Archive - State of the Table

Combat Fans Have a Favorite Kind of Session

The table's average barely moves across the five shapes of the night. Two very different players are hiding inside it.

10 hrs ago • Greg Aldin

The Five Shapes of Combat in D&D

Trace the fighting across a session and it takes one of five shapes.

Sep 21 • Greg Aldin

The Night Builds to a Fight

Combat climbs all night and is highest about forty minutes before the end.

Sep 14 • Greg Aldin

The DM Speaks Half

At the typical table, the DM talks as much as every player put together.

Sep 7 • Greg Aldin

August 2026

The Fight Needs Runway

Sessions under 90 minutes skip combat half the time.

Aug 31 • Greg Aldin

In Search of the Roleplay Table

The fighty table and the talky table are mostly the same table.

Aug 24 • Greg Aldin

Surprisingly Little Stabbing

28% of TTRPG sessions never roll initiative at all.

Aug 16 • Greg Aldin

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