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The best table I have judged in years is the table full of kids I have right now. They are 7 to 11 and have a better time than the majority of adults I have played with.
Things they do:
1) Call for mojo. I got them all the big Koplow dice because its easier for me to see their rolls and help them with their math. On particualrly critical die rolls they will hold up a d20 and say, "Give me your mojo!" Every kid at the table puts a finger on the die and says, "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Sure feels like it works.
2) Giggle. They laugh alot. They really like sliding bad guys around and LIVE for fires, pits and drops of all sorts. When they see a map, they immediately look for this terrain and get gleeful when they find it. "Bad guys plump when you cook 'em."
3) Roleplaying. OK! They sound like Pokemon characters, but they sure get the talking part. Really. "OK MR. Kobold Guy. You can either tell us what we want to know, or we'll take you to town and let the Lord decide what to do with you." "Yeah, Nobody there is upset about you attacking all the time!" "I bet they'll be so glad to see you!"
4) Have wonder. Everything is new. "It's a cube of cafeteria jello that eats people?" "No, I get it, it's like a glob of snot that works like a vacuum cleaner." "That's really cool!" "Who thought of that?"
5) Get it and love what it means: "It's simple guys. These are rules for pretend... for grownups!"
6) Get something from it that they can't get from anything else. They are riveted by the action, love the attention, and get a rush out of the ability to make a story with you. "Daddy, I like being a hero, even if it's only on Sunday afternoons"
So don't we all little guy. So don't we all.
Get out there! Judge. Grow the next generation.
Hear, hear.
Awesome. I can't wait till my boys are old enough to share the game with them.
This sorta makes the whole edition war seem even more silly, doesn't it?
Kobolds ate my 3.5 baby!
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Update: The Dad of my elven Ranger called me up last nght to tell me his son had read the Player's Handbook cover to cover. Eli is not a reader, and his Dad thinks he may be dyslexic. He says D&D is the best thing that has ever happened to his son, in that it is inspiring an interest in school and traditional academic subjects. He is seeing application of basic math skills and finds the chore of reading worthwhile.
Yet another reason for you folks to judge some kids!
Pretty Dang awesome.
I used to work at a camp that offered fantasy LARPing for kids. Kids are a blast to game with and they most certainly grow as human beings! I've seen kids learn assertiveness, grow in their imagination, and come up with brilliant tactical solutions to difficult situations.
I think 4e is a great game to introduce them to roleplaying. That's a good thing. Way to go tadkil.
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So, we had our first PC death.
I whacked the rogue, who got a bit cocky and started putting himself in what you might call an agressive firing stance. He was maximizing his targets regardless of risk and depending on the warlord to save him.
He had to leave the table and to cry, and all the kids got really quiet. They actually got up and we took a break.
When everyone sat back down about 30 minutes later, we began with a conversation about death and mortality. It was pretty heavy, and we talked about how brave people really had to be to engage in this sort of activity.
Then THEY started talking about Iraq and how they hoped the war would be over when they were old enough to go so they wouldn't have to make a decision about service. I let them know the war should be over then, but that that decision was one of the most important they would ever make.
We finished up the game, and they are now cruising for a Raise Dead ritual.
To paraphrase,"Dude you don't have to stay dead. This is D&D."
"COOOL!"
"Hold it. Is Mr. Tad gonna bring back Irontooth?"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" from everyone except my youngest who plays a Dragonborn Fighter.
He says, "Bring it Daddy. I can take him again."
I love this game.
I called up the parents of the kids and let them know what happened, so they would be prepared for thier own version of the debrief.
So, D&D for kids continues to amaze me. So far we have learned to cooperate as a team, honed our basic math and reading skills and grappled with mortality in a very serious and educational way.
And personally, I managed to handle it without offending anyone's parents! Whoooohoooo!
Awesome!
Wow.
Just wow.
You, sir, have won D&D.
Wow.
Just wow.
You, sir, have won D&D.
IMO tadkil is doing pretty damn good at parenthood as well.
Wow.
Just wow.
You, sir, have won D&D.
Agree!
Superb thread, superb job DMing, and thank you for sharing! As a parent about to start a game for his daughter, I am inspired. :)
God I miss this. I remember when I first started playing (although not that young) and how much more innocent everything was. Back when inter-party conflict meant hiring a local thief to fill the cleric's inn room full of pitch so he would think he was blind when he woke up the next morning.
Now I can't seem to find a group of adult players who know how to have any fun. It's all about arguing and morality plays and big debates about religion and trying to outdo each other with rulings. I don't get excited about DnD anymore, but I still keep playing because it's become such a big part of me.
The most fun I've had playing DnD in months was playing with 3 young teenagers at an RPGA event who were standing, yelling, and cheering the entire time. Later, the DM thanked me for playing with them because apparently no one else in the store ever wants to. Honestly I was rather surprised.
But they had something none of the adult players have, enthusiasm. If those kids ever need a DM, I'll be more than happy to step up. God, I feel old and I'm only 23.
God I miss this. I remember when I first started playing (although not that young) and how much more innocent everything was. Back when inter-party conflict meant hiring a local thief to fill the cleric's inn room full of pitch so he would think he was blind when he woke up the next morning.
Now I can't seem to find a group of adult players who know how to have any fun. It's all about arguing and morality plays and big debates about religion and trying to outdo each other with rulings. I don't get excited about DnD anymore, but I still keep playing because it's become such a big part of me.
The most fun I've had playing DnD in months was playing with 3 young teenagers at an RPGA event who were standing, yelling, and cheering the entire time. Later, the DM thanked me for playing with them because apparently no one else in the store ever wants to. Honestly I was rather surprised.
But they had something none of the adult players have, enthusiasm. If those kids ever need a DM, I'll be more than happy to step up. God, I feel old and I'm only 23.
I can most certainly empathize this. You have given a word to what I could not define in my own current sessions. It's the enthusiasm that's missing...
I can most certainly empathize this. You have given a word to what I could not define in my own current sessions. It's the enthusiasm that's missing...
It's glad to know I'm not the only one. I was beginning to feel like it was MY fault. Like I wasn't a good enough roleplayer to understand what everyone else was getting out of the game. I can have heated morality debates and angry arguments in real life, why should I bring this to DnD?
When I played with a younger crowd it was about exploration and discovering new things every session. It seemed like party conflict was toned down a lot more. Maybe it's just nostalgia but I haven't liked a single gaming group I've been in since high school. Now I find the people I'm gaming with resenting me for wanting simple games and complaining about the hours of debate that go on every session.
I'm just so tired of arguing about everything in game. I don't care whether we destroy the evil sword or sell it. It doesn't concern me whether a fictional character buys the sword and uses it against another fictional character. What I do care about is what's beyond that door over there that we haven't been able to explore because we've been arguing for an hour.
Man...I'm slowly becoming the king of long posts. Sorry everyone. Peace be with you. :D
Update: The Dad of my elven Ranger called me up last nght to tell me his son had read the Player's Handbook cover to cover. Eli is not a reader, and his Dad thinks he may be dyslexic. He says D&D is the best thing that has ever happened to his son, in that it is inspiring an interest in school and traditional academic subjects. He is seeing application of basic math skills and finds the chore of reading worthwhile.
And dnd has created another Nerd, thank you Dark Lord! ;)
When I played with a younger crowd it was about exploration and discovering new things every session. It seemed like party conflict was toned down a lot more. Maybe it's just nostalgia but I haven't liked a single gaming group I've been in since high school. Now I find the people I'm gaming with resenting me for wanting simple games and complaining about the hours of debate that go on every session.I'm just so tired of arguing about everything in game. I don't care whether we destroy the evil sword or sell it. It doesn't concern me whether a fictional character buys the sword and uses it against another fictional character. What I do care about is what's beyond that door over there that we haven't been able to explore because we've been arguing for an hour.
You should see who these kids game with and maybe see if you can join their group. I mean you've identified some of the things you like and don't like style wise in a game - so now you just need to find a group that plays a similar style game.
CEO
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I can most certainly empathize this. You have given a word to what I could not define in my own current sessions. It's the enthusiasm that's missing...
You know, I would have agreed to some degree with my old game, but I started Rise of the Runelords with some of the same players and one new one (Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering), cut the group from 7 to 5 players, and we are now having a grand time, full of excitement, enthusiasm, roleplaying, and wide grins around the table. D&D CAN be fun, no matter the edition you play. :)
-Lisa
I can most certainly empathize this. You have given a word to what I could not define in my own current sessions. It's the enthusiasm that's missing...You know, I would have agreed to some degree with my old game, but I started Rise of the Runelords with some of the same players and one new one (Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering), cut the group from 7 to 5 players, and we are now having a grand time, full of excitement, enthusiasm, roleplaying, and wide grins around the table. D&D CAN be fun, no matter the edition you play. :)
-Lisa
You mean you found a group of adults who care about the adventure and don't just want to argue for 5 hours every weekend and spend 10 minutes at a time telling you what you CAN'T do because of a rule in the 5th paragraph of page 666 of the Monster Manual IV?
This just makes me jealous. :)
This thread is a great read!
You mean you found a group of adults who care about the adventure and don't just want to argue for 5 hours every weekend and spend 10 minutes at a time telling you what you CAN'T do because of a rule in the 5th paragraph of page 666 of the Monster Manual IV?
Actually - and I hate to tell you this - but that's the normal state of affairs for many groups... ;)
Seriously though - I do feel pity for those groups who have lost their enthusiasm.
This thread is a great read!
You mean you found a group of adults who care about the adventure and don't just want to argue for 5 hours every weekend and spend 10 minutes at a time telling you what you CAN'T do because of a rule in the 5th paragraph of page 666 of the Monster Manual IV?Actually - and I hate to tell you this - but that's the normal state of affairs for many groups... ;)
Seriously though - I do feel pity for those groups who have lost their enthusiasm.
I wouldn't mind so much if it was the DM making these rulings. But most of the time the DM just sort of stands there and agrees with everyone elses' ruling. And in 3.5 (which I'm being "forced" to play right now because we started playing a week before 4E launched), these rulings take place every 5 minutes. They get simple things wrong, like how much damage a crit is supposed to do, yet remember the most bizarre, obscure things I've never even heard of. So it goes. At least the group I'm DM'ing for isn't like this...when I can get them all together long enough to play anyway. :D
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And dnd has created another Nerd, thank you Dark Lord! ;)Update: The Dad of my elven Ranger called me up last nght to tell me his son had read the Player's Handbook cover to cover. Eli is not a reader, and his Dad thinks he may be dyslexic. He says D&D is the best thing that has ever happened to his son, in that it is inspiring an interest in school and traditional academic subjects. He is seeing application of basic math skills and finds the chore of reading worthwhile.
well, my hand does smoke when I dip it in holy water.
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I can most certainly empathize this. You have given a word to what I could not define in my own current sessions. It's the enthusiasm that's missing...You know, I would have agreed to some degree with my old game, but I started Rise of the Runelords with some of the same players and one new one (Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering), cut the group from 7 to 5 players, and we are now having a grand time, full of excitement, enthusiasm, roleplaying, and wide grins around the table. D&D CAN be fun, no matter the edition you play. :)
-Lisa
My 3.P game is fun in a different way. When mature adults work together to explore a complex narrative, the results are soemtiems wonderful. I try to take them to a place where the world of story is more real than their day to day.
You know, Coleridge's old suspension of disbelief.