Here at EN World, I'm looking at all-ages tabletop role-playing games, board games, essays, and card games. Do they engage the players at the kids' gaming table? Would they cut it at the adults' table? Are they genuinely fun for every age? After School Adventures: Adventures in Wonderland #1 - Chasing the White Rabbit by J Gray from Playground Adventures is the first in a series of mini-adventure paths available for 5e, Pathfinder, or Hero Kids. Each sold separately, these 15- to 17-page (depending on the gaming system) introductory PDFs includes adventure hooks, the adventure, new creatures, and a map.
The intent of this adventure path is to create a version of Alice in Wonderland for the gaming table. That concept has been tried many times with varying degrees of success, but what makes this one unique is it’s kid-centric. Based solely on the initial chapter, it feels like a linear streamlining of the feel (if not the contents) of the classic Disney version. The visuals of the book – the art, the borders, the colors – all have a fun, cartoony vibe to them that’s bright and pops off of the screen. Just looking at the product, it nails the audience. This PDF is the first leg of the larger Adventures in Wonderland series offering adventure hooks to lead off a complete Alice in Wonderland campaign or launch from After School Adventures’ other all-ages series, Pixies on Parade, or another setting. This is good for new GMs looking to work this into their world.
After wrapping it into your world, the immediate hook is the White Rabbit who also gets NPC stats for each of the three systems. His abilities in the Pathfinder version feel more genuine to the character than his powers in 5e which lack the diversity needed to present him. The personality write ups feel spot on though there’s no backstory shared for in the first part.
The cleverest idea presented in the first chapter is the map – Is it a RPG map or a board game map. The stated intention of including a board game style map in this is to hand hold children and new players from board games that they’re familiar with to the role-playing table. The argument is that, for kids, board games are known while RPGs are new and this builds a bridge. As such, they offer the map twice, once as an easily viewed single-page and once as a six page option to print and play with the table. The map is a simple path through the forest as the party chases the White Rabbit using skills and combat all to offer players a chance to learn how the game and system works.
At the end of the path is the first and only detailed encounter of this mini-adventure, the module’s new monster, the Tangleme Tree. It’s a tree that will suddenly attack and it’s perfect for kids because it’s stationary, easy to visualize, and logical to defeat or get away from. In terms of a first encounter, it’s a great start. Defeating it leads – To Be Continued In… Adventures in Wonderland Chapter 2: Down the Rabbit Hole. As the first of a multipart adventure for kids, it moves fast and keeps the action going, which is one more part that makes this a winner. Combine that with its basis in a well-known and loved tale that many can connect with, the board game opener that helps the audience transition into RPG, and round it out with combat that is light and make senses, this adventure is the pitch perfect way to introduce a young audience to 5e, Pathfinder, or Hero Kids.
Does ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 – Chasing the White Rabbit win the kids' table? Yes. By combining a board game introduction that covers dice rolls and instances going over how to read your character sheet, it builds towards the final encounter which is all RPG fighting. It offers a nice segue from the known – board gaming – to the unknown – RPG.
Would ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 – Chasing the White Rabbit work at the adults' table? It depends on the table. If you have a table that gravitates toward quick, lighthearted rumps, this one has the makings of a Disney classic at your table. On the other hand, if your party is more likely to see a white rabbit in a coat and decide to hunt it, this may not be for your table as the adventure could go sideways. There’s also a piece of cake that shows up at the end with an in-game note that reads “eat me later” and a GM note that says “The cake is important in the next adventure.” Your table may be ok with waiting until the next adventure (and GM purchase to get ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #2 – Down the Rabbit Hole) but others will eat the cake that night and there’s no explanation as to what it does (I’m assuming it makes you grow to ridiculous heights but… they may have something more clever instore). Still, if your table has the right inclinations or it’s full of first-time players looking for a unique experience, ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 will be ideal for your table.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.
contributed by Egg Embry
The intent of this adventure path is to create a version of Alice in Wonderland for the gaming table. That concept has been tried many times with varying degrees of success, but what makes this one unique is it’s kid-centric. Based solely on the initial chapter, it feels like a linear streamlining of the feel (if not the contents) of the classic Disney version. The visuals of the book – the art, the borders, the colors – all have a fun, cartoony vibe to them that’s bright and pops off of the screen. Just looking at the product, it nails the audience. This PDF is the first leg of the larger Adventures in Wonderland series offering adventure hooks to lead off a complete Alice in Wonderland campaign or launch from After School Adventures’ other all-ages series, Pixies on Parade, or another setting. This is good for new GMs looking to work this into their world.
After wrapping it into your world, the immediate hook is the White Rabbit who also gets NPC stats for each of the three systems. His abilities in the Pathfinder version feel more genuine to the character than his powers in 5e which lack the diversity needed to present him. The personality write ups feel spot on though there’s no backstory shared for in the first part.
The cleverest idea presented in the first chapter is the map – Is it a RPG map or a board game map. The stated intention of including a board game style map in this is to hand hold children and new players from board games that they’re familiar with to the role-playing table. The argument is that, for kids, board games are known while RPGs are new and this builds a bridge. As such, they offer the map twice, once as an easily viewed single-page and once as a six page option to print and play with the table. The map is a simple path through the forest as the party chases the White Rabbit using skills and combat all to offer players a chance to learn how the game and system works.
At the end of the path is the first and only detailed encounter of this mini-adventure, the module’s new monster, the Tangleme Tree. It’s a tree that will suddenly attack and it’s perfect for kids because it’s stationary, easy to visualize, and logical to defeat or get away from. In terms of a first encounter, it’s a great start. Defeating it leads – To Be Continued In… Adventures in Wonderland Chapter 2: Down the Rabbit Hole. As the first of a multipart adventure for kids, it moves fast and keeps the action going, which is one more part that makes this a winner. Combine that with its basis in a well-known and loved tale that many can connect with, the board game opener that helps the audience transition into RPG, and round it out with combat that is light and make senses, this adventure is the pitch perfect way to introduce a young audience to 5e, Pathfinder, or Hero Kids.
Does ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 – Chasing the White Rabbit win the kids' table? Yes. By combining a board game introduction that covers dice rolls and instances going over how to read your character sheet, it builds towards the final encounter which is all RPG fighting. It offers a nice segue from the known – board gaming – to the unknown – RPG.
Would ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 – Chasing the White Rabbit work at the adults' table? It depends on the table. If you have a table that gravitates toward quick, lighthearted rumps, this one has the makings of a Disney classic at your table. On the other hand, if your party is more likely to see a white rabbit in a coat and decide to hunt it, this may not be for your table as the adventure could go sideways. There’s also a piece of cake that shows up at the end with an in-game note that reads “eat me later” and a GM note that says “The cake is important in the next adventure.” Your table may be ok with waiting until the next adventure (and GM purchase to get ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #2 – Down the Rabbit Hole) but others will eat the cake that night and there’s no explanation as to what it does (I’m assuming it makes you grow to ridiculous heights but… they may have something more clever instore). Still, if your table has the right inclinations or it’s full of first-time players looking for a unique experience, ASA: Adventures in Wonderland #1 will be ideal for your table.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links.
contributed by Egg Embry
