So I am a father of two beautiful boys and my oldest son (3 years) answered my question of "what do you want to do when you get older?" By saying "I want to play dungeons and dragons with dad".
So my question is what is the age that some of you started playing or even running games because I did not get into this until about a year ago and how did the games go did you/them understand the rules or even why you where rolling the dice. That you where playing a different hero and not yourself. I would like to know some stories I was thinking another 3 years and I could give the kid a chance.
I started playing in 7th grade. Even then I was the DM and we were doing dumb little one-shot games at lunch at school by dropping an elephant on a Tarrasque's head or just running combat scenarios for fun. We didn't actually start adding storylines until High School when we could play for a whole weekend straight. I think as long as everyone is having fun, it doesn't really matter what age you start playing. Six might be a little young, but as long as the game is tailored for that six year-old I'm sure it'll work out.
I started playing with the original red box came out - but its been so long I can't remember how old I was :P
fast forward to current days - and my best friends 6 year old recently joined us and with some guidance and help played just as well as some of us 40+ year olds. In fact he's been constantly asking when we're going to play again.
I started at around age 12, and didn't notice any of my contemporaries having trouble grasping rules or game-play concepts (even if they responded to understand a rule that limited their character in some way with "That rule is stupid!" or the like).
The youngest player I've ever personally run for was 6 or 7, and he picked up the basics of playing the game (AD&D 2nd edition, at the time) easily - likely at least in part due to his familiarity with board games and video games.
I don't have any experience with teaching kids, yet. This June, my niece and her daughters are coming to visit. Then I'll be teaching a 5 and a 7 year old how to play. She homeschools, and it's her hope to learn how to DM for them, and make it a regular part of their schooling.
I didn't start till I was around 12 but my younger siblings have started as early as 10 and understood it pretty well. Some have played as young as 6 but they were a bit more wild.
I started both my kids at a young age. My son was 8 and made a excellent Barbarian. What was great is that he understood the rules enough to follow what was required as skill checks and knew his abilities but he actually role played his character. I can not remember the last time one of my players punched a goblin in the face with a critical. The minds of an 8 year old when he misses with the battle axe was epic and 5 years later we still talk about it. My daughter was 10 and plays a elven wizard. She is disappointed that her friends don't play.
I wish more families gathered around the table to play D&D. It's been one of the best bounding moments for us a family. 5 years later we are still playing once a week and it's completely awesome! I'm very blessed to have an amazing wife who loves the game as well. That makes a huge difference.
So gather your kids and start them early because it's not just a game but family time that you will and your kids will cherish forever.
JT
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JT "You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
I really love all the stories everyone has! I can't wait to see if this something my children will be willing to do as a family event layer on.
I grew up with table top games and it was something I loved to do as a family. I just wanted to pass that on to my kids. I don't think it is what you play, but the investment you put into bonding with your kids. D&D was just a good pick for my family since we all love dragons and such.
There is an excellent quote by C.S. Lewis. “Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker” These are the words that inspire me to create the awesome worlds over the past 5 years that my children enjoy. I used this quote when I wrote a little article on my blog as to why you should teach your kids how to play D&D.
If you wanted to read the whole thing.... you can read it here.
My youngest was 8, playing in a group of High school students (with his brother and sister). Never let the youngest roll the dice, especially if they re playing a ranger
My son started rolling as soon as he could be trusted not to eat the dice. He had no idea what was going on, but he rolled for the DM when he'd visit the table and everyone got excited, etc. for him.
When he was about 3 he asked to play. I abstracted everything for him due to a lack of reading but he got the idea. The setup was saving Elmo who was stuck on a bridge surrounded by goblins. I gave him a few figures to represent heroes and had him roll the dice and called out results without going deep on D&D. I didn't think he was doing more than having fun but when it was all done and I said so he said "No Dad, the cleric needs to go heal people."
By which I mean to say the kids are paying attention and ready far sooner than you might think. Just keep it on their reading/math level as you go along and they'll learn to imagine and adventure.
My kids first game of D&D was at age 9 & 7 respectively. It would be a couple more years before they really were mentally engaged with the activity. It all depends on how well-read they are, how ripe their imagination is, and how well the game can be geared towards their simplistic concepts of the world at that age. But it's an excellent opportunity to teach through storytelling. Both of my gamers are 18 & 16 now and if we don't game on the weekend, Asmodeus must be wearing a snow suit.
My 8 and 9 year old boys play with us every weekend. (So do my 11 and 13 year olds, but I think that's older than what's in question...) One of my 9 year olds basically refuses to read anything other than DC Comics, Magic cards, and D&D books, so that's what we give him. (Surely reading Volo's counts as "afternoon reading", right? LOL) They had no problem jumping right into it full force their first session. We are a very ...eh... fantasy, sci-fi, geek-stuff, maybe?... type family, though, so they're used to the concepts of other worlds and universes and such so we haven't had to really cater anything to their age. It was just a natural extension for us to have an in-home family game going. :)
So, my son was 4 when he'd ask to play D&D with us, (his mom, myself and our friends) . What we told him was he would need to learn to read to play. This may not be absolutely necessary but we wanted to encourage him to read with a goal in mind. Now, after that he would make up his own games that we would play along with, usually influenced by another game or show he was interested in. As we'd play his latest game we would suggest ways for things to be figured out, a dice to hit, a dice for damage, usually keeping to d6's. How we the players could work to overcome his challenges that he put before us. And he would take these ideas and use them in the next crazy idea he had, all building, kind of intentionally, a foundation of how these games should be played.
Today, he got to play fish first D&D session, a session he's waited a little over 4 years to play. He and his best friend, also first time playing, his cousin and a couple of adults I play with to lend a bit of guidance on what to roll and add to the rolls, with myself running for them. As I'd been promising my son for all those years. It was a blast. They almost immediately, at the end of the session, asked to play more. I was so happy to hear that.
I started playing at age 4, my babysitters taught me a streamlined version of the rules that made it just a variation on "make believe" games kids play anyway. they would test out the stories for their regular group on me since it moved faster with one player and no dice they could just get a feel for the plot and story and it kept me busy. I don't remember when they introduced dice, I think it was several months after we started playing. But basically they told me they were giving me parts of the game at a time until I would eventually have the whole thing. We moved away before that happened but I got my parents to buy me a copy of the rules for myself. In this case the Basic DND box and I jumped into it from there on my own.
I ran my first game as DM in second grade. At least a few of us kept going in the same campaign all the way until I left for a high school that was very far from anyone else.
I started my youngest (7 & 9) playing on 5e in November of last year. Their cousins, also 7 & 9, started played and I reverted to the "kidified" 5e stuff that I found on wizards.com, because the didn't have older brothers that they had been watching all summer. They all understand the concepts and the mechanics, but aren't able to make much of a connection to ideas pertaining to cooperation, long-term goals, connecting the narrative to the overarching story line, etc.. But that's why we are playing, to teach them how these things work. In the same way that D&D fed my appetite for reading, all of these kids are literary animals. My 9 year old (now 10) is finishing the Harry Potter series so he can start the Hobbit. The Crystal Shard is sitting on his shelf in queue.
I think 8-10 year olds are more than able to play a RPG. I was 10 but I got started with a board game called HeroQuest and when I played well older family members got me into 2e.
I was 12 when I found my own game to run for my friends, shout out to Shadowrun and it's 2nd edition. Which was a different beast altogether.
I have a friend who runs a story driven diceless system with his 6yo and his friends where they follow a game system but the boys use their own toys. Be them ninja dolls or even self designed Lego beasts.
Each kid will be different of course but kids and adults grow through play. If your child shows an aptitude I say encourage it. Their vocabulary and spacial problem solving skills will be top notch.
I was around 11ish when I started, but that was 2e and then AD&D 2e. Those were much more complicated than 5e. I could easily see someone around 8ish learning 5e, maybe younger?
So I am a father of two beautiful boys and my oldest son (3 years) answered my question of "what do you want to do when you get older?" By saying "I want to play dungeons and dragons with dad".
So my question is what is the age that some of you started playing or even running games because I did not get into this until about a year ago and how did the games go did you/them understand the rules or even why you where rolling the dice. That you where playing a different hero and not yourself. I would like to know some stories I was thinking another 3 years and I could give the kid a chance.
I started playing in 7th grade. Even then I was the DM and we were doing dumb little one-shot games at lunch at school by dropping an elephant on a Tarrasque's head or just running combat scenarios for fun. We didn't actually start adding storylines until High School when we could play for a whole weekend straight. I think as long as everyone is having fun, it doesn't really matter what age you start playing. Six might be a little young, but as long as the game is tailored for that six year-old I'm sure it'll work out.
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I started playing with the original red box came out - but its been so long I can't remember how old I was :P
fast forward to current days - and my best friends 6 year old recently joined us and with some guidance and help played just as well as some of us 40+ year olds. In fact he's been constantly asking when we're going to play again.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
I started at around age 12, and didn't notice any of my contemporaries having trouble grasping rules or game-play concepts (even if they responded to understand a rule that limited their character in some way with "That rule is stupid!" or the like).
The youngest player I've ever personally run for was 6 or 7, and he picked up the basics of playing the game (AD&D 2nd edition, at the time) easily - likely at least in part due to his familiarity with board games and video games.
I don't have any experience with teaching kids, yet. This June, my niece and her daughters are coming to visit. Then I'll be teaching a 5 and a 7 year old how to play. She homeschools, and it's her hope to learn how to DM for them, and make it a regular part of their schooling.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
I didn't start till I was around 12 but my younger siblings have started as early as 10 and understood it pretty well. Some have played as young as 6 but they were a bit more wild.
~I am a Halfling Warrior at Heart~
~Tempus Fugit~
I started both my kids at a young age. My son was 8 and made a excellent Barbarian. What was great is that he understood the rules enough to follow what was required as skill checks and knew his abilities but he actually role played his character. I can not remember the last time one of my players punched a goblin in the face with a critical. The minds of an 8 year old when he misses with the battle axe was epic and 5 years later we still talk about it. My daughter was 10 and plays a elven wizard. She is disappointed that her friends don't play.
I wish more families gathered around the table to play D&D. It's been one of the best bounding moments for us a family. 5 years later we are still playing once a week and it's completely awesome! I'm very blessed to have an amazing wife who loves the game as well. That makes a huge difference.
So gather your kids and start them early because it's not just a game but family time that you will and your kids will cherish forever.
JT
JT " You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
I really love all the stories everyone has! I can't wait to see if this something my children will be willing to do as a family event layer on.
JT " You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
My youngest was 8, playing in a group of High school students (with his brother and sister). Never let the youngest roll the dice, especially if they re playing a ranger
No school like Old School! DnD since 1975
My son started rolling as soon as he could be trusted not to eat the dice. He had no idea what was going on, but he rolled for the DM when he'd visit the table and everyone got excited, etc. for him.
When he was about 3 he asked to play. I abstracted everything for him due to a lack of reading but he got the idea. The setup was saving Elmo who was stuck on a bridge surrounded by goblins. I gave him a few figures to represent heroes and had him roll the dice and called out results without going deep on D&D. I didn't think he was doing more than having fun but when it was all done and I said so he said "No Dad, the cleric needs to go heal people."
By which I mean to say the kids are paying attention and ready far sooner than you might think. Just keep it on their reading/math level as you go along and they'll learn to imagine and adventure.
My kids first game of D&D was at age 9 & 7 respectively. It would be a couple more years before they really were mentally engaged with the activity. It all depends on how well-read they are, how ripe their imagination is, and how well the game can be geared towards their simplistic concepts of the world at that age. But it's an excellent opportunity to teach through storytelling. Both of my gamers are 18 & 16 now and if we don't game on the weekend, Asmodeus must be wearing a snow suit.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
My 8 and 9 year old boys play with us every weekend. (So do my 11 and 13 year olds, but I think that's older than what's in question...) One of my 9 year olds basically refuses to read anything other than DC Comics, Magic cards, and D&D books, so that's what we give him. (Surely reading Volo's counts as "afternoon reading", right? LOL) They had no problem jumping right into it full force their first session. We are a very ...eh... fantasy, sci-fi, geek-stuff, maybe?... type family, though, so they're used to the concepts of other worlds and universes and such so we haven't had to really cater anything to their age. It was just a natural extension for us to have an in-home family game going. :)
So, my son was 4 when he'd ask to play D&D with us, (his mom, myself and our friends) . What we told him was he would need to learn to read to play. This may not be absolutely necessary but we wanted to encourage him to read with a goal in mind. Now, after that he would make up his own games that we would play along with, usually influenced by another game or show he was interested in. As we'd play his latest game we would suggest ways for things to be figured out, a dice to hit, a dice for damage, usually keeping to d6's. How we the players could work to overcome his challenges that he put before us. And he would take these ideas and use them in the next crazy idea he had, all building, kind of intentionally, a foundation of how these games should be played.
Today, he got to play fish first D&D session, a session he's waited a little over 4 years to play. He and his best friend, also first time playing, his cousin and a couple of adults I play with to lend a bit of guidance on what to roll and add to the rolls, with myself running for them. As I'd been promising my son for all those years. It was a blast. They almost immediately, at the end of the session, asked to play more. I was so happy to hear that.
I started playing at age 4, my babysitters taught me a streamlined version of the rules that made it just a variation on "make believe" games kids play anyway. they would test out the stories for their regular group on me since it moved faster with one player and no dice they could just get a feel for the plot and story and it kept me busy. I don't remember when they introduced dice, I think it was several months after we started playing. But basically they told me they were giving me parts of the game at a time until I would eventually have the whole thing. We moved away before that happened but I got my parents to buy me a copy of the rules for myself. In this case the Basic DND box and I jumped into it from there on my own.
I ran my first game as DM in second grade. At least a few of us kept going in the same campaign all the way until I left for a high school that was very far from anyone else.
I started my youngest (7 & 9) playing on 5e in November of last year. Their cousins, also 7 & 9, started played and I reverted to the "kidified" 5e stuff that I found on wizards.com, because the didn't have older brothers that they had been watching all summer. They all understand the concepts and the mechanics, but aren't able to make much of a connection to ideas pertaining to cooperation, long-term goals, connecting the narrative to the overarching story line, etc.. But that's why we are playing, to teach them how these things work. In the same way that D&D fed my appetite for reading, all of these kids are literary animals. My 9 year old (now 10) is finishing the Harry Potter series so he can start the Hobbit. The Crystal Shard is sitting on his shelf in queue.
I think 8-10 year olds are more than able to play a RPG. I was 10 but I got started with a board game called HeroQuest and when I played well older family members got me into 2e.
I was 12 when I found my own game to run for my friends, shout out to Shadowrun and it's 2nd edition. Which was a different beast altogether.
I have a friend who runs a story driven diceless system with his 6yo and his friends where they follow a game system but the boys use their own toys. Be them ninja dolls or even self designed Lego beasts.
Each kid will be different of course but kids and adults grow through play. If your child shows an aptitude I say encourage it. Their vocabulary and spacial problem solving skills will be top notch.
I was nine when I started, youngest player I know is five.
I'm just... you know... friendly... possibly evil necromancer...
I was around 11ish when I started, but that was 2e and then AD&D 2e. Those were much more complicated than 5e. I could easily see someone around 8ish learning 5e, maybe younger?
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