Gaming with kids

[tenzil]

Here are some things I've learned from (RPG) gaming with kids (and their parents) over the last few weeks. Some of this is obvious and some is stuff I'd forgotten about. We're doing D&D 4e, the Essentials books in particular. The Essentials books help streamline the game quite a bit; somebody says "I want to be Gandalf" and we get a fair amount

Comments

[life_unexamined]

Exellent observations, every one.

For myself, I know that a 15 year hiatus greatly reduce my ability to keep the routine straight... I always had to do a mental (or out loud) "wait, what do I need to add ...".

[life_unexamined]

I wonder if it is "Dying is bad because you lose," or "Dying is bad because you don't get to play any more," or "Dying is bad because of how much I feel like my character is me," or (most likely) some combination.

[tenzil]

I think mostly (a) and (c) and just general fear of the unknown. They all know that if they die they can throw together a new character and jump right back in ASAP. They also know that it's really hard to actually die.

[cubes]

...I still had to lead him to add his to-hit bonus, and then to roll damage and so on.

I will keep this in mind for when I get past reminding my kids they have to wipe, and then flush, and so on.

[tenzil]

Also keep in mind that you may have to deal with your teenagers wanting to throw fake gang signs during family pictures.