Are you interested in kid friendly products?

[+5 Keyboard!]

Pretty simple. Are you or aren't you interested in products designed for your children?

There's been a lot of threads here and elswhere about introducting children to our favorite RPGs. As we 30 and 40 something are now rearing children that are coming of age to start playing the same games we grew up on, it seems that this is something that's more and more of a topic of interest.

So here's the deal. I recently finished work with the WereCabbages on a system-neutral book full of great articles to help Game Masters run better, funner games. Here's a link to it --> http://www.goodmangames.com/4371preview.php.

The same group of writers plus a few others are now planning some other products to coincide with the launch of 4th Edition and one of the topics we have been considering is a line of "kid friendly" products intended to help parents introduce their children to role-playing games.

Is this something you'd be interested in purchasing? If so, what would you look for in such a product?

 

[Angel Tarragon]

In a word: YES!

I've got a 2 year old (well, will be 2 in March) nephew and am really looking forward to inspiring his imagination.

 

[Flynn]

I'd like to see a streamlined intro game similar in concept to Kids Easy Play OGL, by Steven Ruske. It doesn't seem to be online any more, but it was a very streamlined version of the first ten levels, aimed at allowing kids to play without making too many decisions, etc.

After that, I'd like to see some adventures that use that system, and emphasize a variety of roleplaying encounters and styles, from combat to negotiations, from unusual terrain to magical sites, so that the players can get a feel for the variations that are possible in a diverse gaming experience.

Just a thought, anyway,
Flynn

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

Certainly. My oldest just turned 11, and I am starting a D&D group for him and his cousins. Even with that, I am looking for good, "rated PG" adventures for them to go through. I had thought Goodman Games' "classic styled" adventures would be a place to start, but they appear to take a very dark slant on classic.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I'm interested in rpg products designed for children, yes. I'd like to see products that target the following age ranges:

• 4-5

• 6-8

• 8-10

The mind of a 4-year-old is vastly different from that of a 6-year-old. What 5-year-olds find entertaining is different than what entertains even a 6-year-old. I just started DMing my own 6 and 5-year-olds, but had been considering starting a game with them for the last year or two. I couldn't find what I felt was a product representative of their age group, so I waited. So, yes, I'd love to be able to buy gaming products (especially rpgs) for kids, but there really aren't a lot of products out there--particularly not for parents who want something age-specific.

And I'd like to see stuff for little girls, too. Someone around EN World was recently designing a My Little Ponies rpg, though from reading the thread I got the distinct impression that it was targeted at adult or late teenage fans of the MLP television series--a series that those interested used to watch when they were younger. I'd love to see something like that actually done up for small children. I did find one product, Faery's Tale Deluxe, that looks good and is available as a .pdf. After my girls and I finish the game we just started (the 2E Dragon Quest board game), I intend to buy Faery's Tale and run them through that with characters of their own making. I wish there were more products for kids! And more products for girls!

 

[Deset Gled]

I believe it was Chuck Jones who once said (in a badly paraphrased way) that there is no such thing as a good children's movie. There are just good movies, some of which happen to be suitable for children. I believe the same thing to be true of most media: TV shows, books, and even RPGs.

I am not interested in kids' RPG products. I am interested in good RPG products that are relatively low in violence and higher math, focus on creativity, and require no previous knowledge of fantasy standards.

 

[jdrakeh]

Yes, though mainly because I think a failure to appeal to young players will kill the hobby dead in short order. Increasingly, as older players move on to other things, precious few products in the hobby are geared toward recruiting people to take their place. We need people to fill those seats.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

Yes, though mainly because I think a failure to appeal to young players will kill the hobby dead in short order. Increasingly, as older players move on to other things, precious few products in the hobby are geared toward recruiting people to take their place. We need people to fill those seats.

Well said.

 

[hazel monday]

I got no beef with G rated D&D products. I'd just never buy them, personally. I game with grownups pretty much exclusively.

 

[Whisper72]

Yup. I'd be interested. My son is now only 10 months old, but hey, planning ahead is always a good thing....