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Anonymous Botch
2008-07-02, 04:27 AM
I have returned to D&D after a long hiatus. I am trying to DM for my 7 year old son. He really enjoys the game, but I find it hard to keep the game enjoyable and not too nightmare inducing. A stress on roleplaying and keeping combat simple seems to work well.
I also have been trying tokeep the game a bit too LG, with clearly defined evil and not much ambiguity. Still it appears to be working.
Does anyone else have experience of DMing for children and have any tips? Ideas for games with a solo player would be very useful.

nagora
2008-07-02, 05:08 AM
I have returned to D&D after a long hiatus. I am trying to DM for my 7 year old son. He really enjoys the game, but I find it hard to keep the game enjoyable and not too nightmare inducing. A stress on roleplaying and keeping combat simple seems to work well.
I also have been trying tokeep the game a bit too LG, with clearly defined evil and not much ambiguity. Still it appears to be working.
Does anyone else have experience of DMing for children and have any tips? Ideas for games with a solo player would be very useful.

You might find this thread on Dragonsfoot (http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=29176) useful/interesting. There's more than one session described, so read through the thread.

Anonymous Botch
2008-07-02, 05:41 AM
Thanks for that. It's nice to know I am not alone. Bringing the joy of RPG's to a new generation is an honour. I don't have U1, but a haunted house is a good plan. i will have go and draw a map.

nagora
2008-07-02, 05:46 AM
Thanks for that. It's nice to know I am not alone. Bringing the joy of RPG's to a new generation is an honour. I don't have U1, but a haunted house is a good plan. i will have go and draw a map.

There's Rob Kuntz's Dark Chateau (http://www.trolllord.com/newsite/zagyg/8060.html), although it would be very tough for a solo, so you'd need to work on it before use.

AKA_Bait
2008-07-02, 10:28 AM
I don't know what levels you are looking at, but Andy Collin's Something's Cooking (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20010413a) has always seemed like a good one for kids. Nothing like a Calzone Golem!

Edit: Actually there are a few pretty sanatized ones on that page.

valadil
2008-07-02, 10:55 AM
I'd throw out the dice and rules and just run it free form. My dad improvised stories with me when putting me to bed way back when, and he let me have a say in what my character did. Neither of us knew what roleplaying was at the time, but it sure worked. I'm not sure what age would start to require books and rules (and there probably is no set age - this will just depend on the kid), but I would consider using light rules if more than one kid is involved.

Anyway, you can probably go through a lot of really basic storylines that have been told before. Children won't realize they're just cliches. I'm not quite sure how but in my dad's storytelling/roleplay thingie I somehow acquired invisibility. We spent the next few nights figuring out what happened if I ate food, if there was dirt in my fingernails, etc. It's all basic stuff but at the time I thought he was brilliant.

AKA_Bait
2008-07-02, 11:02 AM
Freeform isn't a bad idea either. I know at that age, and after, I wasn't all that interested in needing to role dice to play pretend.

Chronicled
2008-07-02, 11:11 AM
You might find this thread on Dragonsfoot (http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=29176) useful/interesting. There's more than one session described, so read through the thread.

Wow, that's a great link! Thanks nagora!

GolemsVoice
2008-07-02, 11:27 AM
@Chronicled: I agree, that post made me feel warm inside the cold, ruined bunker that I have for a heart.

LatemYvaeh
2008-07-02, 11:32 AM
I have run sessions for children before depending on the age and how attentive they are I some time revert back to the Red Box as far as rules go
IE 4 classes Fighter Cleric Mage Rogue
Simple Stat block
Limited Weapon choices
Limited Armor choices

Normally I only have the one set of dice and either pass the required dice or use DM makes all checks rule

I also try to reinforce good story telling, sharing and imagination by insuring
1) that I make very discriptive speaches and actions not "the Orc tries to hit you" but "the Green Skined Pig Faced Monster Raises his sword in a two handed grip and makes a sweeping strike at you".
2) if the players make the same kind of discription they always hit even if it is a "your blow bounces off the monsters tough hide making him real back and increasing his rage"
3) Always try to give them options besides fighting that can get the job done you have to judge the group you are working with as to if combat is good idea or not

then finally for the one on one sessions I normally give the player a Familiar of some sort be it the floating ball of light or the magic talking item that way if they get stuck they can get assistance

Tsadrin
2008-07-02, 12:22 PM
A few links for you...

http://www.philotomy.com/lost_city.html

The campaign journal of an old school gamer running the classic module B4 for his wife and children.

If you prefer D&D 4th,

http://www.story-games.com/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=6630&page=1#Item_0

Details of a Keep on the Shadowfell adventure run for a 7 y.o.

Due to the age of many OD&D gamers (and the fact that they are now parents of children that are at the age they were when they started gaming)you'll find a lot of people discussing this very thing on niche boards. Be aware if you go to these boards and want to post on those threads that most boards of this type do not allow discussion of versions of D&D outside their focus.