Introducing kids to DnD

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:29 pm

So, last week I began introducing my two nephews (8 yrs and 10), and my niece (11 yrs) to 3.5, using Tome stuff allover the place.
So far they've done a simple find the poison killing the deer quest. (they just wandered around until they stumbled upon the local watering hole next to a gnome mine, and then proceeded to slaughter the gnomes with the help of a local tribe of kobolds)
Does anyone here have a lot of experience with introducing kids to this sort of game, and have any advice?

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:08 pm

We have two or three threads about this very topic from the winter and spring, actually.

WotC put out a supplement for kids.
There's a system Jigo made a homebrew supplement for ( rpgKids? ) It's over in IMOI... Castle on the edge of the moon I think. (CotEoM)

There is also Sidekick Quest. I have the test package. very simple and enjoyable.

infected slut princess · Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:50 pm

Are they playing evil characters? Why did they "slaughter" gnomes over poisoned deer?

Stubbazubba · Post by **Stubbazubba** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:26 pm

Yeah, that adventure does seem twisted. How did the kids react to that?

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:20 pm

Gnomes are evil.
Everyone knows that.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:21 pm

codeGlaze wrote:We have two or three threads about this very topic from the winter and spring, actually.

WotC put out a supplement for kids.
There's a system Jigo made a homebrew supplement for ( rpgKids? ) It's over in IMOI... Castle on the edge of the moon I think. (CotEoM)

There is also Sidekick Quest. I have the test package. very simple and enjoyable.

Thanks! I'll look into those.

Schleiermacher · Post by **Schleiermacher** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 12:42 am

As I read it, the gnomes were polluting the water with runoff from their mine... so the PCs were basically acting in defense of the environment, ha!

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 12:54 am

I just hope the leader of said mining gnomes is Gina Rinehart.

Anyway, I believe Maj also created a basic roleplaying system (using a die with 1 red side, 2 yellow sides and 3 green sides. Good abilities/Easy tasks require rolling green to succeed, medium requires rolling yellow, hard/untrained requires rolling red). You could ask her for further details.

There's also just stuff like actual Magical Tea Party - "roleplaying is like playing pretend, with rules". So take the rules out of it and you still have "playing pretend".

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 1:34 am

rpgKids : http://newbiedm.com/rpgkids/
Jigo's module : http://tgdmb.com/viewtopic.php?t=53849& ... c&start=25

Apparently he rebooted it while I was on hiatus.

d20 kids game : https://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.asp ... terslayers

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:39 am

AndreiChekov wrote:Gnomes are evil.
Everyone knows that.

To quote:

4e Gnome wrote:"I'm a monster! Rarr!

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:40 am

Prak_Anima wrote:
AndreiChekov wrote:Gnomes are evil.
Everyone knows that.
To quote:
4e Gnome wrote:"I'm a monster! Rarr!

Hahahaha xD
My fiance and I love that scene.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:10 am

I think those animations may be the only good things to come out of 4e.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:43 am

Schleiermacher wrote:As I read it, the gnomes were polluting the water with runoff from their mine... so the PCs were basically acting in defense of the environment, ha!

There are two druids in the party so...

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:52 am

Koumei wrote:I just hope the leader of said mining gnomes is Gina Rinehart.

Anyway, I believe Maj also created a basic roleplaying system (using a die with 1 red side, 2 yellow sides and 3 green sides. Good abilities/Easy tasks require rolling green to succeed, medium requires rolling yellow, hard/untrained requires rolling red). You could ask her for further details.

There's also just stuff like actual Magical Tea Party - "roleplaying is like playing pretend, with rules". So take the rules out of it and you still have "playing pretend".

Well, she does look like a gnome. And I was in a need of a super villain for the whole thing. So that's who it is then. thanks

That seems a little bit too simple for them. They are all capable of the mathematics of D&D, I was thinking more along the lines of ability simplicity. Like trying to get them to remember that they have things like your opponent is me! from the one swashbuckler. And the 8 year old druid keeps forgetting that he has spells and just goes about feeling awesome cause he has a big snake. XD
Skills seem to completely go over their head, so I've just simplified that to a list of skills that they can pick from that I think would be useful. (no disable device cause I don't believe in traps)
Gave the druids the choices of Concentration, survival, listen, spot, handle animal, tumble, climb and jump.
Honestly though, the best thing about this is how excited they are to play.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:53 am

Coming this Saturday!
Mom and Dad (the kid's not mine) are joining for a session, adding a bard and sorcerer to the party. Hopefully they hate gnomes as much as I do.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:06 pm

You have to teach kids how to think RPG. That means, they need to have a number of special abilities that's small and easy to remember, and your adventures have to use those abilities.

If you want them to understand skills, you have to put them to use and prompt them. Kids (or any newbie, really) aren't going to ask, "O hai... I can haz perception check?" At least not until they understand the concept of how it's used and when it's used.

Using queues as the DM totally helps (ie: Pavlovian training). When you get to a new location, for example, pause for a second or two before you prompt a perception check. That way, your pause becomes the signal for the players to make an action. (You don't have to pause - you can choose whatever. One of Ess' prompts is a specific way of saying, "So...")

Ultimately, keep it simple, and keep it pertinent. As the game grows in complexity, make sure that their character sheets remain easy to navigate.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:20 am

There are also board games that are a 5' step away from being RPGs*, like Hero Quest. I'm pretty sure I was 6 when my dad bought that for me and we started playing it. It's basically a dice pool thing (you don't roll dice and add numbers, you count the skulls or shields rolled). But it has zero rules not related to stabbing people in the face, the game is literally set inside the dungeons (trips to town to stock up are handled as an end-of-session handwave thing), and you're not supposed to do interesting tricks to spice things up.**

*With the advent of 4E, you could actually argue it meets all the qualifiers. Because well...
**Yeah okay, if 4E qualifies as an RPG, so does Hero Quest.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:59 am

That seems like sound advice Maj thanks.

@ koumei, I definitely intend to train them into the tome way of DnD.

fectin · Post by **fectin** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 4:15 pm

You might try Danger Patrol! as well.
http://www.dangerpatrol.com/

I pitch it all the time, but it's easy to run without prep, character creation takes ~5 minutes including the crayons, and it strongly encourages you to use abilities to roleplay. Also, it's goofy, silver age superhero style fun.

codeGlaze · Post by **codeGlaze** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:27 pm

fectin wrote:You might try Danger Patrol! as well.
http://www.dangerpatrol.com/

I pitch it all the time, but it's easy to run without prep, character creation takes ~5 minutes including the crayons, and it strongly encourages you to use abilities to roleplay. Also, it's goofy, silver age superhero style fun.

That sounds like it could be fun. I'll have to give it a look.

Holy multiple posts, Batman!

wotmaniac · Post by **wotmaniac** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:37 pm

Schleiermacher wrote:As I read it, the gnomes were polluting the water with runoff from their mine... so the PCs were basically acting in defense of the environment, ha!

D&D = Silent Spring: The RPG

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:52 am

Session two went very well.
They investigated a volcano island that was swarming with zombies. As they fought their way through the zombies, they gradually found their way to the lair of the necromancer. (a little bit of railroading, but not much. There was a pathway)
My nephews cast their druid spells effectively. My swashbuckler niece stabbed things to death. after they found the necromancer, we went on a hike and continued the adventure as MTP. It was great.

AndreiChekov · Post by **AndreiChekov** » Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:07 am

fectin wrote:You might try Danger Patrol! as well.
http://www.dangerpatrol.com/

I pitch it all the time, but it's easy to run without prep, character creation takes ~5 minutes including the crayons, and it strongly encourages you to use abilities to roleplay. Also, it's goofy, silver age superhero style fun.

Huzzah!

Judging__Eagle · Post by **Judging__Eagle** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:34 am

Good job AndreiChekov. Playing and/or running D&D with well, anyone works best if you understand that D&D is ultimately, and fundamentally, a children's game. If you cannot Mister Cavern for five year olds, you shouldn't be surprised if being the referee/narrator becomes impossible or the players seem difficult to manage.

Ideologically, MCing is the same as wrestling with a five year old. If you win... congratulations. You, a grown person, could beat a five year old; I'm sure you're happy for being a terrible person who can't even let a five-year old beat them in a mock wrestling match. If you lose though, you can't just "roll over". If not the five year old will feel like you're lying to them and their victory will feel hollow; and that's even worse.

JigokuBosatsu · Post by **JigokuBosatsu** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:48 pm

Good advice... well, most everyone. Sounds like the adventure is going well. I would echo that when MCing for kids you really have to tailor things to them, which is not necessarily the same as dumbing it down.

And yes, I am working on a kids' RPG as codeGlaze mentioned, and it has gone from rpgKids supplement to standalone Adventure Time/Thundarr/Fallout/Axe Cop menage, on the Fate system.