| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I wouldn't normally share this kind of thing with strangers on a message board but I feel like I could get some good advice. You will need a bit of background:
TL,DR: My son and I are gamers and I'm trying to find an appropriate Rite of Passage for him. We are going to GenCon. What else?
My son and I are avid gamers. We play video games, board games, card games and RPGs together. We love playing Pathfinder together. My son recently turned 13 and I would like to give him a Rite of Passage appropriate for a gamer.
I never had this kind of relationship with my father and and happy that I can share hobbies like this with my son. We have build a very strong relationship together both as father and son and as peers. I also had always felt that I missed a Rite of Passage myself so I would like to provide this to my son. We feel that he has truly matured and is ready for his passage into manhood so we are looking for a proper way to commemorate this with the unique family that we have.
Since we are gamers my wife and I decided that we are going to go to GenCon. Our rooms are already paid for, passes ordered, etc. His birthday just passed and he was told he has a present he hasn't received yet and it is a Rite of Passage. Other than that he has NO IDEA what is going on.
While we are on this trip, at this convention ... does anyone have any advice or ideas about what I could do that would help to signify a Right of Passage for my son?
He is 13. He has already read it himself.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Get him to GM something for a bunch of people he doesn't know, but who are informed about the situation.
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Teach him to crush been cans on his head? Bring him to the bunny ranch? Buy him a motorcycle? Make him eat the heart of the first animal he kills?
Seriously though, a pilgrimage to GenCon is already better than anything else you could devise. I've been playing D&D, etc. for 27 years and have never had an opportunity to go. Lucky kid.
I should mention that he is fairly mature and intelligent for his age. I say this with a mix of pride in my son and shame at my lack of free time (or improperly spent free time perhaps); he is actually further ahead in reading of some novels than I am.
Sissyl: That is a good suggestion. I could try that.
I am glad others are having fun in this thread. Really.
...not sure how actually helpful it is, though. Any other constructive suggestions?
|
Computer game "recommended reading" list:
- Rogue
- Zork
- Loom (a MUST!)
- the Legend of Kyrandia series
- the Might & Magic series
- the Quest for Glory series
- Myst
- the Wizardry series
- Chronomaster (Roger Zelazny's final work in this universe!)
- the Heroes of Might & Magic series
- the Warcraft series (Remember when Blizzard was respectable?)
- Starcraft
- Baldur's Gate and expansions/sequels
- Planescape: Torment (also a MUST!)
Rite of Passage.
Has he GM'd anything for you yet? :)
I'm not the kind of dad who is like, "So... you are becoming a man. Here is a book. Read it." Same goes for, "Here is a game. Play it."
I would rather something a bit more involved than that. Good list though, I'm Hiding In Your Closet.
Craft and run an epic adventure where your son runs the entire party while you GM. Ensure that the story is appropriately epic and challenging. I can imagine little better for a Pathfinder based rite of passage.
|
Ideas for rites of passage:
Leave them a set of clues based on RPGs and strand them in a foreign land with only a player's handbook and a hunting knife.
Defeat the multibear.
Just fight your kid. No explanation, hand him a set of boxing gloves and surprise them on their birthday.
Put them in a hedge/corn maze, have friends and family dress up like monsters, and have them LARP their way through it, also give them a hunting knife.
Have them design a class for whatever RPG they're playing, see how well they understand mechanics and flavor.
Give them 40k and make them create an entirely new gaming company from the ground up, hunting knife optional.
Just a few ideas, just make sure to have fun with it.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
He likely has a favorite character. I'm betting there are still artists in the dealers room that do carticatures or drawings for people. Consider getting one for him.
As for rites of passage, if he hasn't already done so then it seems an all-nighter (or even an all knighter nighter) of gaming would be appropriate.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rite of Passage.
Has he GM'd anything for you yet? :)
To revisit, if he has NOT GM'd yet, that's probably one of the biggest rites of passage for gamers I can think of.
Gencon's a pretty good idea too. But to me a rite of passage needs to mark an ascension to new levels of involvement and responsibility.
guess it depends on what you consider manhood
Run a game with him using the original Dungeon and Dragons rules.
Although on second thought, that may not be a good idea.
How about this, play the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth or something else from the early days of Dungeons and Dragons. Play first edition, show him the origins of fantasy mainstays that have now infiltrated all of fantasy.
Or, buy him a sword and knight him with it.
Bring him to the lands of your ancestors, place your right hand upon his head, and in the name of Njord/Marduk/Dionysus/St. Cuthbert/whomever, command him to go forth and multiply, that his seed might bear fruit across the world.
I agree, have him run his own game.
In gaming, playing through famous modules or adventures is always a rite of passage. If you two can find one - jump in a game of Crypt of the Everflame - the first Pathfinder RPG module or something similar.
In the old days we played modules like Tomb of Horrors or Against the Giants and compared stories about how tough it was.
The magic of recluse series is a nice read.
To those suggesting to let him run his own game: I think this is a strong suggestion. It will help with the taking on of responsibilities. This may end up being a Pathfinder Society Scenario. They are short so it limits the responsibility and pressure some.
I also liked the suggestion for the carticatures. I'll look for that.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Wow, that sounds great. When I was his age I had to put my hand in an intensely painful box with a Gom Jabbar poised at my neck.
Sure it proved I was human, but I'd hardly call it a bonding experience.
I like the idea of having him run a game. I think putting him behind the DM screen would be a good rite of passage.
|
|
I'm not the kind of dad who is like, "So... you are becoming a man. Here is a book. Read it." Same goes for, "Here is a game. Play it."
I would rather something a bit more involved than that. Good list though, I'm Hiding In Your Closet.
Far be it from me to endorse "that kind of dad," hence my use of the term "recommended" rather than "required."
Given that all these games are before your son's time, however, and since you like my list, you could show it (with any additions of your own, naturally) to him for the sake of making sure he knows that they're worth it despite their relative age.
|
Let him start his own game group with his friends. Don't sit in or watch. Stay in the back room and hang a sign that says Dark Oracle on it for when they have questions.
That's as close as I got to a rite of passage for my youngest. I handed him the Legacy of Fire AP and let him run the game for his friends while I sat in the back room watching TV. Any time he had a question he'd stick his head into the room and call out, "Oh great and powerful Dark Oracle."
Instead of giving him the answer I'd tell him what book to look in and if I knew it off the top of my head, what chapter. They had a great time. Now he's off at college and I really miss those Friday evening games going on in the next room.
Go to the store and get a bottle of Crown Royal.....
Now, you keep the bottle and he keeps the bag for his dice.
(If you're not a drinker, pour it down the drain since it is probably good drain cleaner :D )
Other than destroying mailboxes of non-gamers, I can't think of anything ;)
Take him to the woods armed with only a spear and a loincloth. Tell him he must make it to The convention dressed that way and getting there through the wilderness. He cannot beg, he can only eat what he kills.
If he makes it there, he'll have earned his first rank in level 0 ranger.
I hope he makes it....
Just kidding...you can give him a pocket knife as well...
I'm Hiding In Your Closet: I raised him on older games ran via emulator. He hasn't missed much.
Usual Suspect: Awesome story! He doesn't have a lot of peers that are into Pathfinder. He has one and he plays in our group.
ngc7293: How do you think he got his current dice bag? ;)
Man, it seems the great ideas you guys have I have either already done or thought of. I guess that is a good sign. heh
I know a lot of people have (probably jokingly) advocated the whole wilderness survival thing. It actually isn't out of the question but I think that will be a separate trip. Hard to do that at a convention center. We have Native American (Potawatomi, three rivers tribes represent!) ancestry and I have some contacts within our tribe. I have thought of connecting with them and seeing what they might have to offer. Truth be told, we like the nature hikes, etc., but I'm not sure if we are the type of family that such a Rite of Passage would be appropriate for.
Con survival can be pretty harsh...
Con survival can be pretty harsh...
Nonsense I usually have a great time at Cons. A cute outfit and a friendly smile can get me all kinds of free or discounted stuff. And for the encounter with the hygiene challenged a handkerchief scented with perfume hides any discomfort till the offender checks out some other table. And caffeine gets me past the long hours gaming.
You are a girl. Showing up can get you all kinds of free and discounted stuff.
So... show of hands, how many people did Krensky just declare "not a real gamer"? I've stepped on my share of d4s, but never causing a fall and certainly never causing a broken bone or concussion. Good grief.
I think Krensky just has a lower Dex than me.
You're never a real gamer until you have food stains on your character sheet!
If you're going for an age-based passage into manhood tho, remember that some tribes have their young men wear gloves with bullet ants stitched into the lining. They're called bullet ants because their bite is said to be as painful as being shot... A Pathfinder analogue? Make him encounter a tribe of Pugwampis that ride trained rust monsters who happen to have a luck bonus. That should be almost as painful.
Other than that, I'd second/third/twelveth both Con survival and letting him GM.
Let him start his own game group with his friends. Don't sit in or watch. Stay in the back room and hang a sign that says Dark Oracle on it for when they have questions.
He will still like gaming with his dad in the years to come, but there will come a day soon that he is going to start/join a game on his own with kids his age. Its a good thing.
It is a good thing. I welcome it! The problem is that there are just not a lot of kids his age that he relates with. I think it is a maturity thing but probably also intelligence to be honest. The other kid he can relate to is also an honors student.
You're not a real gamer until you get into a huge forum debate about rogues sucking/paladins falling/martial-caster disparity.
I got a merit badge for each.
let him Run a campaign and provide him any setting, system or houserules he desires.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
(Blatantly stealing from an old Phil & Dixie comic...)
Along with his rite of passage, his dice must also be introduced.
Anoint his dice first in cola, then in whiskey, then in coffee, symbolizing the three stages of a gamer's life.
My idea of a gamer rite of passage: having to listen to someone complain that they've played since the 70s (bonus points if they feel compelled to point out what specific release, like Red Box), and "the game is nothing like it used to be", and "you kids have it easy", and so on for at least 20 - 30 minutes.
Or just as good, having to listen to a longtimer tell stories about some insanely powerful character they had that was involved in some completely outlandish plot, and did some super amazing thing. The sort of story that goes on and on, and if you were caught in a trap you'd consider gnawing off your leg to get away, but instead you're trapped by the less easy to escape rules of social courtesy.