Easing my kids into PFRPG...

[BigWeather]

My kids are 9 and 12 and expressed interest in playing a PnP RPG. As a long-time subscriber to Pathfinder that was initially my first thought. However, I was reading over the rules of some retro-clones and I realized some of the simplicity of combat (it is more abstract and less tactical) and lack of skills / feats may make a retro-clone a better introduction. On the other hand that would be throwing out what I consider one of the best inventions of 3.x+ -- the DC. And I don't even want to get them thinking negative AC = better!

So I've decided to strip down PFRPG and then introduce elements over time. I was thinking of starting with a subset of classes (probably fighter, wizard, cleric, and rogue -- the iconic four), ability scores, ability modifiers, AC, weapon damage, hit points, some basic spells, and DCs. I think it is important to introduce DCs early and with that ability modifiers so they can grok that a fighter's higher strength proved crucial in opening a stuck door whereas a weaker character would've failed.

Then, as they get comfortable with that I'll introduce skills, saves, more spells and a few more classes. Finally finish up by adding in combat complexity -- if they want it, honestly we may be able to just play without it -- in terms of feats, combat maneuvers, the elements of a combat round (before this I'm thinking you get one major action per round like "attack the orc", "cast a spell", VSM, positioning, etc.

That seem like a reasonable approach (from 30,000')?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I have actually run Pathfinder, both Beta and the release version.

Really, the only thing I would recommend is avoiding combat maneuvers early on, and trimming back the selection of feats - the kids had no problem with skills. And most of the low level feats are pretty straight forward.

I started them off at second level, so there was a little room for messing up - their first mistake would be unlikely to put them down. That said, they didn't make that first mistake. They played in a fairly cautious manner, hiding when they saw the grave robbers being attacked by ghouls, though one of them got very nervous when one of the ghouls spotted her, and put its finger to its lip as though to go 'shhhh', then grinning with lots of teeth.

I ran the game again this year, for some teenagers, the 'shhh' scene went just as well with the older players.

The Auld Grump

 

[rogerkernsmith]

My 10 and 11 y/o kids have been playing both PFRPG and PFS games regularly - unedited. Not much of a learning curve compared to adults I have taught to play either.

Give them the full deal. With some patience you will likely be surpised.

Now my kids talk about failing their perception check when they can't find something.

 

[Azgulor]

I'm running Pathfinder for my 9-yr old. Since he's the only player, I added Reserve Points from Unearthed Arcana and started him at 2nd level.

He had no problem understanding the rules & concepts.

Additionally, he had been introduced to RPGs by watching a combat I ran for my regular crew. When I said we'd be using simpler combat rules (i.e. RAW), he expressed that he wanted the "other cool stuff", i.e. armor-as-DR, massive-damage-thresholds, etc. that I had imported from other OGL games.

 

[BigWeather]

Thanks a lot for all of the input! I may have underestimated what your average 9 - 12yo was capable of and I'm going to run with the full rules (though I'll probably still save combat maneuvers for a little later =)). I do like the idea that a couple of you posted about starting them at second level to give them a bit more survivability. Thanks again!

 

[jreyst]

So I've decided to strip down PFRPG and then introduce elements over time. I was thinking of starting with a subset of classes (probably fighter, wizard, cleric, and rogue -- the iconic four), ability scores, ability modifiers, AC, weapon damage, hit points, some basic spells, and DCs. I think it is important to introduce DCs early and with that ability modifiers so they can grok that a fighter's higher strength proved crucial in opening a stuck door whereas a weaker character would've failed.

My thoughts exactly. See PF-Lite for an example of a project I started a while ago, but which has stalled on me.