Torches, slots & time pressure, how to make them matter in TTRPGs
The more I play, the more I truly value flow, speed, immersion and simple, easy, fast resource management as well as the threat of the (Shadow)Dark.
To achieve all that, a few things were absolutely key for me:
A. Using a kitchen-timer for tracking torch time, namely this one:
The quality is not great, but there is a very clear and dramatic looking face on the timer. I always keep the timer super visible to everyone around the table.
B. Blitz mode, = Light timers last 30 minutes. From the very first session, I have always done this and glad I did. I chose this, because I did rather extensive research into real time torch burning time and more, and it tracks! It also has many other advantages, below.
C. I "run down the clock", if they tell me "we will now do ABC" and that thing will take way more time in-game than the amount it takes them to tell me that (for example: remove a huge amount of rubble, make a raft from 20 pieces of wood and ropes etc) I will tell them how much (torch) time that will take, and if they then still want to do it, I just remove that time from the kitchen-timer. They find it only mildly annoying (in a fun sort of way) but most of all, I think and hope, exciting.
D. I have warned them many times that if they forget to light another torch before the timer runs out, bad things will happen Only in the beginning did I give them a heads-up when a few minutes were left, not anymore, if they all forget,.. they all pay at least a bit.
What all the above does:
It makes slots & how many torches they carry meaningful at every session and during every delve. Once you get to higher levels and some characters have many slots due to: high strength, or certain magic, or a companion that can carry torches, or a bag of holding especially (I am very careful with those type of items), it can become trivial to carry a ton of torches. Which nullifies most of the mechanic and time pressure. Torches are cheap.
By making sure the torches only last 30m instead of 60m, this essentially eliminates, or a very least cuts in half those issues.
These preferences keep the game moving! 30 Minute torches and the kitchen timer ensure a sense of impending possible doom & dread, characters can not strategize, discuss, plan and pause for aaaages, because those torches are always running lower.
It also makes the light spell way more useful. This all leads to more immersion, fun, getting more done during a session, taking calculated (but not discussed-and-weighed-to-the-point-of-boredom) risks, planning and shopping a bit before the delve, etc.
Additionally I use this set of sand timers for more pressing matters, for instance combat rounds and decisions that in real time would -or should- take seconds or minutes. It is important to not over-use these sand timers, nor stress people, but a few times per session has been fun and helpful.