# D&D for children **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 6, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594 "2008-02-06T22:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![evangelinagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@evangelinagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evangelinagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/21 "2008-02-07T19:50:38Z")
I love this thread! What great ideas. I let my neice (11) and nephew (9) play in a slightly modified campaign (2nd and 1st edition, thank you very much) with focus on questing and fast fighting. (Remember the battles where the rounds took forty minutes? Egads…LOL) We have had a mini campaign go through a “play land” where their characters were transported and found themselves miniaturized, sort of like in “Honey I Shrunk the Kids.” My neice has played an elven wizard and my nephew enjoys playing an elven fighter. They love it! The value of imagination, planning and creativity is so important. What a great way to get families together at the dining room table in the evenings. I wish you all the best! Roll for initiative! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/22 "2008-02-07T20:00:36Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] 2nd and 3rd editions? Are you guys crazy? The kids are 7 and 11, you need to go OLD SCHOOL, you know back when Halfings, dwarves and elves were also classes, only thieves could pick locks and level advancement didn’t mean midnight pouring over min-max opportunities with feats and skill points. Ah, the good old days. [/QUOTE] Actually, we are using 1st Edition in a Middle Earth setting of the early fourth age. Elrohir is about to send them up to Angmar on a mission. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/23 "2008-02-07T22:00:18Z")
We’ve had some successful child characters, player and NPC, in some of our games. They were run by adults and they were sorcerers. I’m assuming that other magic users would work as well. The magic users don’t use their strength as much as the other classes and therefore aren’t at quite the same disadvantage because they’re young. For what it’s worth. And another vote for letting us know how things work out. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/24 "2008-02-07T23:04:34Z")
[Darths & Droids](http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/darthsanddroids/episodes/0001.html) might be of some interest. The premise of this webcomic is that the Star Wars movies don’t exist in the world of these gamers. Rather, the Star Wars universe is the invention of this one particular gamemaster, and he’s introducing it to his players. The reason I bring it up is that in [strip #17](http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/darthsanddroids/episodes/0017.html), one of the players brings his little sister along and the GM decides to let her play a character. The strip might be helpful in illustrating some of the possibilities and pitfalls of having very young players. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/25 "2008-02-08T00:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=Maeglin] I spent six months in Gitmo thanks to the D&D police. I was waterboarded until I parted with my optimization secrets. I folded easier than a cheap suit, and I will never forget it. [/QUOTE] Never use WIS as your dump stat. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/26 "2008-02-08T00:46:26Z")
My children play RPG with extended family about six times a year. You don’t have to make them be kids in the RPG. They probably want to be adults. Remember to keep the naration down (really, they don’t care for a detailed description of the lovely dungeon, they just want to find something to kill.) Keep it simple with lots of chances for them to roll the dice and be directly involved in the game. They need to have conversations and time to make choices. Also don’t make it a long campaign. Under an hour per session should be about right until you’ve got them hooked. Keep their shorter attention spans in mind and you should all have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/27 "2008-02-08T01:08:05Z")
I’ve been playing D & D with Attacklass (10) and Attacklad (7). Its been going well, they’re totally into it. I’ve been playing it with a very liberal interpretation of rolls and rules, making sure to always leave an out for them. Ms. Attack has been playing a gronk, a straight up stupid strong fighter type, so she takes the heat in battle. She’s never played, so she’s as entertaining as the kids are, trying to reason with random monsters. Attacklass is a magic user, so she gets to blast away from a distance, while Attacklad is a thief, allowing him to be very useful and clever. The only dodgy moment came when he thought he had permanently been turned into a monkey and he then started to lose it. I had to quickly retcon, so that on closer inspection the scroll said he could turn into a monkey forever - that is, whenever he needed to, forever. Anyway- so far, so good. A light touch, minimal gore and humour has worked pretty well. The age issue has never come up , they just are what they are. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/28 "2008-02-08T01:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Actually, we are using 1st Edition in a Middle Earth setting of the early fourth age. Elrohir is about to send them up to Angmar on a mission. [/QUOTE] Your 1st ed DM’s guide has a table for modifying stats for age. Without looking, I imagine that they lose some intelligence, wisdom, strength, stamina (endurance?) and gain a little dexterity. I’d probably just let them roll “normal” characters. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/29 "2008-02-08T03:53:43Z")
[QUOTE=Jophiel] Your 1st ed DM’s guide has a table for modifying stats for age. Without looking, I imagine that they lose some intelligence, wisdom, strength, stamina (endurance?) and gain a little dexterity. I’d probably just let them roll “normal” characters. [/QUOTE] They basically did as I explain. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/30 "2008-02-08T06:14:00Z")
Whoops… was mixing my original posts and my responses there :smack: ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/31 "2008-02-08T08:55:15Z")
Roll normal characters, start the game with them being kids, then have something happen like they get somehow transported to another dimension and get made adults phsyically in the process. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/32 "2008-02-08T12:36:47Z")
As a proud owner of copy of [Cat RPG](http://wicked-dead.com/cat/) I recommend this system as a kid-friendly. Fast, easy and elastic rules, fun and overall very interesting. Plus, it let them know that there is more in RPG than swordsmen and wizards. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/33 "2008-02-08T14:41:20Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Never use WIS as your dump stat. Daniel [/QUOTE] You tell me that _now_. And **Hal Briston** , the fact that you made that joke means Jesus died in vain. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/34 "2008-02-08T15:06:41Z")
Mentioning Jesus dying makes the baby Jesus cry. ---
**Author:** ![Barry\_From\_Eastenders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Barry\_From\_Eastenders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barry_From_Eastenders)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/35 "2008-02-09T01:46:53Z")
[QUOTE=Jophiel] Your 1st ed DM’s guide has a table for modifying stats for age. Without looking, I imagine that they lose some intelligence, wisdom, strength, stamina (endurance?) and gain a little dexterity. [/QUOTE] Aging is covered on pages 12-13 of the 1st ed DM Guide. Characters start at young adult. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/36 "2008-02-09T03:08:02Z")
I started playing with my kids when they were around 5 or 6. They loved it. But, remember that it’s a game for children. You want them to have fun so they’ll play again. They can learn the deep-rules later. Don’t overwhelm them with rules. Think of it as like playing cops-n-robbers or whatever, but using dice and figures and maps. The goal is that they have fun. I suggest using a map and little figures, to help visualize. I suggest a simple quest: save the princess from the ogre, or kill the witch, or whatever. My kids, in fact, loved variations on fairy tales – I had them go through a giant’s castle, a la Jack and the Beanstalk, and included such wonders as finding the giant’s (slightly used) handkerchief. I also had them find a cannibal witch’s cottage, as in Hansel and Gretel, but changing things slightly (house wasn’t made of gingerbread, f’rinstance.) Don’t spend a lot of time having them roll up characters the first time around. Make it simple. Use three or four “attributes” – strength, intelligence, endurance, wisdom. Let them start as fighters, it’s easiest, and perhaps give each of them a magic weapon to start off… and not just a +1 dagger. You want fun stuff, like a talking axe who’s very boring, or a cloak of invisibility. In fact, when I started with my kids, I stuck with 6-sided dice, and I’d say, “To hit that ogre with your sword, you need to roll higher than 2.” Ignore all the stuff like dodge and attacks of opportunity and complications. Keep it simple, keep it fun. Make sure they win – they can suffer an injury, or loss of weapon, but make sure they win in the end. Almost thirty years later, my son is still an avid player (he plays more than I) and brags that he’s second generation. So, enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Barry\_From\_Eastenders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Barry\_From\_Eastenders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barry_From_Eastenders)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/37 "2008-02-09T17:58:21Z")
I found this last night while doing some googling: D&D - Children Characters [http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/katz/dnd/kids.html](http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/katz/dnd/kids.html) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/38 "2008-02-09T20:21:14Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] [Darths & Droids](http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/darthsanddroids/episodes/0001.html) might be of some interest. The premise of this webcomic is that the Star Wars movies don’t exist in the world of these gamers. Rather, the Star Wars universe is the invention of this one particular gamemaster, and he’s introducing it to his players. [/QUOTE] Oh, man, that’s awesome. Bookmarked! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/39 "2008-02-11T00:38:08Z")
[QUOTE=Maeglin] And **Hal Briston** , the fact that you made that joke means Jesus died in vain. [/QUOTE] Man, nine years of Catholic school and I have _no_ idea if you’re complimenting me or not. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594/40 "2008-02-11T22:07:08Z")
I started playing D&D at recess in 4th grade, which would put me at 8 years old. This was Red Box OD&D, not AD&D, but depending on the kids, they shouldn’t have much trouble with an experienced adult DM willing to take care of the nitty-gritty rules and dispense with them as need be. PS - if you like Darths and Droids, check out “DM of the Rings”, the comic that directly inspired it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-for-children/436594.md?page=3)