My kids have been clamoring for me to get them started on playing D&D... And this Christmas vacation, it's gotta finally happen!
So: what are everybody's favorite kid-friendly adventures? Where the evil is more comical than brooding and dark?
I'm thinking "Box of Flumph", (because, well, flumphs are ridiculous), and "The Devil Box" with it's goofy giant-sized kobolds...
Does anyone else have any favorites?
--steve cole
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Gee, I wonder how many people on these boards can figure what I am gonna suggest...
The Sunless Citadel is really good.
Devil box is a great adventure also.
There is also one on the WotC website for free called "Something Cooking" which features a Calzone Golem....not sure what level the adventure is but I'm sure you could scale down the Calzone Golem to a Ravioli Golem or something.
FH
Valley of the Snails.
But seriously, at this stage it's pretty easy to invent your own. All you need is a village and a fairly stereotypical plot to draw them into investigating a ruined temple, a haunted house, or a brooding forest. You could download the old 1E classic "Village of Homlett" and repeople the ruined keep with suitable challenges out of the MM, or take just about any small dungeon map and do the same. Lots of kids books are full of ideas that could stimulate some semblance of a plot. And remember that half the fun in the initial stages is just in the act of exploring a site in your imagination. Every treasure chest and secret door adds to the atmosphere.
Also--don't make it too cheesy. It should be like a good (old-fashioned--Bros. Grimm not Disney) fairy tale--with believably scary villains and a few unpleasant surprises. Not too challenging, but with enough bumps and bruises to make the 5 charge magic missile wand and the chest full of copper pennies you hand out at the end feel well earned. If your kids are old enough to enjoy D&D, they're probably telling ghost stories at slumber parties, etc., etc.
I started DMing for my son and my nephew when they were about 10, and the homemade adventure featured a kidnapping mystery and a confrontation with an evil cult under the town graveyard. It was fairly simple to put together--an inn, a town magistrate, a few NPCs and planted clues, and a simple three-room dungeon at the end. A couple of DMPCs to help steer them in the right direction and fill in the holes in their party. They had a blast, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't too scary for them. (Remember that D&D is less scary than a scary movie because there's no visual element).
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So: what are everybody's favorite kid-friendly adventures? Where the evil is more comical than brooding and dark?
Welcome to the Krypthome was always one of my favorites for introducing new players. Issue #52. Very, very easy module to run and even to convert to 3e on the fly. In fact, I'd say this adventure is exactly the kind of thing you're looking for.
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I agree with Peruhain about a good "beginner" style of adventure to run - and also about the "scariness" level. Of course you know your kids better than any of us do, but consider the ever-popular Harry Potter. Sure, it has some comic moments, but it has some really scary and evil villians, and some scary and dangerous situations for the heroes.
As long as you dont make things SO scary and dangerous that the heroes can't overcome them...
I'd agree with all of the adventures from Dungeon already mentioned on this thread. I might also suggest;
Siege of the Spider Eaters, Home Under the Range, The Menagerie, Cry Wolf, Mad God's Key, The Buzz in the Bridge. The dungeon from The Queen with Burning Eyes and the Jzadirune dungeon from Life's Bazaar might also make good dungeons to use, whether or not you wish to use the rest of the plot from these adventures.
I would suggest you build a world of classic fairy tales with some twists; you could do a version of three billy goats gruff; whereas a troll has a brige over a chasm and charges ridiculous prices; the point is to get them to negotiate a crossing. You could make the troll old, deformed, whatever and have a legal paper from the king to have this bridge. The alternative to the bridge is going the long way around through the Black Forest; hehe could be fairies; could be a Haiawatha or Hansel and Gredal, mabye meet a family of werebears hehe that helps them out and guides them through the forest and warns them about the witches gingerbread house and how she captures people and about the fairy mound and how they play tricks on people (and how the best defense is to wear your clothes inside out as they think that is funny; run while their laughing); perhaps the whole quest is like shrek and the party is trying to save a princess. I have found kids, I have two and some god-children, adapt a little better if you give them something familiar and can understand that it is a story and they are the heroes.
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I agree with Peruhain about a good "beginner" style of adventure to run - and also about the "scariness" level. Of course you know your kids better than any of us do, but consider the ever-popular Harry Potter. Sure, it has some comic moments, but it has some really scary and evil villians, and some scary and dangerous situations for the heroes.
As long as you dont make things SO scary and dangerous that the heroes can't overcome them...
I'd agree with all of the adventures from Dungeon already mentioned on this thread. I might also suggest;
Siege of the Spider Eaters, Home Under the Range, The Menagerie, Cry Wolf, Mad God's Key, The Buzz in the Bridge. The dungeon from The Queen with Burning Eyes and the Jzadirune dungeon from Life's Bazaar might also make good dungeons to use, whether or not you wish to use the rest of the plot from these adventures.
I also put my stamp on Siege of the Spider Eaters, and The Buzz in the Bridge especially. I ran both of these and loved them. I would say that of the 2, Buzz is probably better suited to easy, lighthearted play.
FH
You know this question gets asked A LOT here and over at ENWorld. Perhaps the good folks at Paizo ought to consider doing a kid-friendly issue of Dungeon.
I am just starting to introduce my adopted son to the game as well. He was 9 when placed with us and was functionally illiterate, so it took a while to get him to the point where he could play (he is 11 now and reading at a 5th grade level... very smart, just needed the opportunity). Now that he is there though, we can get going on it.
I am using the Sunless Citadel as his first adventure. There is a plot but it is straight forward. There are twists and interesting characters (ie Meepo) but they aren't a big deal if he skips them and just goes straight combat everywhere.
For the setup I am making sure there is story around everything, but am using the NPCs in his party to 'railroad' the plot so it doesn't get in his way and instead adds to the fun for him.
In this case he is starting out as the prince to the Kingdom. His mother has fallen deathly ill and the only known cure is the apple that is sold once a year as described in the module.
He sets out with his court advisor (wizard) and a representative from the church trying to heal his mother (cleric), as well as a unit of soldiers. The first encounter was with a group of orcs who in a pitched battle whiped out his soldiers and knocked him out (rolling it, the wizard was the only one left standing at the end... and barely).
He wakes up in a Inn owned by the local Baron who's son (rogue) agrees to show them to the site of the Sunless Citadel.
From here it is a pretty straight dungeon crawl and is designed to start teaching more advanced techniques as you go on... so combat is straight forward until they add one "trick" at a time, like grapple.
Sean Mahoney
Maybe it's just me, but I found the Sunless Citadel to be a pretty big dungeon crawl for a 1st level adventure. And I would certainly not use it for begining players.
There was an adventure module published a few years back (about ten years) that was called 'The Dymrak Dread'. A rather simple adventure consisting of clearing out a few goblins that had a nasty habit of raiding the locals. The main part of the adventure took place in the goblin lair that was a cave with about five or six rooms. A few fights, some treasure and, most importantly, quick satisfaction upon completion of the quest.
Ultradan
Some of the "challenge of champions" adventures would be cool.
"Home Under the Range" from #134 could be a lot of fun.
Great suggestions, guys, I appreciate it. The point about keeping things simple and straightforward is well taken. Investigatory stuff is probably out, as well as puzzle type scenarios. For a few years, anyway.
Even though the Sunless Citadel is biggish, I am tending to think that direction. Though perhaps with some sort of homebrew beginning link there first, especially since I probably need to underpower the encounters my kids face. (I expect their tactics to be poor.)
I like the comedy element that Meepo can provide, especially. The more I think about things, the more comedy will prove to be a critical element, I think. (There was an adventure a few years ago with giants raising a clutch of "chickens" (actually cockatrices)).. I'm going to be trying for that kind of style, I think.
And that one with the bees looked interesting, too.
--Steve
I've run Devil Box, and the one with the bees (ACK! I CAN'TS REMEMBERS DE NAME!), anyway both are way wicked adventures.
I've run a game for my younger brother (10, now 11), and his cousin (about 8). I found that my brother wanted to show off his awesome moves (his character was an elven ranger), whil my cousin wanted to play a Gandalf-esque character of some description. When he saw Ray of Frost on his character sheet and said he wanted to freeze an orc guard how could I resist? I told him he could freeze the floor under the guard's feet, when he saw them he slipped over. Both lads laughed themselves silly as they defeated the orcish bouncers.
Kids not knowing the rules will often do stuff that veteran gamers assume they can't. If you can't say "yes", try to say "yes but"... instead.
Devil Box is a really nice adventure, and the kobold NPCs can be played with lots of flavor (I know I did), certainly appealing to youngsters. So I'd pick that one.
Anyway, whatever you choose, let us know how it went.
you know, I keep thinking "Must write kid friendly dungeons" but they always turn out a bit more horrible.
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Maybe Nick Logue could write some younger-styled adventures and, what with all his whining about Mr. Pett being better than him, I think he has a good grasp on the young mentality;) (I love ya, Nick!) Seriously though, I would love to see a few 1st level, youth inspired adventures that could be used to draw in younger people. I am constantly trying to figure out what I want to introduce my daughter and son to the game with, and while I have a few years, I haven't really found much that wouldn't need some toning down. Maybe something Paizo ought to consider (I would do it, but I have little confidence in my ability to do an adventure like that the justice it deserves). Make it a competition between the Scribbling Triad, Logue, Pett, and Vaughan. Just a thought.
FH (Buzz on the Bridge was the "Bee" adventure BTW which is currently the one I plan to use for my kids intro to D&D.)
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One tip with handling the scare factor for kids is take teh H.P. Lovecraft approach. Give just a few details and let their minds fill in the rest.Stockdale
Not to derail the thread, but:
I finally got around to reading a lot of Lovecraft not too long ago, and I must say I found his lack of explanation rather irritating!!! I kept reading Dexter Ward novella long after it grew tiresome for me in the hopes of getting a good explanation. Needless to say, such explanation was not forthcoming.
I can however, appreciate that it is an effective style, and that he really pioneered the genre.
you know, I keep thinking "Must write kid friendly dungeons" but they always turn out a bit more horrible.
I think by definition, a dungeon isn't a nice place...
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Maybe Nick Logue could write some younger-styled adventures and, what with all his whining about Mr. Pett being better than him, I think he has a good grasp on the young mentality;) (I love ya, Nick!) Seriously though, I would love to see a few 1st level, youth inspired adventures that could be used to draw in younger people. I am constantly trying to figure out what I want to introduce my daughter and son to the game with, and while I have a few years, I haven't really found much that wouldn't need some toning down. Maybe something Paizo ought to consider (I would do it, but I have little confidence in my ability to do an adventure like that the justice it deserves). Make it a competition between the Scribbling Triad, Logue, Pett, and Vaughan. Just a thought.
FH (Buzz on the Bridge was the "Bee" adventure BTW which is currently the one I plan to use for my kids intro to D&D.)
Fake Healer,
My nephew is coming of age; where would i find "Buzz on the Bridge?"
Thanks,
Thoth-Amon
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I finally got around to reading a lot of Lovecraft not too long ago, and I must say I found his lack of explanation rather irritating!!! I kept reading Dexter Ward novella long after it grew tiresome for me in the hopes of getting a good explanation. Needless to say, such explanation was not forthcoming.
I can however, appreciate that it is an effective style, and that he really pioneered the genre.
At the risk of extending the hijack...
Part of the problem Lovecraft had was trying to write science fiction in a horror genre. And he got paid by the word, so things tended to get played out a bit. The Dexter Ward thing isn't his best - try The Shadow Over Innsmouth if you haven't already. A longish short story but I felt the pay-off was worth it - all the classic Lovecraft themes of heredity and madness, horribly slimy baddies, and (less usually) a neat twist at the end.
Anymore of this and we'll have to migrate to the snarky hijackers thread.
"Buzz on the Bridge" is in issue No. 110.
http://paizo.com/dungeon/products/110&source=search
I've not seen it personally, but I'm told that introductory box set that came out with 3.0 release has a good kids' adventure in it.
Just a note on Sunless Citadel here--I ran this for my kids, and my son (11) loved it. My daughter (9, and tender-hearted) cried at the end when they couldn't save the two adventurers who had been subverted by the evil tree. I ended up letting the party take the bodies back to town where the kindly healer was able to make everything okay. Not a big deal, but boy, I sure wasn't expecting that reaction from her!
--Fang
Get Dungeon nr 41 ! "A way with words" (Kobolds spouting poetry), and "Old man Katan and the Mushroom band" need I say more?
Get Dungeon nr 41 ! "A way with words" (Kobolds spouting poetry), and "Old man Katan and the Mushroom band" need I say more?
An excellent pair of adventures, though some of the humor in "A Way with Words" might go over a really young person's head - especially the gnome's attraction to taller women. Still the kobold "spellcaster" more than makes up. And "Old Man Katan".... really what more can any one say?
GGG
I like the comedy element that Meepo can provide, especially. The more I think about things, the more comedy will prove to be a critical element, I think. (There was an adventure a few years ago with giants raising a clutch of "chickens" (actually cockatrices)).. I'm going to be trying for that kind of style, I think.
--Steve
There are a couple of comedic moments in this month's 1st-level adventure "Masque of Dreams."
::PLUG PLUG PLUG::
GGG
I'm not so sure Masque of Dreams makes a good starter adventure for 9 year olds.
I'm not so sure Masque of Dreams makes a good starter adventure for 9 year olds.
Sorry. I am assuming an adult DM. It is by no means a starter adventure for a DM. I think though that the fact it puts the PCs in the catbird seat (depending on how mean a DM wants to be with people's delusions) is sort of empowering for a beginner.
As a side note: It is also possible to expand the party scene and play an entire dungeon crawl within the confines of the manor with the guests who are wearing appropriate masks as the "monsters" whom the characters are forced to subdue, play up to, or otherwise placate (rather than kill), before bringing in the goblins. Or heck, leave out the goblins/Lost City and make it all an evil prank perpetrated by the PC's rival.
Besides it's about adults misbehaving, and what is more fun for a kid than catching their authority figures acting like (obvious) idiots?
Fun's the limit,
GGG
That, and I can't let John get in all the plugs.
;)
GGG
I have run several adventures for a group of 9-11 year olds (i'm the father of 2 of them). We started with the original boxed set, then we moved onto Sunless Citadel. 2 of the players kept their characters, the others rolled up new characters. Both work very well for young players.
They are a large group, so I've upped some of the encounters. At one point they argued over whether or not they could "use" the white dragon in a fight, as they had promised to bring it back and putting it in the fight put it at risk. Also, Meepo died when he fell into the pit trap. One of the players wanted to bring him back to the other Kobolds, and the others could have cared less. Interesting discussions about both of these scenarios were had. Also, the barbarian wanted to attack the kobolds upon meeting them, and the others had to talk him out of it. I've found this adventure to be a better teacher than I'd expected.
I also ran "fountain of health" an early Dungeon adventure. It comes with a very nice map. I added some ettercaps and lots of spiders....
Well, it's time for my annual "Christmas visit game for the nieces and nephews." I just spent until 1:30 last night plotting out the adventure, which involves a forest "haunted" by fey creatures who are upset that the local baron is cutting down too many trees. The PCs have to investigate the hauntings (this should lead to some humorous scenes that are relatively harmless, but humiliating to PCs who fail their will saves against grigs, dryads, etc., as well as one truly scary encounter with a splinterwaif. Then they've got to broker a piece between the baron and the treehugging gnomish druid who has organized this resistance, so that all parties can face their common enemy--a kobold warlock who has just moved in to an abandoned tower in the woods, with his minions.
We'll see if my 10 year old nephew has progressed in his roleplaying capacity beyond "I pull out my sword and I kill them." (This was last year's quote of the game.)