Pregens for an 11-year-old's Birthday party?

[SavageRobby]

So the question is -- where can I get more like these? Anyone have a source for simplified pregenerated character sheets? Any other advice for running a D&D game for a bunch of 11-year-olds? I've run RPGs for kids before, but I'm not very up on D&D.

Dunno about the first part (more pregens) other than making them. But as for other advice, I'd keep one thing in mind considering their newness and age: find a way to say Yes more than No. Its highly unlikely that They're going to be munchkins or powergamers; they're going to want to do the kinds of things they see in movies. And while their stats and skills might not merit allowing some of the crazy actions they'll want to take, I'd highly recommend letting 'em do it anways, at least to a limit. For an intro into the hobby session like this, having fun is WAY more important than game balance or doing it RAW or anything like that - plenty of time for that once they're hooked.

 

[Zaukrie]

Agree with Robby. I bent the rules even more than I do with grown ups. They were killing the Gargantuan Blue so fast, I just kept it alive - otherwise it would have been anti-climatic. I also let them try what they wanted to try.

I also printed out (from the online SRD) the character descriptions from the PHB, any copies of spells they had, printed out the powers of their magic items....anything they would need in play.

Don't start them at 1st level! Generally I don't give this advice, but this is a chance to have some fun.

If you don't take my advice, the basic set is great, but tough to run with 7 characters in small rooms (another reason I built out the scenarios I did was to create room for everyone to be involved).

 

[Transit]

I'd rename and reuse the pregens and explain away the duplicate stats by having the characters be identical twins.

Less work creating and keeping track of different characters, and an interesting role-playing spin at the same time.

Three sets of identical twin PCs + the birthday girl's character = 7 players.

And maybe part of the "quest" is to find/rescue the last missing twin?

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I'd rename and reuse the pregens and explain away the duplicate stats by having the characters be identical twins.

Less work creating and keeping track of different characters, and an interesting role-playing spin at the same time.

Three sets of identical twin PCs + the birthday girl's character = 7 players.

And maybe part of the "quest" is to find/rescue the last missing twin?

That sounds like a pretty cool adventure idea for kids Transit. jhkim, I second this idea.

Zaukrie's game sounded pretty good too. I take it that the kids had a good time? Giving the kids some stuff like a D20, etc., to take home sounds like a good idea too. They're relatively cheap and a good way of sowing the seeds of gaming into them.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Quartz]

Three sets of identical twin PCs + the birthday girl's character = 7 players.

And maybe part of the "quest" is to find/rescue the last missing twin?

Sheer brilliance!

 

[Zaukrie]

Yes, the kids had a great time. 2 of them asked me to run their parties, though I doubt that will happen. Several now play in a game with me as DM. The key part for me was the modular design, so that they got to feel a sense of closure and accomplishment.

I'm actually considering trying to do this for birthday parties, so I can write off my minis' purchases (and books). Imagine buying minis and terrain, and writing them off (just have to show a profit every 3 years, or something).