D&D with kids! "Chasing Pigs"

I have taken my first steps into indoctrinating my children into the world of role-playing games and that of Dungeons and Dragons. I watch them "roleplay" with each other all the time in their imaginative play together. I heard many times, "Ok now I say, Back you foul beast!" as the oldest swings an imagined sword of fire towards my oldest who is pretending to be Slimer from Ghostbusters. He in turn says, "I've leveled up so your fire sword can't get past my slime armor." So, I know they have the imaginations. They have these basic pre-programmed ideas of fantasy, swords, of powers and of levels of monsters and of fighting bad guys. I figured it was about time to get them into RPG's, especially Dungeon's and Dragons.

First, let me say that I have looked at many RPG's designed for kids and to be honest haven't really found one that I like. Many of them are too "kiddy" or too "simple" and my kids (hate to brag but...) are too advanced for that stuff. I feel like my kids are on the Harry Potter level. At 10 (or 11 whatever year they joined Hogwarts) Harry, Ron, and the girls name I can't spell are facing some serious shit! A three headed dog that could kill them. A death dealing Chess game, and the quidich (or however it's spelled too) match could serious hurt someone too! So kids can handle older more complex things than we as parents give them credit for.

I started the process of creating my own RPG for kids, but soon realized that it takes too much effort in a world where I barely have time to breath. So the next best things was to teach them the age old stand-by, DnD. In particular the Free DnD Basic stuff from the Wizards website. Of course, I realize that I'll have to fudge some things, take some liberties, give extra hints, and do a lot more work on my (the GM's) end to make it fun and exciting for my boys. But in the end, I think it will be well worth it.

So, lets begin.

Stealthy
Art by DoodleMoogle

Last weekend I sat down with my two boys, one is 6 and the other is 9. I coached them through making characters.  Healing them through this was rather easy as they seemed to understand what I was telling them. I explained most parts of the character sheets, Abilities, Proficiencies, Armor Class, etc. I roughly went over each DnD Basic race and class in a way they can understand. Elves are a bit like humans but a bit smaller, pointy ears and are very light on their feet, like Legolas. Halflings are Hobbits, etc. Rogues are sneaky hide in shadows types that can do a lot of different things to get out of a jam, Fighters fight. Clerics are those that worship old gods, fight bad guys and heal others. etc etc. After a bit of discussion, they both wanted to play elves. My youngest wanted to play a sneaking rogue nick-named "Stealthy" and the other a spell casting mage named Tiolin.

Tiolin Art by DoodleMoogle

 We rolled up ability scores. This went well but then my youngest rolled a 6 and though that it was applied to his Intelligence. He started balling and said amidst tears, "But I don't want to be stupid!" Me being the softy dad I am, I explained that it doesn't mean he's stupid and then let him re-roll the 6. It's his first time so I gave him some slack! Don't judge! :) They then filled in the blanks and things moved right along.

Tonight we actually began the game. I didn't want to make anything too complex or something that would take too long and here goes. They are in a very large cosmopolitan city with all races and types of inhabitants and they are on their way home from school. Which my oldest one quickly said, "This world has school." Crap, I hate it already!" I encourage him to have patience and continue. Anyway, they are on their way home from school and an elderly woman is yelling to a crowd of people passing by to help but they ignore her. I have to coach the boys into interacting with the lady, asking her what's the problem, how to go about helping her. and how to interact with each other. It takes a few minutes but they get it. Seeing she needs help the boys decide to ask her if they can help.

They soon find that her pet pig is missing and she is afraid that someone or something has taken it. The boys go to the small pen behind her home and soon find small humanoid footprints leading away from the pen. It doesn't take long before they see a small goblinoid creature making off with the pig. The goblin takes off behind a well and disappears. Tiolin begins looking for something that might have caused the goblin to disappear and finds a small lever behind the well. I coached Stealthy in the art of looking for traps, which he did not find any. He moved the small lever, began to hear gears turning and grinding inside the well and a small trap door opened in the ground.

To see the wonder and excitement in my youngest eyes in anticipation to what I was explaining and what would happen next was priceless!

They debate for a moment and decide to descend into the sewers. Almost immediately they run into an adult human male exploring the sewers. My youngest is now getting the hang of things immediately says to the guy, "What are you doing in the sewers?" A bit of role playing ensues and they learn that his name is Ignatius and he is looking for The Lost tomb of Remorast. They boys broker a deal with Ignatius stipulating that he should help them find the pig and they would help him with the tomb. Everyone agreed.

Soon they hear a pig squeal from further down the sewers. They give chase and soon find a closed door. I coach Stealthy on the art of looking for traps again and unlocking doors and then them both on listening to whats on the other side of a door. Stealthy fails his perception roll (he starts to get upset because he failed but soon realizes it's OK) but Tiolin makes his and again their eyes widen and their smiles gleam, as I explain what they hear on the other side of the door in anticipation.

Stealthy, not being very stealthy, kicks the door open and charges into the room. They find a small band of goblins and the pig in the corner about to be chopped up for bacon. A fight ensues. Stealthy, not being very stealthy, gets attacked first and is reduced to below half hit points. I
then coach them on their tactics and how it would have been better to let Ignatius go in first, Tiolin stand in the back, and Stealthy sneak around to the back. It's their first time, they'll get it soon enough.

So they get the pig, Stealthy unties it and then asks Ignatius to carry it for them. But before they leave the question the room they are in and how it's odd to be here in the sewers like this with a dilapidated book shelf in one corner. My oldest pipes in and says, "In every movie I've seen there is always a door or something behind a book shelf." He then asks, Ignatius if he can move the shelf so they can look. Lo and behold there is! (They are getting it!) They decide to return the pig instead of venturing further.

After returning the pig, who they find out is named Emily and is the family pet, the woman offers to pay them a bit of gold but being the good kindhearted boys they are, they decided to let the woman keep her gold and not take payment for returning the pig. They talked to Ignatius a few more minutes and agreed to meet up soon to explore the room they were at and look for the Lost Tomb!

All and all it was a blast! The kids appeared to have a great time. My wife even commented afterwards how she was tickled at their role playing and getting into the game. I will have to coach them some more on things but that's part of the fun of it!

Until next time...