What to purchase for a 7 year old

[jcayer]

So my daughter is turning 7 next month. She's watched us play D&D for a couple years and has even joined the table for a couple AD&D based, very rules light, sessions. Her attention span is 1-1.5 hours in this regard.

With her birthday coming up, and Essentials coming out, I'm considering getting her either the Red Box, or the first few Essentials books. I like the idea of the Red Box, but am concerned it might be wasted on her, or she'll outgrow it too quickly. Since I'm going to have to explain everything to her, I don't know that she'll benefit from the choose your own adventure intro, etc.

On the flip side of the coin, I wouldn't be complaining to add the Rules Compendium and a some of the other books to my D&D bookshelf.

So, do I get her the Red Box, or start with the Rules Compendium and Class Books of the Essentials line?
I think I may be blinded by my hidden desire to find a way to smuggle the new Essentials books into my house, but I'm not sure.

What do you think is best for a 7 year old girl who will have most of this explained to her anyway...she won't be reading the books herself to start.

 

[Jack99]

Well, nobody has it yet, but from what WotC is saying and what little info we have, it definitely sounds like a Red Box would be the best choice, as it's specifically made for people who have never play D&D before.

Cheers

 

[nnms]

I'd get her the red box and let her really sit with it and go through the solo adventure all by herself rather than walking her through everything.

 

[jaycrockett]

She should get her own set of dice for starters. Then maybe some minis. The "Practical Guide To..." series should be a good read for a seven year old.

As for rules, just buy what you want!

 

[jcayer]

She already has her own dice and a couple mini's. That's how she got interested. She actually has some of my dice, but I think her little sister will be getting her a set to be all her own.

Of course, her birthday is Sept 20, so whatever I decide will be a slightly late gift.

 

[Festivus]

The red box is at some premiere stores, I have seen it. Here is what I suspect your daughter might benefit from with red box:

1. A sense that this is HER game
2. A fun short intro story / way to teach herself and other friends how to play and understand roles
3. A set of her own dice
4. A set of her own tokens
5. An adventure that she can run her friends through when she's ready
6. A set of blank character sheets

What she won't get... complete rules on how to build all characters and all levels. That you would want the other books for. But at $20 it makes for a great gift in my opinion.

 

[Jack99]

Select stores were given a copy of Red Box to show off and run demo games

The red box is at some premiere stores, I have seen it. Here is what I suspect your daughter might benefit from with red box:

1. A sense that this is HER game
2. A fun short intro story / way to teach herself and other friends how to play and understand roles
3. A set of her own dice
4. A set of her own tokens
5. An adventure that she can run her friends through when she's ready
6. A set of blank character sheets

What she won't get... complete rules on how to build all characters and all levels. That you would want the other books for. But at $20 it makes for a great gift in my opinion.

When I said nobody, I meant none of us. Well, except for guys like thalmin who owns one of those lucky stores that were picked - Point was thus that not a lot of people will have anything but second hand knowledge or maybe a quick glance to go by when commenting on the RB - aside from what we have been told, of course.

Cheers

 

[Solvarn]

One of two things

I'd get either the Essentials Red Box, or check out the Heroscapes line from Hasbro.

 

[jcayer]

I'm leaning toward the Red Box, which was my first inclination, till the collector in me wanted everything. She'll have her own box of stuff and I think she'll like that more than anything.
Bonus, I can order it from Amazon for the 9/7 release and get it cheaper.

 

[keterys]

I'd suggest the Red Box...

Then get all that other stuff for yourself