# How old to RPG

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 21, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327 "2002-03-21T11:42:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327/21 "2002-04-09T03:39:53Z")

</div>

I’ve found that players don’t need to know all the rules, they just need to know they are there and available for their reference, and know what their stats and skills do. Just explain what they are rolling for and why as you go, don’t skip over rules arbitrarily to make it easier (i.e. follow the same combat sequence every time, you can leave stuff like advanced initiative out but be consistent in what has to be rolled and what doesn’t), and let them know stuff their character would know (i.e. if the character is taking a shot that’s going to require a really good roll to be successful, let them know it’s going to be difficult and what they will need to roll), and they will soon be quite proficient in the rules. I’ve run games of AD&D 2E, Call of Cthulhu, Star Frontiers, and a science-fiction one I made up with people who were COMPLETELY new to role-playing, and they all became good players (better than many long-time players I’ve known but probably because I am strict with the rules but make my campaigns very open-ended).

I taught myself to play D&D (the red box, I believe) when I was 8, and since I knew nobody who played I had to DM for my friends and relatives. I think a reasonably bright 8 year old should have no problem learning to play.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327/22 "2002-04-09T13:56:16Z")

</div>

You’re too old to RPG, but you’re too young to die.

Life’s a drag that way.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327/23 "2002-04-09T19:59:56Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tengu \*  
> I prefer to let the DM handle all the mechanics when I play, but if he insisted I wasn’t _allowed_ to know them, I’d chafe, and refuse to play with him. If your kid’s anything like me, making that part of his first experience with gaming (and thus implying This Is The Way it Is) could turn him off it permanently.

That’s what makes _Paranoia_ perfect. The player can learn **everything** he wants to – but if he wants to stay alive, he better not _reveal_ that he knows Things That Mere Mortal Clones Were Not Meant To Know… 😉

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-rpg/99327.md?page=1)