Harry Potter, D&D, and the children's market

[Felix]

what merit is there in Dungeons & Dragons moving into the chilren's market?

A friend with 3 young kids thinks this is exactly what DDM is designed to do. The rules in D&D are fairly complex, with the combat rules being the most so. If DDM softens the rules up a bit and gets the kids attached to the miniatures they've been playing with since they were 7, that may very well lead them to another use for the minis: representing player characters in a D&D game.

 

[Brother Richard]

My Thoughts

I think that the problem is that D&D is not flashy enough, and most younger people have a gut response of, "thats weird, there just imagining that everything is happening instead of seeing it like in a video game or movie". Then, when they actually play it, they realize it is much more fun then it seems.

You'll see what I mean if you try to explain to someone who doesn't play D&D how it is fun, and sort of how it works. It just seems really weird in a description. I think that if younger players actually played it, many would find the greater freedom than video games appealing, and will keep playing. Thats what I have found.( I won't say how old I am, think very young)

Those are just my thoughts.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

yes. see my edited response

When looking at future bridge products, please consider turning Carston and the rest of the stuff from the Knights of the Silver Dragon into a beginner setting.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think that the problem is that D&D is not flashy enough,...

Not flashy enough? Between the Player's Handbook looking like a jeweled girl's diary and the introduction (or over-exploitation) of spikes on armors (and shield), how much more flashy should it get?

 

[Arkhandus]

I think that the problem is that D&D is not flashy enough, and most younger people have a gut response of, "thats weird, there just imagining that everything is happening instead of seeing it like in a video game or movie". Then, when they actually play it, they realize it is much more fun then it seems.)

You realize that children actually have less of a problem with games involving imagination than teenagers and adults do, right?

Teenagers are more averse to it because they'd like to think they're all cool and grown-up-like, and that anything even remotely resembling a child's game at first glance is going to seriously hamper their own coolness. But most teenagers overestimate how cool everyone else thinks they are to begin with.

And the geeky kids/teens have less of a problem with it, I think (especially since they're likely to be less self-convinced of their own coolness, so won't be rejecting anything and everything just on the basis of 'it might not be cool'). I know I got involved in D&D in my early teenage years cuz the friends I met in junior high all played D&D and stuff.

 

[JoeBlank]

A friend with 3 young kids thinks this is exactly what DDM is designed to do. The rules in D&D are fairly complex, with the combat rules being the most so. If DDM softens the rules up a bit and gets the kids attached to the miniatures they've been playing with since they were 7, that may very well lead them to another use for the minis: representing player characters in a D&D game.

Hey, do I know you? Your statement describes me pretty well. I have three sons, now ages 9, 7 and 5, who all started with DDM, and with the Temple of Elemental Evil PC game, and are now all playinig D&D, with me as DaddyDM.