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First off, if this is the wrong forum for this type of discussion, I apologize, but I'm looking for advice and this is an advice forum so...
I run a game out of one of my player's houses, about five people, depending on our various work schedules, we all used to work for the same company, but for various reasons, our schedules have become more varied as some of us have moved onto different positions and such. Anyways, one of my players recently asked if it would be okay for his 14 year old sister (We're all about in the 25-27 range) to join in the game, she apparently had a lot of experience in fantasy and roleplaying, given that it was his sister, I said okay. She's been great thus far, probably the strongest roleplayer in the group. My problem is that it's been brought to my attention (as apparently everyone knew this but me, and perhaps there was a communication error), that it is not his sister, that it is actually one of his many girlfriend's sister.
I feel like this changes things significantly, having a minor there now, without a member of her family actually there. Part of me feels like I need to remove her from the group, but the other part doesn't want to turn her off of the experience. Not sure where to proceed from here.
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Well, it seems to me that the advice you're looking for isn't RPG related. That being said, I don't think that we can't offer advice.
First of all, approach the player she shows up with. If she's not really his sister, but his ladyfriend's sister, tell him what you feel about the issue. There's two options, either he lied, or other people were confused. If the first, go to the bottom of the issue.
Also, a 14 year old isn't 'just a kid'. If having 14 year olds out at night is something ordinary in your country, then it isn't THAT much of an issue. I assume that you are American or Western European, due to the fact that you mention 'minors'. I don't how much of a problem it's going to be if police are sent to find a 14 year old girl in the company of 25ish dudes, but I can't imagine it's good. Which brings me to advice 3, talk to the girl herself about the issue, and ask what she would like to do. Little conversation goes a long way in many situations.
Hope there's no trouble for any of the involved parties and good luck.
It's mature of you to bring it up, and show concern. If I had a 14 year old daughter, I'd raise an eyebrow at her hanging out with young men whom I've never met.
Talking solves a lot of problems. (It's a shame nobody really likes resorting to it. I guess this is what they mean when they say 'Talk is cheap.') This 'problem' is no exception.
That being said, boundaries are important, especially in younger players. I'd think bringing up a subject like this would be difficult because it betrays the fidelity of what a GM would have with their players, both in game and outside the game. Finding an equilibrium to discuss an issue with all parties involved being comfortable is going to be the key to keeping this problem under control, since that is really the core of the problem; is if the players involved have made their associates aware of where they are at so-and-so time.
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I guess the first question to ask is "Do her parents know where she is when she games with you guys and with whom she is hanging out with?"
If her parents are not being told the exact truth then this could become a problem later on if and when they find out. It would be best to find out what the parents are being told and work out a solution from there.
Might have to keep an eye on this topic now. I have a couple of minors in our game group. We play at our local game shop so it isn't an issue (yet). Our youngest player is 8 and actually plays with his father (both are new to the d20 RPG experience). The other is 13 and was spending about a fourth of his time at the game shop to begin with before we started doing RPGs.
I had never consider it before but now if I was to ever do a game off site at someone's home, I would have to consider how comfortable the parents in either case would be with that.
First off, if this is the wrong forum for this type of discussion, I apologize, but I'm looking for advice and this is an advice forum so...
I run a game out of one of my player's houses, about five people, depending on our various work schedules, we all used to work for the same company, but for various reasons, our schedules have become more varied as some of us have moved onto different positions and such. Anyways, one of my players recently asked if it would be okay for his 14 year old sister (We're all about in the 25-27 range) to join in the game, she apparently had a lot of experience in fantasy and roleplaying, given that it was his sister, I said okay. She's been great thus far, probably the strongest roleplayer in the group. My problem is that it's been brought to my attention (as apparently everyone knew this but me, and perhaps there was a communication error), that it is not his sister, that it is actually one of his many girlfriend's sister.
I feel like this changes things significantly, having a minor there now, without a member of her family actually there. Part of me feels like I need to remove her from the group, but the other part doesn't want to turn her off of the experience. Not sure where to proceed from here.
For you, as the DM the young player being family or not family is irrelevant. If you are worried about something being problematic then print out a waver form that basically says that you are not responsible for the girl.
The vast majority of Paizo's material is PG-13, so minors should not have a problem with it. If you are making custom material then just use your brain and you're good.
In short: so long as it is not a problem at the moment then just act as though such information was never brought to your attention. If you are worried create a waver. If it becomes a problem that cannot be resolved by talking to the members of the party then cut largest problem off if it is threatening the group.