D&D for young beginners (or D&D Light) [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D for young beginners (or D&D Light) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Moebius
03-04-06, 10:34 AM I'm itching to get my 8 year old step-daughter into D&D, but I think the game is just a bit too much for her at this point. anyone know of any light versions of the rules for beginers?
Seeker95
03-04-06, 12:15 PM Although there is a "basic set" it too is all about the rules. Instead of finding a set of "rules lite", just play with the regular rules and go "story heavy". You're the DM. Explain rules as events occur (if needed), rather than expecting them to know them ahead of time.

As for appropriate stories, might I suggest you rent a few episodes of Scooby Doo on DVD, watch through them without your daughter, and turn the stories into game. Get her interested in "being someone else" (you don't even need to call it "roleplaying") as she solves the mystery. She gets to be one of those pesky kids!
demonic_dante
03-04-06, 12:19 PM if you think your step-daughter wouldn't understand the rules in the core books you could always get DnD for dummies (not that shes stupid, just young)
Solaris
03-04-06, 02:57 PM I recommend the 1983 Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (revised by Frank Mentzer). You could pick one up on eBay or as a $4.95 PDF download from rpgnow.com. It's an excellent introduction for young beginners.
Carolan
03-04-06, 03:10 PM I started my kids off with just relating the story and asking them what they would do in that situation. You can bring rules in later as much as they can handle without getting bogged down. Most of all make it fun and give a time limit say just 1 hour to start off.Try to leave the session on a cliffhanger and you'll soon have them begging for more.
DanjaNinja
03-04-06, 04:25 PM I too would recommend the D&D Basic Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/966470000). It's a "rules lite" version of 3.5 D&D for complete beginners, and while I haven't used it myself I've heard good things.

I would not, however, recommend this:
As for appropriate stories, might I suggest you rent a few episodes of Scooby Doo on DVD, watch through them without your daughter, and turn the stories into game.
Maybe it's just me, but basing games off of Scooby-Doo seems insulting to the intelligence of even an 8-year old. :P
Seeker95
03-04-06, 04:39 PM DanjaNinja, it's just you. :P

I definitely do NOT recommend the Basic Game. It's like using a moped to see if you want to ride a motorcycle. It may be fun but... you sure as heck don't want anyone to see you using it, and when you move on, you'll wonder why you wasted your time!
SOPI
03-04-06, 04:42 PM As we've seen in my rants about how Spongebob pushes me to the brink of insanity, I am an advocate of small children playing D&D only if they learn how to play it the way it was meant too, meaning that the idea of fantasy isn't cutesy and childish, thus making WotC having to eventually submit to the little kids.
To that end, I find that the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game is a good start. I've checked it out, and the rules are presented in a way that allows the kids to start out easy and work their way up to the full rules. The fantasy world isn't presented as a squishy world of bunnies etc., and the D&D feel is still alive.
So basically, I higly reccomend the Basic Game.
SOPI
03-04-06, 04:44 PM DanjaNinja, it's just you. :P

I definitely do NOT recommend the Basic Game. It's like using a moped to see if you want to ride a motorcycle. It may be fun but... you sure as heck don't want anyone to see you using it, and when you move on, you'll wonder why you wasted your time!
Sorry about the double post, but I think that Seeker95 is out of his mind. I started with the Basic Game and now I am a full-out, rules-knowing fan. The Basic Game may not be for everyone, but it is not a waste of time.
nodaisho
03-04-06, 05:30 PM D+D for dummies can help, also, there is an article, I forget what column it is, but its title is DMing for the younger set, and that might be what you are looking for.
Moebius
03-04-06, 06:57 PM D+D for dummies can help, also, there is an article, I forget what column it is, but its title is DMing for the younger set, and that might be what you are looking for.

any idea where I could find that article?
Ayodrinn the Silver
03-04-06, 08:23 PM Eight? EIGHT!?! Are you mad? Don't even play D&D. Just roleplay. Don't worry about the mechanics; simply play a story, like, um, a play!!

If I were you, D&D mechanics wouldn't be introduced until she's about 11-12. Then again, I'm not you.
Ayodrinn the Silver
03-04-06, 08:41 PM any idea where I could find that article?
Go to articles at the top of this page, click "Save my game", and find the one titled "Dming for the Younger Set".
DMDaddy
03-04-06, 09:03 PM Use the rules as basic as possible. I have 3 boys who all started around 8. They are teenagers now.

Things to keep:

Attack rolls and Armor class. Steamline the attack roll by not including every modifier that could come up in play. Just use the basic attack roll plus strength modifier plus any magical modifiers from weapons.

Armor class in 3.5 is easy to understand. It's what you have to roll to hit.

Keep saving throws. Keep skills also, but not all of them. Start out with 5 -10 skills and don't get rules heavy on using them.

Only include a few feats. Ones that are easy to understand, like Trip and Disarm.

Lastly, always explain what the goals are for any adventure or scenario and keep everything short. I like the idea of wathcing scooby doo. He's my hero.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Moebius 03-04-06, 10:34 AM	I'm itching to get my 8 year old step-daughter into D&D, but I think the game is just a bit too much for her at this point. anyone know of any light versions of the rules for beginers?
Seeker95 03-04-06, 12:15 PM	Although there is a "basic set" it too is all about the rules. Instead of finding a set of "rules lite", just play with the regular rules and go "story heavy". You're the DM. Explain rules as events occur (if needed), rather than expecting them to know them ahead of time. As for appropriate stories, might I suggest you rent a few episodes of Scooby Doo on DVD, watch through them without your daughter, and turn the stories into game. Get her interested in "being someone else" (you don't even need to call it "roleplaying") as she solves the mystery. She gets to be one of those pesky kids!
demonic_dante 03-04-06, 12:19 PM	if you think your step-daughter wouldn't understand the rules in the core books you could always get DnD for dummies (not that shes stupid, just young)
Solaris 03-04-06, 02:57 PM	I recommend the 1983 Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (revised by Frank Mentzer). You could pick one up on eBay or as a $4.95 PDF download from rpgnow.com. It's an excellent introduction for young beginners.
Carolan 03-04-06, 03:10 PM	I started my kids off with just relating the story and asking them what they would do in that situation. You can bring rules in later as much as they can handle without getting bogged down. Most of all make it fun and give a time limit say just 1 hour to start off.Try to leave the session on a cliffhanger and you'll soon have them begging for more.
DanjaNinja 03-04-06, 04:25 PM	I too would recommend the D&D Basic Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/966470000). It's a "rules lite" version of 3.5 D&D for complete beginners, and while I haven't used it myself I've heard good things. I would not, however, recommend this: As for appropriate stories, might I suggest you rent a few episodes of Scooby Doo on DVD, watch through them without your daughter, and turn the stories into game. Maybe it's just me, but basing games off of Scooby-Doo seems insulting to the intelligence of even an 8-year old. :P
Seeker95 03-04-06, 04:39 PM	DanjaNinja, it's just you. :P I definitely do NOT recommend the Basic Game. It's like using a moped to see if you want to ride a motorcycle. It may be fun but... you sure as heck don't want anyone to see you using it, and when you move on, you'll wonder why you wasted your time!
SOPI 03-04-06, 04:42 PM	As we've seen in my rants about how Spongebob pushes me to the brink of insanity, I am an advocate of small children playing D&D only if they learn how to play it the way it was meant too, meaning that the idea of fantasy isn't cutesy and childish, thus making WotC having to eventually submit to the little kids. To that end, I find that the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Game is a good start. I've checked it out, and the rules are presented in a way that allows the kids to start out easy and work their way up to the full rules. The fantasy world isn't presented as a squishy world of bunnies etc., and the D&D feel is still alive. So basically, I higly reccomend the Basic Game.
SOPI 03-04-06, 04:44 PM	DanjaNinja, it's just you. :P I definitely do NOT recommend the Basic Game. It's like using a moped to see if you want to ride a motorcycle. It may be fun but... you sure as heck don't want anyone to see you using it, and when you move on, you'll wonder why you wasted your time! Sorry about the double post, but I think that Seeker95 is out of his mind. I started with the Basic Game and now I am a full-out, rules-knowing fan. The Basic Game may not be for everyone, but it is not a waste of time.
nodaisho 03-04-06, 05:30 PM	D+D for dummies can help, also, there is an article, I forget what column it is, but its title is DMing for the younger set, and that might be what you are looking for.
Moebius 03-04-06, 06:57 PM	D+D for dummies can help, also, there is an article, I forget what column it is, but its title is DMing for the younger set, and that might be what you are looking for. any idea where I could find that article?
Ayodrinn the Silver 03-04-06, 08:23 PM	Eight? EIGHT!?! Are you mad? Don't even play D&D. Just roleplay. Don't worry about the mechanics; simply play a story, like, um, a play!! If I were you, D&D mechanics wouldn't be introduced until she's about 11-12. Then again, I'm not you.
Ayodrinn the Silver 03-04-06, 08:41 PM	any idea where I could find that article? Go to articles at the top of this page, click "Save my game", and find the one titled "Dming for the Younger Set".
DMDaddy 03-04-06, 09:03 PM	Use the rules as basic as possible. I have 3 boys who all started around 8. They are teenagers now. Things to keep: Attack rolls and Armor class. Steamline the attack roll by not including every modifier that could come up in play. Just use the basic attack roll plus strength modifier plus any magical modifiers from weapons. Armor class in 3.5 is easy to understand. It's what you have to roll to hit. Keep saving throws. Keep skills also, but not all of them. Start out with 5 -10 skills and don't get rules heavy on using them. Only include a few feats. Ones that are easy to understand, like Trip and Disarm. Lastly, always explain what the goals are for any adventure or scenario and keep everything short. I like the idea of wathcing scooby doo. He's my hero.