TTRPG primary school club question

[Illudenerth]

Hi everyone! I'm a teacher trying to start a TTRPG club in my primary school, but I've got a problem. I originally wanted to play DnD, but after a trial run I realized it's too difficult for the kids. It's got tons of rules and it was very overwhelming for them. We also only have 1 hour of play time per session.

Here's my question: is there a simpler game like DnD that we can play and let them get attached to their characters and enjoy all the role playing and combat and such that I enjoyed from DnD? I guess I'm looking for a d20 game with the usual combat, exploring, and discussing that DnD has without as many rules or math.

Also, I have the dice but no board or minis of my own. I thought about just buying them, but then decided it would be fun to let the kids build everything themselves. Besides clay, what craft supplies would be good to buy in bulk that they could make structures or minis from? Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit. It's a bit of a find a game + craft supplies ask.

Thanks for your help or pointing me in the right direction!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There’s probably others, but The Fantasy Trip was an early rules light FRPG from Steve Jackson Games. It was played on a hex grid with flat cardboard game pieces. It was a little more wargamey than AD&D, and had fewer options, but it was still robust enough to run straightforward adventures or even campaigns.

Most people I know played it as a “beer & pretzels” alternative to more complex games. Once you became familiar with the system, PC creation could be done in 5-10 minutes.

It went out of print years ago. But fortunately, it was recently re-released, so it should be a relatively easy find and fairly inexpensive. (I don’t know if they changed anything.)

Not only that, Dark City Games used a version of the same system to create RPGs in a variety of genres.

As for minis in general? In my time in the hobby, I’ve seen a lot of variations. There’s the conventional metal or plastic minis from all kinds of games. There’s flat cardboard pieces like those mentioned above. SJG also used to sell cardboard minis you’d fold into a 3D shaped (and they still might).

Besides those, I’ve played at tables that used coins, Go/Othello/Pente/flat-bottomed glass beads, boardgame pawns, or beads mounted on pins or needles that have been mounted on styrofoam. I know others who’ve used hard-shell candies or gummies. And of course, you can use game pieces from board games if they’re the right size. The Monopoly Terrier makes for a fine werewolf.

 

[Dbudzik]

Hi everyone! I'm a teacher trying to start a TTRPG club in my primary school, but I've got a problem. I originally wanted to play DnD, but after a trial run I realized it's too difficult for the kids. It's got tons of rules and it was very overwhelming for them. We also only have 1 hour of play time per session.

Here's my question: is there a simpler game like DnD that we can play and let them get attached to their characters and enjoy all the role playing and combat and such that I enjoyed from DnD? I guess I'm looking for a d20 game with the usual combat, exploring, and discussing that DnD has without as many rules or math.

Also, I have the dice but no board or minis of my own. I thought about just buying them, but then decided it would be fun to let the kids build everything themselves. Besides clay, what craft supplies would be good to buy in bulk that they could make structures or minis from? Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit. It's a bit of a find a game + craft supplies ask.

Thanks for your help or pointing me in the right direction!

OD&D or 1st edition D&D are simple enough for kids to play. Use ascending armor class instead of THAC0. I’d recommend Old School Essentials.
But you could also use Knave 2e. It was designed by a teacher who plays RPGs with kids.