Running a C&C game with 9 year olds.

Particle_Man

Explorer
Ok, I ran a C&C game with a bunch of 9 year olds. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Interesting notes:

1) One wanted to be a paladin, another wanted to be an assassin. :) At least the assassin was neutral, not evil.

2) The paladin was just as happy to get loot and try to keep it for himself as the others. :)

3) Charisma was perceived by them as a "dump" stat (except by the girl, who wanted to be pretty). Sorry Trolls. :(

4) 2 of them liked the 2-swords option.

5) I didn't enforce encumbrance, but did enforce the "you only have two hands, so how do you carry a shield, a sword and a torch?" rule.

6) They are used to computer rpgs. When some of the players had to go home and I invented a side-quest for the others, they said that the first ones had "logged off". :)

7) Their parents did not think I was evil. Nice change from the 80's. :cool:

8) The "paladin" wanted to start at a super-high level, and also wanted mithral plate. The assassin wanted poison. And to kill people in the city. And to kill the paladin, after the paladin said "You do that and I'll put you in jail!". Which started the paladin off: "Oh yeah? I got better AC, better strength, better...(he did roll well)". If they are only nine, does it count to call him them munchkins? Anyhow, I figure this sort of thing is natural for 9 year olds. Doesn't speak well for 25 year olds doing it, but there ya go. :D

9) Kids have a lot of disposable income. I told them the price of the books and one said "oh, I have that". Was I in a different situation when I was a kid!

10) The wizard really liked Magic Missle.

11) Character creation was too long for one of them (she had to go dancing), but then there was only one book.

12) They want me to return next week.

So it was a success. Monsters were killed and their stuff was taken.
 

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How funny. I would be a little intimidated trying to play an RPG with 9 year olds. They'll probably follow the same trends straight thru their adult years if they stick with the hobby. Munchkin loot-collectors from cradle to grave!
 

Narfellus said:
How funny. I would be a little intimidated trying to play an RPG with 9 year olds. They'll probably follow the same trends straight thru their adult years if they stick with the hobby. Munchkin loot-collectors from cradle to grave!

Nah - they're nine, they grow up!

When I was ten and played D&D, it was all about getting (and giving) the loot and killing the monsters. Heck, it was about that until I was 18 or so! People grow and change, and their roleplaying reflects that, not vice-versa. (Not saying SOME of them won't be power-gamers and butt-kickers still later, but it's hard to tell.)
 

Munchkins - No, Kids -Yes, I think a lot of adults forget that children tend to be pretty self centred.

When I started playing D&D at 11 I probably wasn't much different, either.

Glad to hear more new roleplayers being recruited.
 

Im glad to see someone actively recruiting youngsters into our fine hobby! I am also pleased to note that C&C was easy enough for 9 year olds to play. More than anything, I am very happy that you and the kids had fun!
 

I saw the title of this thread and I read it as you were starting 9 year olds with CoC, not C&C.

I thought that was an odd move, but brave. ;)
 

Particle_Man said:
9) Kids have a lot of disposable income. I told them the price of the books and one said "oh, I have that". Was I in a different situation when I was a kid!

Well, if you are my age, and comparing their disposable income to what I had when I was nine, you have to look at inflation. The C&C book runs $20 today. Back in the day, the Monster Manual and Player's Handbook ran $12... the equivalent of about $30 today, according to just the base rate of inflation!
 

Particle_Man said:
Ok, I ran a C&C game with a bunch of 9 year olds. They seemed to have a lot of fun.
Thanks for sharing, it's really interesting to hear about it. I have a 12 years old daughter, who would be interested in gaming, but current D&D 3.5 is too complex for her. This C&C would be a nice answer... Just I need to get other players though.
 

Turanil,

My 11 year old and 13 year old disagree with you. They have been playing for 3 years. It wasn't easy at age 8. But they caught on and new the rules better than the adult players by about their 6th gaming session, especially my (then) ten-year old daughter. They even learned to sit still and be quiet when it wasn't their turn!

Plus, since the old players were old and jaded they came to enjoy the kids playing because it reminded them of the "wonder" that first attracted them to RPG's to begin with.
 

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