In D&D (Moldvay 1981 Basic rules) turns are 10 minutes each, used for normal adventuring time. When an encounter occurs, time shifts to rounds (10 seconds each). This means 60 rounds equates to one normal turn.
On page B23 of the rulebook, Moldvay states, "An encounter rarely takes as long as 60 rounds. When figuring out the amount of time spent in a dungeon, consider any encounter (including combat) of 60 rounds or less to have lasted on full turn."
My question is, does anyone bother keeping track of rounds during an encounter, because of the above statement? If every encounter takes a minimum of 1 turn, and rarely – if ever – goes over that time, why bother keeping track of rounds at all?
Thanks for the feedback.
Best Answer
Usually one doesn't count the total rounds of a combat just to do it. You might be counting them because of spell durations or other specific reasons. In general you're concerned about overall passage of time because of torch and other large scale durations, which is why this rule exists, so players don't say "well that only took three rounds so we move on and our spells and stuff keep going till the next encounter right! And that's only .03 of my torch duration, right?"