D&D Basic set - next step [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D Basic set - next step [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
snotling
01-28-07, 01:40 PM Hello - I picked up the Basic set a while back ago, so I could play with my kids (9 and 7). They seem to enjoy it. The rules/character sheets are right about par for them. The next step, according to the basic set, is to pick up the PHB and continue.. well.. that's fine and good.. but I cannot imagine my 7 year old doing that.. even the 9 year old would not.

So... Any one thought about expanding the basic game? Adding more iconic characters, in the same format as the Basic game character sheets.

Any adventures that people have written up, that are are the same level as these? Using the Tiles, or even the new D&D tile sets.

I found the counters with the game to be really easy to use, and it helped the kids keep track of what they have.

thanks
-snotling
Tempest Stormwind
01-28-07, 02:31 PM Basically, what you can do with this is use the material in the box to develop your own adventures. Remind the kids that just because a mini looks one way doesn't mean it always is that way (remind them that the orc warrior serves as an orc and a zombie in the basic game, for instance).

Or you can do what I've been doing, hooking my cousins (ages 9 and 12). I gave them the basic game. I made quick throwaway level 1 characters for them (a human ranger and a half-elf bard) and played through A Dark And Stormy Knight (see the Wizards website; it's a great and very short one-shot adventure, far shorter than the basic game but can serve as a good sounding board. Do note that since there were only two of them, and I set my version in Eberron (eastern Breland near the Dakhaani border), I gave them a chance to team up with the two hobgoblins instead of fighting them if they roleplayed the encounter well, and made one hobgoblin a cleric).

After that, I went a bit all-out: I generated slightly more complicated characters (a stereotypical half-orc barbarian, a human "questionably possessed" warlock, a dwarf paladin tank, a xeph soulknife skirmisher, a human shapeshift/rejuvination druid, and a halfling rogue trapscout), had each of them pick two, and have been running them through The Sunless Citadel, which is far *longer* than the basic game (and far more involved plot-wise; you have to learn to deal with problems diplomatically or you've got to fight against both sides of a war and don't gain some interesting information). The only *real* rules addition I've used here would be a slightly simplified attack-of-opportunity system, since it's somewhat important in a few areas; I kept the rest as close to the basic game as I could -- for instance, I removed the paladin code of conduct and summarized all their abilities and pertinent combat rules (i.e. Power Attack, charging, or flanking) right there on their sheets.

The next step after this is to walk them through character creation and try something less conventional than the dungeon crawls they've tried -- a pirate game, say, since I doubt they're fully ready on the RP front to tackle a political intrigue game. All things considered, I think this was a pretty good introduction.

If you want to pull a page from this, I could send you the information I used on the pregenerated characters I made. I made a point of condensing them down to as little information as I could while phrasing all the abilities like they appear in the basic game. It wouldn't be hard to adjust them to Basic Game format.
Azezel
01-28-07, 03:01 PM A few weeks ago there was a post on these boards from someone very mutch like yourself - a parent. This chap was an experienced roleplayer himself - but the point of the post was that his eight year old offspring had co-written an adventure, and then run it, demonstrating creativety and apt rules implimentation.

Point is - are you sure you're not underestimating your sprogs?
tak1108
01-28-07, 03:30 PM I too was playing and reading first addition D and D when I was 7 years old. My parents were very happy that I was reading stuff at that level when i was that young. I greatly enhanced my reading ability as well.

I agree with, don't under estimate your children.

They also don't have to read the entire book at once. help them choose a character race and class and have them read and comprehend just those to sections to start with. Help them with anything they don't understand.
snotling
01-28-07, 09:51 PM Thanks for the replys so far. Please keep them coming.

The 9 year old (he will be 9 next month) is a good reader, but he has not "wanted" to pick up the book and thumb it. he does have that option. He enjoys playing and learning while playing. (a bit lazy that one is.. smart too)

He did sit in on an Eberron game that a friend of mine ran, he ran his own character and did an ok job. We had another 7 (or 8) year old play as well. Interesting how those two role-played.

I'll check out "Dark And Stormy Knight". thanks for the tip.

I have ran through a simple combat with the d&d minis, that went pretty good. We may do more of that as well. They also play some of my older rpg/board games (DungeonQuest and HeroQuest). Those have gone well.. specificly DungeonQuest, they loved that one.

I have thought about picking up the old red box set books. They are much easier to read and learn from. I think those are more his level, then the hard back phb. I know many kids have learned by just picking up the books and playing...hopefully mine will. but only time will tell.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
snotling 01-28-07, 01:40 PM	Hello - I picked up the Basic set a while back ago, so I could play with my kids (9 and 7). They seem to enjoy it. The rules/character sheets are right about par for them. The next step, according to the basic set, is to pick up the PHB and continue.. well.. that's fine and good.. but I cannot imagine my 7 year old doing that.. even the 9 year old would not. So... Any one thought about expanding the basic game? Adding more iconic characters, in the same format as the Basic game character sheets. Any adventures that people have written up, that are are the same level as these? Using the Tiles, or even the new D&D tile sets. I found the counters with the game to be really easy to use, and it helped the kids keep track of what they have. thanks -snotling
Tempest Stormwind 01-28-07, 02:31 PM	Basically, what you can do with this is use the material in the box to develop your own adventures. Remind the kids that just because a mini looks one way doesn't mean it always is that way (remind them that the orc warrior serves as an orc and a zombie in the basic game, for instance). Or you can do what I've been doing, hooking my cousins (ages 9 and 12). I gave them the basic game. I made quick throwaway level 1 characters for them (a human ranger and a half-elf bard) and played through A Dark And Stormy Knight (see the Wizards website; it's a great and very short one-shot adventure, far shorter than the basic game but can serve as a good sounding board. Do note that since there were only two of them, and I set my version in Eberron (eastern Breland near the Dakhaani border), I gave them a chance to team up with the two hobgoblins instead of fighting them if they roleplayed the encounter well, and made one hobgoblin a cleric). After that, I went a bit all-out: I generated slightly more complicated characters (a stereotypical half-orc barbarian, a human "questionably possessed" warlock, a dwarf paladin tank, a xeph soulknife skirmisher, a human shapeshift/rejuvination druid, and a halfling rogue trapscout), had each of them pick two, and have been running them through The Sunless Citadel, which is far longer than the basic game (and far more involved plot-wise; you have to learn to deal with problems diplomatically or you've got to fight against both sides of a war and don't gain some interesting information). The only real rules addition I've used here would be a slightly simplified attack-of-opportunity system, since it's somewhat important in a few areas; I kept the rest as close to the basic game as I could -- for instance, I removed the paladin code of conduct and summarized all their abilities and pertinent combat rules (i.e. Power Attack, charging, or flanking) right there on their sheets. The next step after this is to walk them through character creation and try something less conventional than the dungeon crawls they've tried -- a pirate game, say, since I doubt they're fully ready on the RP front to tackle a political intrigue game. All things considered, I think this was a pretty good introduction. If you want to pull a page from this, I could send you the information I used on the pregenerated characters I made. I made a point of condensing them down to as little information as I could while phrasing all the abilities like they appear in the basic game. It wouldn't be hard to adjust them to Basic Game format.
Azezel 01-28-07, 03:01 PM	A few weeks ago there was a post on these boards from someone very mutch like yourself - a parent. This chap was an experienced roleplayer himself - but the point of the post was that his eight year old offspring had co-written an adventure, and then run it, demonstrating creativety and apt rules implimentation. Point is - are you sure you're not underestimating your sprogs?
tak1108 01-28-07, 03:30 PM	I too was playing and reading first addition D and D when I was 7 years old. My parents were very happy that I was reading stuff at that level when i was that young. I greatly enhanced my reading ability as well. I agree with, don't under estimate your children. They also don't have to read the entire book at once. help them choose a character race and class and have them read and comprehend just those to sections to start with. Help them with anything they don't understand.
snotling 01-28-07, 09:51 PM	Thanks for the replys so far. Please keep them coming. The 9 year old (he will be 9 next month) is a good reader, but he has not "wanted" to pick up the book and thumb it. he does have that option. He enjoys playing and learning while playing. (a bit lazy that one is.. smart too) He did sit in on an Eberron game that a friend of mine ran, he ran his own character and did an ok job. We had another 7 (or 8) year old play as well. Interesting how those two role-played. I'll check out "Dark And Stormy Knight". thanks for the tip. I have ran through a simple combat with the d&d minis, that went pretty good. We may do more of that as well. They also play some of my older rpg/board games (DungeonQuest and HeroQuest). Those have gone well.. specificly DungeonQuest, they loved that one. I have thought about picking up the old red box set books. They are much easier to read and learn from. I think those are more his level, then the hard back phb. I know many kids have learned by just picking up the books and playing...hopefully mine will. but only time will tell.