Too young to play D&D 4e

[pamenard]

Hey, ChattyDM here (using my pre-blogging Username)

I think you can play the game pretty much as is with Tweeners with no major tweaks. What I'm trying to do with Wizards is creating adventures that have more appeal to kids. Stuff right out of the Goonies and other adventures where teen PCs (kids hate playing kids, they want to play teens and up) get caught in weird-cool adventures.

IMO, what you need to put foremost in you mind is that all parts of the rules , especially combat ones, need to take second place to your players' ideas, expectations and energy level.

If a monster has been a pain in the neck in combat and the players are voicing concerns... or start boasting "I'll drop him with my next hit" do so. If a player wants to pick up a rock and clip a monster on the forehead instead of using Sly Flourish with his dagger... allow him and to use Sly Flourish... or Rule 42 it by making a Dex vs Fort attack that stuns the creature...

...too strong? Yes, but oh so cool.

If the energy level drops because a fight runs too long, have all monsters flee, or capitulate or something.

Also, pay very close attention to what the kids are saying. If what they say is cooler than what the adventure says, work it in.

"Oh I bet this Ogre is actually a Wizard in disguise"

Poof! He is! How the hell did you guess?

Finally, you have got to say Yes... to every non-system abusive request the players make. With Rule 42, you can do pretty much anything awesome happen with this game and they will love it. Saying Yes is the greatest DM tool to create player fun. That doesn't mean giving them the moon... but all request should be answered with 'yes, but you need to (insert requirement) first'.

As for a published adventure, I suggest you use Kobold Hall... it's simple and straight forward but it's got everything kids will love. Work in a kidnapping of kids (possibly younger siblings) and you'll have insta-buy-in from your players.

 

[jcayer]

I have a 6 year old daughter. After watching a little of what daddy and his friends do, she wanted to learn. Right now, very rules light, she likes rolling the dice and finding the treasure, but it is a great learning and bonding opportunity.

Her math was good to start, but has been getting better, she's learning to role play, her imagination is fantastic, and really likes some of the basic puzzles I've given her. She's even sat down with me to help design her own adventures.

She must ask to play once a week, I only wish I had the time to dedicate to it. I even picked her up a couple mini's, which she absolutely loves.

I intend to start teaching her the hard rules soon and with that, I have no doubt she'll be hooked. Now if only she could stay up till 1 am, she could join the adult group.

I will admit, I do nerf monster death, and describing things. She gets skeletons, and zombies a little. Most of the time, generic bad guys, or guys that look like snakes, works. And of course, the occasional dragon.

 

[Herobizkit]

Here's a link to a blog that was written by a father who DM'd 4e for his seven-year old.

Story Games - [4e] Shadowfell with my seven-year-old

It's a brilliant read.

 

[buddhafrog]

This is my first thread on this forum and I just want to say that you all are great. Thanks all for your suggestions and links -- I'm checking them all out.

The bottom line is that I will definately do this with my kid.

I'll be posting here more often and am glad to join the community.

 

[occam]

I am now 38, and am highly considering DM'ing the new 4e with my son and his friend, 3rd grade and 5th grade. I'm wondering if this is just a little too young. Of course some aspects will be too difficult, but the challenge will aslo be educational. I would highly house-rule to my taste but also to make it slightly easier.

Do you think it will be too difficult for an advanced 3rd grader?
Do you think it is too violent/adult for an advance 3rd grader?

I started DMing a simplified 3e campaign for my older daughter when she was in 1st grade; I basically waited until she could read and add pretty fluently, and that was it.

The violence or adult nature of the content is something you can control; you'll have to judge what's appropriate, as it's different depending on the children. Most premade adventures these days aren't suitable for children, IMO, but it doesn't take much to creat your own that will interest them, and I could suggest some age-appropriate 4e adventures, if you're interested.

 

[occam]

What if's or how did you find the lost unicorn?

Heh, the first adventure I created to introduce my older daughter to D&D in 1st grade was titled "Lost Unicorn". My younger daughter, now in 1st grade, currently plays said unicorn.

 

[buddhafrog]

Most premade adventures these days aren't suitable for children, IMO, but it doesn't take much to creat your own that will interest them, and I could suggest some age-appropriate 4e adventures, if you're interested.

I'm starting to lean towards an adventure I create -- although after 20 years away from D&D, I think a premade adventure module might be a helpful crutch. I'm very open to suggestions, please.

 

[Nivek]

Young kids tend to have short attention spans so that might be a problem, but other than that I think it should work fine. If you keep playing with them it should slowly improve. That was how I was.

I'm glad you're encouraging your kid to play board games. The gaming community(board games) is slowly dying because kids rather play video games than board games. People like you still let the community live.

My dad played games with me since I was young and I'm grateful he did. Now I'm 15 and I still love board games. I'll pick it over video games almost every time. The problem is most of my friends don't, so I don't have many people to play with.

 

[Oni]

Here's a link to a blog that was written by a father who DM'd 4e for his seven-year old.

Story Games - [4e] Shadowfell with my seven-year-old

It's a brilliant read.

This was really great.

 

[SiderisAnon]

You were looking for module suggestions. Although it's 3E, the module "The Transmuter’s Last Touch" from Goodman Games (Dungeon Crawl Classics) would probably be a good module, and it's only $2. It has a fairly linear path and there's a ton of fun to be had because you can gain temporary powers for your characters by using certain dungeon features. It's probably my favorite Goodman Games module.


As for the violence level, you may want to consider using the cartoon approach of having bad guys that it's okay to kill because they aren't "real". Instead of people, use things like undead, constructs, summoned beasts, or illusions.