waiting for their turn - this is not good!  A combat round, in real time, should take as much time as it takes to state yer actions and roll/sum yer dice; this is not the case with dw….the fix must, unfortunately, come from you and yer players together……you folks will hafta decide what rules to modify for yer game to flow smoothly - i can't offer specific advice, because it seems to me that each game group will have different idears and attitudes on this subject; i can say that we use a cinematic, storytelling system wherein plot and character outweigh mechanics - but such a system freaks a lot of people out, people who need the structure of a solid rules set (which dw, let's face it, is not).  So, if you guys can 'wing it,' I say wing it; if you guys prefer structure, I say get together one night and hash out a house-rule system you can all live with (and, hey, fixing and tweaking the rules can be fun, if done right).  Remember, the game's about bein' friggin' space marines in the grimdark; not about how to squeeze an extra coupla attacks out of the rules…..so whichever way you go, just remember to keep havin' fun!

…well how in the warp did that happen…???    smeggin' grots in the servers again???

CrunchyDemon said:

Bolters are much more tame now with the errata.

Random tangent here, but couldn't the Devastator in the examples above just disengage on their action, move their AG bonus +1 away then call bother assault and then ream him with the Heavy Bolter (assuming he is of sufficient rank to use full-auto on a bolter assault)?

Lucrosium Malice said:

HBs are not listed as weapons usable with BA.

Here are a few tips we use to speed up combat:

• Make sure verybody at the table is familiar with the rules which apply to their character. That means knowing what Talents you have and how they work, psychic power info, etc. It also means being familiar with the combat rules that are most likley to apply to your character. So if you're a melee tank, make sure you know the rules for that. This will cut down on time spent referencing rules. If you need te reference rules, have one of the other players look it up.
• Write down the order of initiative so everyone knows when it's their turn to act. Then, set a time limit for the players to take their action. (As a rule, I tend to be a little more generous with those people who act first but the players who act last should have had plenty of time to think about their actions while other people's actions are being resolved.)
• As a GM, be as clear as possible as to the layout of combat, cover, position of the enemy, etc. The more info you give your PCs, the fewer doubts and questions they'll have about what their combat options are.
• Try and resolve action at the same time. So, if you have two players engaged in combat in different areas of the battlefield, you can have one roll to resolve their action and while they do that (and add up the totals, etc.) the other player can declare their action so it can be resolved as soon as you're done with the first.
• Try rolling damage and BS/WS tests and damage at the same time. It will speed things up if the attack is a success.

Hope these help.