D&D style gaming for an 8yr old?

[wyeast]

A friend of ours is looking to introduce her 8yr old son to the world of D&D style gaming. I've been out of the loop on most pen & paper stuff after 2nd ed. Any suggestions?

:)

[Squidbot]

What's wrong with just D&D?

[wyeast]

Nothing, but I'm hoping for more specific advice, like 2nd ed, or 4th ed, or going back to the basic sets. Etc. I just themed it "D&D Style" because she's open to playing something similar if it's easier for a little kid to handle.

[Panthera]

A friend of ours is looking to introduce her 8yr old son to the world of D&D style gaming. I've been out of the loop on most pen & paper stuff after 2nd ed. Any suggestions?

:)

Retro-clones!

Sword and Wizardry (http://www.swordsandwizardry.com/) is a nice and simple clone of original D&D, pre-Basic and Advanced. It's beautifully simple since it has none of the fiddly extra rules from advanced and it's free, with printed books available. That seems like a great way to get a kid started.

[Ink Asylum]

I haven't played it, but these people made a kid-specific RPG system (http://newbiedm.com/rpgkids/), with some pre-made campaigns to boot.

[OUX]

I have heard good things about the red box. (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-Game/dp/tags-on-product/0786956291)

[LongStepMantis]

http://gamingunplugged.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/heroquest.jpg

Old school, but a good introduction to many D&D-ish concepts. The hardest part would be finding a decent copy anymore.

[Camel]

I have heard good things about the red box. (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-Game/dp/tags-on-product/0786956291)
I actually just started pen and paper D&D for the first time, and we used this box to get us started.

[Shrinn]

I'm going to second Ink's suggestion. RPGkids was made with children in mind and sounds like the perfect intro.

[Ink Asylum]

http://gamingunplugged.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/heroquest.jpg

Old school, but a good introduction to many D&D-ish concepts. The hardest part would be finding a decent copy anymore.

I've got one in my closet. :) Can't say I'd be up for parting with it though.

[Karak]

http://gamingunplugged.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/heroquest.jpg

Old school, but a good introduction to many D&D-ish concepts. The hardest part would be finding a decent copy anymore.

Came here to post this. I have got more people into D&D through this game than anything else.

[LordDon]

I miss Heroquest so much.

[Drayven]

The new red box for 4th edition is pretty good but even with the trimmed down rule books it seems a little rule heavy and depending on the attention span of the kid in question that might be an issue. I found the new Gamma World to be a bit more streamlined and it has the added bonus of having your characters change each time you play and use powers. It can be kind of fun to have everything about your character switching up as the game progresses.

IF you can find a set the Dragonlance 5th Age game is pretty fun too as I recall. It was interesting in that there were no dice and everything was card based. You also didn't have spell lists instead you consulted charts. So if you wanted a single target spell there was a cost for that, if you wanted it AoE the cost varied based on what size you wanted it to be. You were limited by the total value of points held in your hand, when you spent your points you drew more cards to replace those and that was your new mana/ability pool.

Does it have to be a fantasy type setting? I've been playtesting a new steampunk RPG called Tephra and we've been having alot of fun with it. It's a d12 system so you only need the 1 die and overall it's more focused on character development than it is on strict rules for everything. You can by a playtester version of the book from their website, I think it's crackedmonocle.com

[Panthera]

The new red box for 4th edition is pretty good but even with the trimmed down rule books it seems a little rule heavy and depending on the attention span of the kid in question that might be an issue.

Yeah, I gotta agree, that doesn't seem like a good way to go to me. Also, if you want him to learn D&D, 4th ed ain't it.

[Scull]

Actually 4th ed. is a fine choice to learn on. It is an easy rule set if you stick with the basics and don't go nuts with the powers and follow up DMGs etc.

[Tayaya]

http://gamingunplugged.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/heroquest.jpg

Old school, but a good introduction to many D&D-ish concepts. The hardest part would be finding a decent copy anymore.

eBay is usually jam packed with people selling old copies of board games for reasonable prices. Otherwise, I know that the Noble Knight (www.nobleknight.com) has copies of this in stock - a buddy of mine picked one up last time he was there and said they had more.

EDIT: I checked the Knight for you - sold out :-(

[xoanon]

If the kids are enthusiastic and the DM is not a rules lawyer then 4 edition is fine. Gamma World is also a fun choice since it's easier to express a kid's imagination with the character. My friend's 7-year-old had a great time with both even when he was playing with us "adults".

[bstiff]

I've got one in my closet. :) Can't say I'd be up for parting with it though.

Used copies are on sale for $300+ on amazon. Whether anyone is buying them is the question I guess.

[JayVe]

If you aren't tied to fantasy, I would check out the old 1984 Marvel Superhero role-playing game. It uses real-words for stat values... Excellent Strength, Fantastic fighting ability. I found kids get more into the actual role-playing this way. At later ages, early teens, more advanced systems and mature themes follow.

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad using Communities

[Squidbot]

Nothing, but I'm hoping for more specific advice, like 2nd ed, or 4th ed, or going back to the basic sets. Etc. I just themed it "D&D Style" because she's open to playing something similar if it's easier for a little kid to handle.

Ah, gotcha, sorry. And yeah, something like Hero Quest might be a good idea, although I was started on 1st Ed D&D by my elder brothers when I was very young, so I still say throw em in at the deep end! 2nd ed!

[Iron Past]

Does it need to be pen and paper? The Red Box is definitely a good starter if you want to go that way, but I'd also suggest this (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Castle-Ravenloft-Board/dp/0786955570/ref=dp_cp_ob_t_title_1) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Wrath-Ashardalon-D-Boardgame/dp/0786955708/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1N1ZIRNEXE736&colid=3LH9GUWICHPTP), and this (http://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-Legend-Drizzt-Dungeons/dp/0786958731/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_T1?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2IVT2PA7B3Q6U&colid=3LH9GUWICHPTP) releases soon as well. Lots of cool minis, premade campaigns, setup that can change each play; pretty neat little boxes (actually big boxes, but you know).

[TheKeck]

I would also be very happy to NOT sell you my copy of Hero Quest. :p

[Deadend]

Mouse Guard RPG? Get them the comics first, and then they can make their own mousey hero!

I'd also go with Gamma World over 4e, as it's sillier and lets kids be kids more.

[Hawkzombie]

Came here to post this. I have got more people into D&D through this game than anything else.

I pissed my friend off. He wanted to play and I never had before. So I picked the dwarf character (I'm pretty sure it was Hero Quest). Anyway, You're supposed to, of course, stay as a group and go together to get things done. If you die you're done, etc.

I was a dwarf. Damned if I wasn't going to loot everything for my own.

I got to the end of the floor we were on, and I was slaughtering everything I came across. I was a 3ft tall messenger of death. I ALMOST got the end boss of the floor and his loot, but he got lucky with a rool (finally) and I went down.

But man, almost breaking his childhood memories made it so awesome to me.

EDIT: Also, I'm tempted to create a RPG system for kids like that one mentioned earlier.

[Karak]

I pissed my friend off. He wanted to play and I never had before. So I picked the dwarf character (I'm pretty sure it was Hero Quest). Anyway, You're supposed to, of course, stay as a group and go together to get things done. If you die you're done, etc.

I was a dwarf. Damned if I wasn't going to loot everything for my own.

I got to the end of the floor we were on, and I was slaughtering everything I came across. I was a 3ft tall messenger of death. I ALMOST got the end boss of the floor and his loot, but he got lucky with a rool (finally) and I went down.

But man, almost breaking his childhood memories made it so awesome to me.

EDIT: Also, I'm tempted to create a RPG system for kids like that one mentioned earlier.

Then you had a very very lucky run. Heroquest is death. It is set up that way. I mean everyone has a story about getting a long ways alone, but a normal level setting in the game can have 11-21 enemies and just by odds alone, you would die 4-5 times if you took them on solo. You got lucky and I applaud you. Nothing wrong with that.

or weighted dice...

[Widgetcraft]

I know that there is a system for little girls, as most of my gamer group have daughters, it's called Faery's Tale (http://firefly-games.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=47). It may actually be for boys too, I'm not exactly certain, but my friends seemed impressed. The same company seems to make several other games, including one called Monster Island (http://firefly-games.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=43) which focuses on giant, Godzilla-style monsters, but I'm not sure if it's also kid-friendly or not.

Faery's Tale Review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12347.phtml)
Monster Island Review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11151.phtml)

EDIT: Also, if you can find the old Tri-stat version of Big Eyes, Small Mouth, that is always good for some light RPG play.

[Drayven]

I also heard one of the guys on a gaming podcast talking very highly of the fairy game for his young daughters.

[AyeEmBored]

If you aren't tied to fantasy, I would check out the old 1984 Marvel Superhero role-playing game. It uses real-words for stat values... Excellent Strength, Fantastic fighting ability. I found kids get more into the actual role-playing this way. At later ages, early teens, more advanced systems and mature themes follow.

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad using Communities

I have no idea how much it would cost for you to get a copy, but I second this. TSR Marvel was THE best beginner RPG that I've ever messed with. And the random character creation was a blast, and made it easy to whip up some bad guys for the GM or whatever.

[LongStepMantis]

I have no idea how much it would cost for you to get a copy, but I second this. TSR Marvel was THE best beginner RPG that I've ever messed with. And the random character creation was a blast, and made it easy to whip up some bad guys for the GM or whatever.

I miss that game. I had the box set and loved it, but I loaned it to someone years ago and don't even know where that person lives anymore.

The best random character creations ever, without a doubt. I still fondly remember my superman (invulnerability to a very high degree, as well as environmental protection from radiation and the elements) who also had the pheromone power. Talk about a lady's man! I had a freakin' harem of female followers by the time the game ended.

The worst was probably my shapeshifting hulk. He could shapeshift, but didn't have the ability to change size when he did so. He was a tank (super strength out the ass and damage resistances), but he could only shift into things that were his same size. The only time it worked well was when there were armed robbers holding hostages in a supermarket, and I had him shift into a giant Pepsi can in front of a Pepsi display. Man, they didn't see that one coming. A giant can of Pepsi took down like 6 people at once.

[Matthias]

Does it need to be pen and paper? The Red Box is definitely a good starter if you want to go that way, but I'd also suggest this (http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Castle-Ravenloft-Board/dp/0786955570/ref=dp_cp_ob_t_title_1) or this (http://www.amazon.com/Wrath-Ashardalon-D-Boardgame/dp/0786955708/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1N1ZIRNEXE736&colid=3LH9GUWICHPTP), and this (http://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-Legend-Drizzt-Dungeons/dp/0786958731/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_T1?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2IVT2PA7B3Q6U&colid=3LH9GUWICHPTP) releases soon as well. Lots of cool minis, premade campaigns, setup that can change each play; pretty neat little boxes (actually big boxes, but you know).

I would second this; each of these games gets you in the habit of looking up the right bonus and adding it to the die roll, and introduces the "classical" roles (tank, dps, healer) to the kids. Since the streamlining really is mostly predetermined stats, fewer powers, and (IIRC) no skills, it's basically D&D4e: Trial Edition, and is particularly great if that's where the parent would like to take the kids next (I'd say it's the best D&D edition for preteens to learn). My girlfriend is a little less against the idea of learning D&D after playing it.

[Laughing Penguin]

For anyone (including the OP) looking for something fairly Marvel RPG-like in scope, check out BASH:

http://www.playunplugged.com/2012/01/review-bash-ultimate-edition/

[LongStepMantis]

For anyone (including the OP) looking for something fairly Marvel RPG-like in scope, check out BASH:

http://www.playunplugged.com/2012/01/review-bash-ultimate-edition/

That sounds great. Since it uses a simplified numbers system, it might even be possible to get my friends to play.

This thread has proved far more useful than I initially thought, as my old tabletop gamer friends are all long scattered to the wind. Simpler, more introductory games might just be the "in" I need to finally convince my current friends to try a tabletop RPG. :D

[JayVe]

I saw an open-source system modeled after the Marvel system recently called 4C-RPG (4-Color RPG)

Don't have a link here on my phone but a Google search should bring it up.