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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6169911" data-attributes="member: 16069">Let's Play #6 DMG Kobold Hall (Level 1)The End.The scenario was easy to play, no heavy thinking needed, the players seemed to pick up the rules for combat, even Spider (aged 4) figured out how initiative, to hit and damage works; also how to use his various powers and weapons.I deliberately chose this scenario for a number of reasons; obviously it was intended as an introduction to 4e by Wizards. I worried at first about the fact that many of the encounters used the same monsters, in particular kobold skirmishers and slingers- however this proved to be a good thing, the guys knew what the enemies were capable of and so thought tactically at times. By doing this they also ‘got better’ and learnt how to achieve success in combat not by just using their powers but by thinking about how to reduce the monsters ability to inflict damage et al. The first time I heard- “No, you go there- then I can stab it in the back!” I grinned like a chimp- they were getting it.I realise I am talking about 4e solely in terms of combat here, this is obviously not all the game of dungeons and dragons has to offer, if and when the kids play again then other activities will be introduced- there was a little exploration in game, and a limited amount of role-play. That said combat is a big chunk of this edition (and tactical combat at that), it therefore needs to be learned early to survive- I also didn’t pull any punches, as far as I remember, with the guys.The scenario is also good in that the learning curve here is not too steep, the first three encounters or so are if not easy, then certainly surmountable, this too helps- a few victories under their belts and the players get to feel a lot better about their abilities.In short, and with regard to what needed to be achieved in the kids first outing, the scenario and session did its job. Obviously it was a massive help that as well as five kids and the GM (me) at the table, there were also four other adults (parents) explaining and helping out. In truth, at times, there were many more proud parents present, with cries of- “Mum! MUM! I’ve just killed a kobold!” uttered with pride and from a beaming visage.The action as described is obviously limited here, alas I do not have the time or the inclination to turn this in to a narrative, certainly not as much as I did at the table- I do voices, and on occasion get up and stomp about and play the ‘giddy goat.’ The kids loved this, as do some of their parents who play in my games, and sometimes get involved too. They loved that they had done pictures of the bad guy kobolds, and named them prior to the session. They also loved that they got to utter various battlecries, or else the final words of the dying kobolds- obviously I made many of them up for this story hour but some of them were well remembered, the feel is about right.All in all a good intro to the game, although- and let’s be honest here, not a fantastic scenario to GM- a kobold delve with a dragon added on the end. Perhaps Wizards designed it especially to help very young noobs get in to the game.7.0/10</blockquote>

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