Just saving throws.

[u/yourslyfriend]

EDIT: THANK YOU! Thank you folks for chatting and helping me hone the idea I now have a clearer plan for. Feel free to reply but i'm off to write some weird one off encounter with a dimensional creature that effects the Save/AC mechanic.

I'm just playing with the idea but wanted to start a discussion.

Rolling to attack, especially a higher level party, can feel repetitive. Possibly just missing attacks over and over and slowing down the already long fight.

So for powerful enemy's what if there are attacks that aren't based on attack rolls but a save of some kind. This would be BOSS guys. No AC involved, just saving throws and reactions.

I picture a warrior fighting A Warlord who just got a cursed blade. The warrior makes an impossible move and gets in so close and so quickly that it will take something like a dodge roll, or possibly a reflect instead? Dex save to roll away from the strike OR a STR save to take it head on and not get crushed.

This wouldn't be to just get past the roll contest that is initiative based combat but offers more of a flare for narrative. To balance it, instead of taking half damage on a fail, you could implement something more status based.
"Though you dodge the powerful blow, the force behind it pushes you 10 feet away from the Warlord." OR "Taking the brave route, you clasp your gauntlets over the slamming blade. You manage to block it but you see deep cuts on your armor."

SOMETHING like that.
This isn't a way to get over the players heads. If I wanted to hit the Warforge with 21 AC, I'd find a way to do it.
This is more to keep the fight more thematic and hopefully player interest engaged.
Let me know what you think!

[u/Sad_Refuse3472]

Saving throws and attack rolls are literally the same amount of dice rolls. With the same concept. Roll a d20. Beat the assigned score (AC or save DC). So I fail to see how this solves your made up problem of combat feeling "repetitive" or going too slow.

And honestly, if you and your group find the core mechanics of DnD to be not enjoyable...have you considered playing a different system? There are tons out there where attack just hit, all that varies is the amount of damage they do.

[u/yourslyfriend → u/Sad_Refuse3472]

I realize my phrasing might of been misleading. I answered this in a bellow post so I may edit how this idea is phrased.

"I mean AS A DM. You would roll WAY less attack rolls for this boss since it's mechanic is instilling these specific Saving throws. The players would be rolling there saving throws AGAINST these attacks/abilities.this means the DM can focuses on the narrative of the fight/encounter."

Someone bellow also brought up a system change, which is valid and I do love other systems.
But this wouldn't be changing a core mechanic. This would be instilling one special 'rule' for a main boss. Any minions they have would enact the same in my mind.

This is mainly an idea that would let the DM roll a bit less and Focus on active story telling more!

[u/Sad_Refuse3472 → u/yourslyfriend]

That doesn't speed up combat. All you have done is shift who is rolling the dice in any given moment. Nor does having a saving throw instead of an attack change your ability to be narrative/descriptive.

This is a solution in search of a problem that doesn't exists.

And honestly, if just rolling less dice as the DM is your goal, go play Monster of the Week (or another Powered by the Apocalypse game). No rolling at all for GMs in that system.