To have Strong start into your game session, there is a fool-proof way of to grab peoples attention by calling them to action using combat. This really brings them Into the middle of things immediately.
Besides starting strong, it helps with not boring your players to death with a monologue.
A battle usually comes with it’s own adventure hooks,* why did this battle just happen?*
Reference
E. Schea, M. (2018). Sly flourish’s return of the lazy dungeon master. Sly flourish shop
Highlights or timestamps
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master Highlights
- Starting an adventure session with combat has many advantages. It gets the players rolling dice right away. It brings everyone’s attention to the table. It forces all of us as GMs to break past our desire to spew twenty minutes of deep narrative. And best of all, a battle almost always comes with its own built in story hooks.
— Combat highlight from Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master highlights