The way combat works in The Temple of Elemental Evil is pretty much the same as how it works in Dungeons & Dragons. Once combat has been initiated, a character gets a certain amount of time in which to perform actions. This time is represented by the hour glass that you can see in some screens. The order that the characters may take turns in depends on their initiative level and the circumstances under which combat was initiated. A character may make several actions in this turn, which includes moving, casting spells and making attacks. There are extensive rules about what combinations of actions you can take in any given turn. Fortunately The Temple of Elemental Evil uses colour coding to show you exactly how much time a given action will take. Even so, combat is something that requires a lot of forethought and the investigation of possibilities. Rushing foolhardy into a room full of bandits is a quick way to get slaughtered. Thankfully the Dungeons & Dragons combat system is tried and tested, and it works just as well here as it does in pen and paper. Combat can be slow going, but defeating a stronger opponent by use of tactics is always satisfying, especially when you get to nab their loot.​