League of Extraordinary Children and Slavelords of Cydonia...

[ragboy]

So, I finally got Slavelords and my brain started working out all these cool fantasies about actually getting to run it. Since I usually only have time to run games for my kids, I came up with the idea of having them be a LXC, basically playing historical archetype children characters. So, I have two questions:

1 - What should I look to change about Slavelords to make it more kid-appropriate? I know there's a big slavery component, which I'll probably gloss over somehow, but can Slavelords be toned down? (this is for ages 8-12)

2 - Suggest some 'extraordinary children' from 19th century fiction... I have a few, but I'm running into a wall (especially for my daughter's character)... I had thought of them playing the children of LXG, but don't know about that... I also want to pull in a Johnny Quest-type character, but can't think of one from the period...

 

[S'mon]

Is there something in Slavelords' treatment of slavery that makes it unsuitable for kids? It's not Gor-ish is it?

 

[DnDChick]

Alice from Alice in Wonderland

The Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist

Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol

Huckleberry Finn from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (since Tom himself was already in LoEG)

That's all I can come up with on the spur of the moment ... I'm sure there are may other fine examples of "extraordinary" children in the literature of the age.

 

[S'mon]

Re LXC - I'd say Dickens should be a good source (Oliver, Artful Dodger etc), for female PCs maybe go Edwardian - there's a 5 children & It movie, is it still Edwardian? If not, look at EE Nesbitt's novels, they're full of groups of cool male & female child protagonists with magic & stuff...

 

[DnDChick]

If you dip into the Edwardian era (i.e. 1906 to the 19-teens) you can include:

Dorothy Gale, from The Wizard of Oz

and

Wendy Darling, from Peter Pan and Wendy

as female "extraordinary" children

 

[ragboy]

If you dip into the Edwardian era (i.e. 1906 to the 19-teens) you can include:

Dorothy Gale, from The Wizard of Oz

and

Wendy Darling, from Peter Pan and Wendy

as female "extraordinary" children

I got those two, but totally blanked on Alice..doh! I thought Wizard of Oz was set in the 1800's... I guess it didn't exactly specify, but it was published in 1900, yes..?

Is there something in Slavelords' treatment of slavery that makes it unsuitable for kids? It's not Gor-ish is it?

Not sure. I just started reading it, and was hoping someone more familiar with it could point out some landmines that I should consider.

 

[DnDChick]

IIRC, Wizard was published in 1915 or so. Definately early 20th century, but my date might very well be very wrong. lol

 

[GlassJaw]

this is for ages 8-12

Whoa. I can think of more than a few settings and rulesets I'd run for 8-12 year olds before GT/Slavelords. That's not really the advice you are looking for though I'm sure.

What about Young Sherlock Holmes?

Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol

Hmm, not to be negative or anything but playing a Tiny Tim character can't be fun. :\

 

[DnDChick]

Hmm, not to be negative or anything but playing a Tiny Tim character can't be fun.

That depends. Comic books have lots of examples of people who, despite a physical disadvantage, are still exceptional heroes.

Perhaps a "League of Extraordinary Children" version of little Tim Cratchet has the ability to manipulate the emotions of others. He can cause the worst of villains to feel compassion, love, etc.

 

[Wystan]

The kids in 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe'

Lucy
Edmund
Peter
Susan