Game Session Length

The amount of time you should spend playing a session of any tabletop RPG will vary based on the needs and preferences of your gaming group. Sometimes your players might need to wrap things up to get an early start the next morning, other times a fun session might extend into the wee hours of the night. If you are playing at a store or convention, there may be time limitations on your use of the room.

There are, however, certain patterns I have noticed in my own games that are helpful in pacing out and deciding when to call it quits during sessions of your campaign. Firstly, I find that players tend to need a short break around the hour and a half or two hour mark. This is about the time folks get fidgety and burnt out. If your game runs longer than this it's a good point to allow for a breather for your players to take a brief respite. Don't marathon your group to the point of fatigue. Keep an eye on their level of alertness and space out your breaks accordingly.  

I find that one or two hours are good for short one shots and basic games, but three hours is the sweet spot for most of my home games. This allows for three hour-long acts for the session... beginning, middle, and end. It allows for a fair amount of action and some lee-way for clowning around in between. 

If you run game sessions that are shorter than three hours, it pays to be more prepared and efficient. Keep an eye on the timer, and try to keep things moving along so that the time doesn't run out before you get a good taste of adventure.

If your game runs longer than three hours, beware player burnout and make sure you work in those break periods. Let your players relax a bit and don't rush them or wear them out. Finally, make sure that they are feeling fresh and rested for the most part, and check in on players who might be overwhelmed after several hours of gameplay. 

And when you schedule time for a gaming get-together, always leave a buffer for the players to hang out and interact before and after the session. Diving straight into the gameplay isn't very fun and can make the game seem more like a rushed chore than the casual entertainment it should be. Let the run time of your games fit the style of your playgroup, and you sure to have adventures that begin and end right on time!

Happy ventures!