She's one of us

[jcayer]

Later this month, my daughter will turn 8. A little over a year ago, she was interested in what D&D was, mainly, just the minis. Anyway, we played a few makeshift sessions and then I let her sit in with my regular group for about an hour. No one really rolled up characters, except her, and everyone adlibbed a ton, but she had a great time. I think my players did as well.

Now usually on her birthday, we take her out to dinner. This year, her birthday falls on game night. So I gave her a choice, game with us for a bit, or go out to dinner. Much to my wife's disappointment, she chose to join us.

I've got a live one folks, and her 5 year old sister doesn't seem that far behind.

Now to come up with an engaging storyline for an 8 year old, with at least one puzzle, and a couple encounters. Her sessions tend to run more like AD&D than 4E.

 

[was]

congratulations

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You cannot lose if it includes any one of:

1) Ponies/Unicorns/Pegasi

2) Princesses

3) Rainbows

4) Puppies/Kittens

Combining any 2 elements- say, a (talking) kitten who is a princess- will border on hypnotic. Especially if the scenario involves rescuing her and taking her back to her family.

Looking baaaaaaaaack into my childhood, I can think of a few of books that could provide fodder for a campaign for your kids: Where the Wild Things Are, The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wrinkle in Time, the Narnia books...even some of the Grimm's Fairy tales & Disney stuff could be mined for some plot hooks.

Helping The Sorcerer's Apprentice undo his disaster?

Following Lassie to save someone who has had an accident in the wilderness?

Helping a charming Prince find the woman who fits a shoe...before someone else does?

Helping some Dwarves defend their beloved entombed young woman from being carted off by bad guys?

Saving Rapunzel? Or the Frog Prince?

 

[Mark CMG]

Make it so the treasure is wrapped up like presents.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Monetary System:

1 Peppermint Piece (PP) = 10 Gummi Pieces (GP) = 100 Skittles Pieces (SP) = 1000 Candycorn Pieces (CP)

 

[Asmo]

I wonder if the recomendations had been the same if it was a boy?

Asmo

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I wonder if the recomendations had been the same if it was a boy?

Asmo

In my case, I'd still recommend the same books, I would have changed ponies, etc. to Dogs and or Dragons only, and might have added Princes to Princesses.

 

[Oryan77]

I wonder if the recomendations had been the same if it was a boy?

Most boys I've been around don't care much for princesses, unicorns, or rainbows. So unless yer trying to get all PC about this, I'd say the answer is an obvious "no, the recommendations would not be the same."

 

[UnknownAtThisTime]

I was alarmed at how readily my 8 year old picked up the game, though in retrospect I should not have been. It is after all just make believe with more rules, and make believe is what little kids do best!

In any case, the encounters and story lines she likes most involve actively saving people. Warning them, shepherding them, pulling them to safety, etc.

 

[CharlesRyan]

I introduced my kids to D&D last winter. The girl (7 at the time) loved it and could pretty much handle all the concepts (she's a good reader and can deal with the math).

The boy (5) enjoyed it, though he has to be walked through the every roll of the dice. He also found it a bit too scary to play: Despite playing the fighter, when faced with the entrance to the dark underground lair he basically said, "What? Go down in there? Are you crazy?"

We've only played a few more times since then, mostly due to my time constraints, but they'd play all the time if I'd run it for them. Hmmm--maybe I need to get the girl GMing. . . .