D&D for Kids? [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D for Kids? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mjayg
10-29-07, 12:07 PM My son is very curious about my D&D books and when he sees me playing D&D Online and loves playing with all the dice.

Wondering which version of D&D (in or out of print) would be best for introducing him to the game. He is a very precocious 6 year old.

THANKS!
WildWalker
10-29-07, 12:53 PM D&D Cyclopedia (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Rules-Cyclopedia-Allston/dp/1560760850/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0279608-6299907?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193675941&sr=1-1) if you can find it. Max Hit Points or Con Hit Points at first level and keep the level 1-3 with the the BBEG at 5th to 7th and reverse the AC like 3.x. I like the giant insects (ants, bees) and giant animals and mystical creatures as the bad guys rather than goblins, orcs and ogres just because then there is no "killing humans" issues.

I've had some really fun times with young children at the gaming table but I have found that, with few exceptions, GMing for children younger than 10 you are esentially managing the rules for your players with any stripe of D&D. There is just too much going on and the math is NOT intuitive.

To be honest there are several other roleplaying games out there that are much better for really young children.

Still, good times.

Good Luck!

WildWalker
Seeker95
10-29-07, 02:44 PM I play 3.5 with my 5-year-old daughter. Just strip out most of the detailed rules, and keep objectives very straight-forward at first. When they are getting the hang of the flow of things, pick an episode of Scooby Doo and play it out.
jaelis
10-29-07, 02:52 PM You might check out Faery's Tale, by Firefly Games.
Owlperson2007
10-29-07, 04:13 PM I think it's a wonderful idea, the shop near where Louise used to live has a lot of kids going in and out buying Pokemon cards or whatever they play nowadays and they are already getting into Magic, so for someone who can understand the concept if not all the rules, that should be a great idea.

Maybe act out a fairytale or two? I'm not suggesting Mr Fox (http://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-29.html) here, but I'm sure kids as young as seven or eight could handle something like Jack and the Beanstalk or Sleeping Beauty.
FaithlessOfLux
10-29-07, 04:25 PM I play dnd with not the most mathematically gifted teenagers, but I think for introducing the game to younger kids the rules don't matter. 3.5 is pretty easy, and simplify it. Even if he isn't doing everything right it's the idea of alashing a sword etc that he'll get his kicks out of. His imagination will really take off if you describe the things to him, as imagination is a more prominent part of their lives in younger kids.
High Octane
10-29-07, 05:01 PM Simplify. Basically, you should help most with character creation, and give the kid a small number of options instead of the absurd list of feats available.

Or even better, just give him the option of playing "The Fighter" or "The Barbarian" or "The Sorcerer", and make the character yourself.

Then let him say what he wants to do. Loosen up the rules. Don't call him on attacks of oppurtunity, or let him have a little extra movement, etc.
Sarella Starshine
10-29-07, 09:30 PM If your kid is 6, he should be able to handle adding two numbers together. So, 3.5 is ideal because, that's all you do, add numbers together (other than hps).

Get or create a very simple character sheet. Color code (and label) the numbers for: Attack Bonus, Armor Class, Hit Points, Will Save, Fort Save, Reflex Save. You can have other stuff on the sheet such as stats, equipment, etc, but they can be ignored for now.

Skip skills and super simplify feats (give him a very narrow choice of feats). You can introduce skills later after he gets the hang of 'roll dice add number'.

Now, get some dice of different colors. have a set of different colored d20's to match (or close to match) the colors you chose for the above mentioned numbers (except for AC and Hit Points). When he makes an attack roll, have him roll the dice that matches the color for the Attack Bonus and add the number rolled to the number listed on the sheet.

After a couple of sessions like this, you can start to add more complex things like skills, wider feat selection, different attack options, etc.
crystalseas
10-29-07, 10:29 PM Does anyone already have a simplified char sheet?

I'd like to see it if you do.

Otherwise, what are the 10 most important things to have on that sheet for an early elementary gamer?
enelsonmo
10-29-07, 10:41 PM If you want a simpler game, check out Labryinth Lord @ http://www.goblinoidgames.com.

It uses the OGL to retro-clone Basic D&D from yore. Basic D&D is a quick-playing game that encourages a lot of imagination and creativity. The character sheet easily fits on one-side of a piece of paper.

Easy to learn, fun to play and encourages imagination.

Enjoy!
mjayg
10-30-07, 04:06 PM I agree 3.5 might be doable but there is just too much info in the books and I am sure he will want to look at them. Would love a scaled down version of the rules to give him... maybe I will have to write them. :)
crystalseas
10-30-07, 05:40 PM mjayg, if you do start writing, I'd be glad to collaborate. I've been looking at the 32 page 2ndADD intro PHB, and thinking about converting it to 3.5

And then making that into a 2 page handout.
High Octane
10-30-07, 07:19 PM I don't know why people think 1st or 2nd edition is simpler. It's not. It just covers less ground. If you take away all the things not covered in 1st edition from 3.5, the game will actually be as simple (if not more so) and signifigantly more internally consistent and thus easier to understand.
KJW
10-31-07, 10:09 AM Go to this blog (http://www.gleemax.com/Comms/Pages/Communities/BlogPost.aspx?blogpostid=2382&pagemode=2&blogid=2198) on Gleemax for help with gaming with kids.
crystalseas
10-31-07, 11:07 AM Thanks much KJW.

I found this to be very interesting. Does anyone know where we could get our hands on the Purple Moon report?

"3. How hard is it for kids to play RPGs?

Kids are natural roleplayers. They do it extremely well, much better than adults, because they have not yet learned to quash their own sense of imagination (or, at least, one hopes that hasn't been quashed yet!). The only problem some children may have are the math requirements for some of the game mechanics: typically these are addition and subtraction problems.

1. What are the special needs of girls in RPGs?
Girls must be encouraged in RPGs because most referees reward aggressive behavior over social behavior. The folks who designed computer games for girls at Purple Moon (a short-lived computer game company which has since been bought out by Mattel) did a lot of research about this very problem.

They determined that girls enjoy such games just as much as boys, but that the games that boys play reward aggression and competition while girls respond well to an atmosphere of cooperation, encouragement, and socialization.

As a result, it is important for a girl to roleplay in groups that can foster this kind of interaction. If the game is purely about who kills what, who gets what treasure, then the game usually won't be much fun for the girls.

RPGs for girls do not have to be frilly or pink, just fun in the way they tend to appreciate.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mjayg 10-29-07, 12:07 PM	My son is very curious about my D&D books and when he sees me playing D&D Online and loves playing with all the dice. Wondering which version of D&D (in or out of print) would be best for introducing him to the game. He is a very precocious 6 year old. THANKS!
WildWalker 10-29-07, 12:53 PM	D&D Cyclopedia (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Rules-Cyclopedia-Allston/dp/1560760850/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-0279608-6299907?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193675941&sr=1-1) if you can find it. Max Hit Points or Con Hit Points at first level and keep the level 1-3 with the the BBEG at 5th to 7th and reverse the AC like 3.x. I like the giant insects (ants, bees) and giant animals and mystical creatures as the bad guys rather than goblins, orcs and ogres just because then there is no "killing humans" issues. I've had some really fun times with young children at the gaming table but I have found that, with few exceptions, GMing for children younger than 10 you are esentially managing the rules for your players with any stripe of D&D. There is just too much going on and the math is NOT intuitive. To be honest there are several other roleplaying games out there that are much better for really young children. Still, good times. Good Luck! WildWalker
Seeker95 10-29-07, 02:44 PM	I play 3.5 with my 5-year-old daughter. Just strip out most of the detailed rules, and keep objectives very straight-forward at first. When they are getting the hang of the flow of things, pick an episode of Scooby Doo and play it out.
jaelis 10-29-07, 02:52 PM	You might check out Faery's Tale, by Firefly Games.
Owlperson2007 10-29-07, 04:13 PM	I think it's a wonderful idea, the shop near where Louise used to live has a lot of kids going in and out buying Pokemon cards or whatever they play nowadays and they are already getting into Magic, so for someone who can understand the concept if not all the rules, that should be a great idea. Maybe act out a fairytale or two? I'm not suggesting Mr Fox (http://www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-29.html) here, but I'm sure kids as young as seven or eight could handle something like Jack and the Beanstalk or Sleeping Beauty.
FaithlessOfLux 10-29-07, 04:25 PM	I play dnd with not the most mathematically gifted teenagers, but I think for introducing the game to younger kids the rules don't matter. 3.5 is pretty easy, and simplify it. Even if he isn't doing everything right it's the idea of alashing a sword etc that he'll get his kicks out of. His imagination will really take off if you describe the things to him, as imagination is a more prominent part of their lives in younger kids.
High Octane 10-29-07, 05:01 PM	Simplify. Basically, you should help most with character creation, and give the kid a small number of options instead of the absurd list of feats available. Or even better, just give him the option of playing "The Fighter" or "The Barbarian" or "The Sorcerer", and make the character yourself. Then let him say what he wants to do. Loosen up the rules. Don't call him on attacks of oppurtunity, or let him have a little extra movement, etc.
Sarella Starshine 10-29-07, 09:30 PM	If your kid is 6, he should be able to handle adding two numbers together. So, 3.5 is ideal because, that's all you do, add numbers together (other than hps). Get or create a very simple character sheet. Color code (and label) the numbers for: Attack Bonus, Armor Class, Hit Points, Will Save, Fort Save, Reflex Save. You can have other stuff on the sheet such as stats, equipment, etc, but they can be ignored for now. Skip skills and super simplify feats (give him a very narrow choice of feats). You can introduce skills later after he gets the hang of 'roll dice add number'. Now, get some dice of different colors. have a set of different colored d20's to match (or close to match) the colors you chose for the above mentioned numbers (except for AC and Hit Points). When he makes an attack roll, have him roll the dice that matches the color for the Attack Bonus and add the number rolled to the number listed on the sheet. After a couple of sessions like this, you can start to add more complex things like skills, wider feat selection, different attack options, etc.
crystalseas 10-29-07, 10:29 PM	Does anyone already have a simplified char sheet? I'd like to see it if you do. Otherwise, what are the 10 most important things to have on that sheet for an early elementary gamer?
enelsonmo 10-29-07, 10:41 PM	If you want a simpler game, check out Labryinth Lord @ http://www.goblinoidgames.com. It uses the OGL to retro-clone Basic D&D from yore. Basic D&D is a quick-playing game that encourages a lot of imagination and creativity. The character sheet easily fits on one-side of a piece of paper. Easy to learn, fun to play and encourages imagination. Enjoy!
mjayg 10-30-07, 04:06 PM	I agree 3.5 might be doable but there is just too much info in the books and I am sure he will want to look at them. Would love a scaled down version of the rules to give him... maybe I will have to write them. :)
crystalseas 10-30-07, 05:40 PM	mjayg, if you do start writing, I'd be glad to collaborate. I've been looking at the 32 page 2ndADD intro PHB, and thinking about converting it to 3.5 And then making that into a 2 page handout.
High Octane 10-30-07, 07:19 PM	I don't know why people think 1st or 2nd edition is simpler. It's not. It just covers less ground. If you take away all the things not covered in 1st edition from 3.5, the game will actually be as simple (if not more so) and signifigantly more internally consistent and thus easier to understand.
KJW 10-31-07, 10:09 AM	Go to this blog (http://www.gleemax.com/Comms/Pages/Communities/BlogPost.aspx?blogpostid=2382&pagemode=2&blogid=2198) on Gleemax for help with gaming with kids.
crystalseas 10-31-07, 11:07 AM	Thanks much KJW. I found this to be very interesting. Does anyone know where we could get our hands on the Purple Moon report? "3. How hard is it for kids to play RPGs? Kids are natural roleplayers. They do it extremely well, much better than adults, because they have not yet learned to quash their own sense of imagination (or, at least, one hopes that hasn't been quashed yet!). The only problem some children may have are the math requirements for some of the game mechanics: typically these are addition and subtraction problems. 1. What are the special needs of girls in RPGs? Girls must be encouraged in RPGs because most referees reward aggressive behavior over social behavior. The folks who designed computer games for girls at Purple Moon (a short-lived computer game company which has since been bought out by Mattel) did a lot of research about this very problem. They determined that girls enjoy such games just as much as boys, but that the games that boys play reward aggression and competition while girls respond well to an atmosphere of cooperation, encouragement, and socialization. As a result, it is important for a girl to roleplay in groups that can foster this kind of interaction. If the game is purely about who kills what, who gets what treasure, then the game usually won't be much fun for the girls. RPGs for girls do not have to be frilly or pink, just fun in the way they tend to appreciate.