A bit of a dinosaurian post, but thought I would see what advice readers would have.
Prompted by Stranger Things of all things my son has gotten into D&D and when work permits, for the first time in ages I have played with him. Covid19 obliged leading the sessions, DMing although not having touched D&D in decades have to confess I am probably no more fluent than he.
Between Covid19 restrictions and other limitations, there's not really any local group or gaming options for D&D, but obviously online nowadays is a big thing. The challenge is figuring out Kid Friendly places to look that are both kid and newbie friendly. Since we're in an area that's going back to Covid19 lockdowns this could really help an otherwise normally very social kid.
I don't think there is an online place that is safe for children. But maybe he can ask some of his friends if they're interested in D&D?
You could setup a campaign for him and his real-life friends in Roll 20. I've never seen the voice chat work, though, so I'd use Skype or Discord for it. Skype should already be installed on all windows 10 computers, so you don't need any extra software.
Yeah as a parent myself I would try to get together a game with people my kid already knows. Friends from school or cousins or whatever. I wouldn't really feel ok about them playing with anyone they didn't know IRL. The bright side of the lockdown is that there are plenty of other kids your son might know in the same situation that are likely to be receptive to the idea.
I know lots of people hate the roll20 voice/video chat, but I've used it multiple times a week since March and the majority of the time it's been just fine for us. There have been two times that it took maybe 15 minutes of two players needing to reconnect until they could hear each other, and maybe a handful of times we had an issue that was solved immediately by one player just reconnecting. I would give it a chance before going through the whole rigamarole with discord.
I agree with the above folks. Don't try to find some random community on Discord. See if you can get him to approach some of his friends about doing this and you host a Google Meet or Skype or something with all of them.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Appreciate the feedback although not encouraging. Unfortunately the friends option is not really available for a variety of reasons, which is what prompted this question. Perhaps with new school year on remote again as seems likely (we are not presently in the US, which is part of the challenge), there will be an opportunity.
Mentioned Discord only as I saw it mentioned a few times in various place, have no real experience with it unlike Zoom or Skype.
Venture Capitalists get their money from investors. Huge investments were made by Chinese corporations. China is communist, which means all Chinese companies are owned by the Chinese government. That means the Chinese government was a major investor in discord. That means the Chinese government owns giant shares of discord.
Appreciate the feedback although not encouraging. Unfortunately the friends option is not really available for a variety of reasons, which is what prompted this question. Perhaps with new school year on remote again as seems likely (we are not presently in the US, which is part of the challenge), there will be an opportunity.
Mentioned Discord only as I saw it mentioned a few times in various place, have no real experience with it unlike Zoom or Skype.
Also, I found this article you might be interested in:
I bet with school starting up again he will have plenty of opportunities to invite new friends to play, especially with DnD becoming more mainstream and with him being a "social kid" as you put it. I agree with the other posters that things like Skype and Roll20 would be a good method of playing while social distancing. I would advise you to make your own account that he can play on though just so you can keep tabs on who he's playing with. Also, idk how many people you have in you family or what your work schedule looks like, but you could possibly make a one-shot session with him and some other family members once in a while. I know you wrote that you would play with him whenever work permitted it.
It sucks that the internet is full of a bunch of awful people and isn't really safe for kids, but I think your kid will be able to play with friends pretty soon through school! :)
As a parent myself, I'll offer the following (though my kids are older and police themselves on the internet).
Just be straight up.
"I know you're into D&D right now so we'll play when I am able. Let's work around my work schedule and when free, let's get to some adventures!"
"I'm not comfortable with the current state of the internet and you roaming around on it in hopes of seeking out (most likely some older) folk to play your online game. Let's lay low for a bit - until the dust settles. In time, you'll be able to find a like-minded group of friends and folks your age and have a blast."
"In the meantime, when unable to play with me, let's keep the excitement going. Let's build some terrain. Let's buy some miniatures and paint them. Let's do some sort of wood building project and build a gaming table. Let's outfit a space in the house/garage with cool wall art. Let's do all of this, so when ready and able to play in person, you have the world's coolest D&D cave ever!"
I've been DMing since March a group of mostly 10-11 year olds myself (I'm the Dad of one). I'll agree with everyone else regarding launching the child into Internet communities to find a game. There's just too many toxic places once could step accidentally.
I think your best bet, if your local geography has one, is to reach out to your local game store. Where I'm at most game stores also function as a sort of bulletin board for local game groups, and often have adult and kid tiers. Some do these formally with online listings etc. Other places sort of work by calling the store and the management may be able to point you to a good group.
A last option which wouldn't probably work for regular play, but there are fee based one shots out there hosted by reputable vendors. I don't know if I should be dropping names in here, maybe if a mod can chime in, I'll drop the two I know of in a subsequent post. But most of them are basically done as "online seminars" some literally introducing new players to the game, others basically one shots of the sorts you'd find at conventions. A lot of them have bio statements of the organizer, a sort of philosophy about gaming with kids etc, and even past participant reviews. Not a perfect solution, but something to check out as a bone to throw once a month or so if the less formal options don't pan out.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Hello! You might try looking at your library or school websites. At some schools, various after-school programs are hosting virtual D&D. Some libraries also have hosted virtual D&D. Each of these probably will at the very least help introduce your son to the game.
Additionally like MidnightPlat said check your local game store. Hope this helps!
While I can understand begin worried about the state of the internet for a child I do have to say that the people I have met through the Looking for Group forum here on D&D Beyond put me in contact with some of the nicest and wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure of gaming with, and every one of them would be safe for an 11 year old kid to game with.
If you take the time to vet anyone who's interested you could find a wonderful group of people for you and your kid to game online with.
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A bit of a dinosaurian post, but thought I would see what advice readers would have.
Prompted by Stranger Things of all things my son has gotten into D&D and when work permits, for the first time in ages I have played with him. Covid19 obliged leading the sessions, DMing although not having touched D&D in decades have to confess I am probably no more fluent than he.
Between Covid19 restrictions and other limitations, there's not really any local group or gaming options for D&D, but obviously online nowadays is a big thing. The challenge is figuring out Kid Friendly places to look that are both kid and newbie friendly. Since we're in an area that's going back to Covid19 lockdowns this could really help an otherwise normally very social kid.
Advice and suggestions?
I don't think there is an online place that is safe for children. But maybe he can ask some of his friends if they're interested in D&D?
You could setup a campaign for him and his real-life friends in Roll 20. I've never seen the voice chat work, though, so I'd use Skype or Discord for it. Skype should already be installed on all windows 10 computers, so you don't need any extra software.
Discord requires full access to the users entire photo library to run, and is owned by the Chinese government if that influences your decision at all.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Yeah as a parent myself I would try to get together a game with people my kid already knows. Friends from school or cousins or whatever. I wouldn't really feel ok about them playing with anyone they didn't know IRL. The bright side of the lockdown is that there are plenty of other kids your son might know in the same situation that are likely to be receptive to the idea.
I know lots of people hate the roll20 voice/video chat, but I've used it multiple times a week since March and the majority of the time it's been just fine for us. There have been two times that it took maybe 15 minutes of two players needing to reconnect until they could hear each other, and maybe a handful of times we had an issue that was solved immediately by one player just reconnecting. I would give it a chance before going through the whole rigamarole with discord.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I agree with the above folks. Don't try to find some random community on Discord. See if you can get him to approach some of his friends about doing this and you host a Google Meet or Skype or something with all of them.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Or you can not run it on your phone.
Phone or tablet, it is the same price.
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lol, you are old right? you don't use a personal computer with headphones/mic ?
I’m Picard old, not Kirk old! Lol
No, I have a laptop, and I effing hate computers. I do all of this from my iPhone or iPad.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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Appreciate the feedback although not encouraging. Unfortunately the friends option is not really available for a variety of reasons, which is what prompted this question. Perhaps with new school year on remote again as seems likely (we are not presently in the US, which is part of the challenge), there will be an opportunity.
Mentioned Discord only as I saw it mentioned a few times in various place, have no real experience with it unlike Zoom or Skype.
It is worth however noting that Discord is owned by US Venture Capitalists and not by anything Chinese. You;'re confusing them with some other entity.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2017/06/07/discord/amp/
Venture Capitalists get their money from investors. Huge investments were made by Chinese corporations. China is communist, which means all Chinese companies are owned by the Chinese government. That means the Chinese government was a major investor in discord. That means the Chinese government owns giant shares of discord.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Also, I found this article you might be interested in:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/discord-where-teens-rule-and-parents-fear-to-tread-11560245402
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I bet with school starting up again he will have plenty of opportunities to invite new friends to play, especially with DnD becoming more mainstream and with him being a "social kid" as you put it. I agree with the other posters that things like Skype and Roll20 would be a good method of playing while social distancing. I would advise you to make your own account that he can play on though just so you can keep tabs on who he's playing with. Also, idk how many people you have in you family or what your work schedule looks like, but you could possibly make a one-shot session with him and some other family members once in a while. I know you wrote that you would play with him whenever work permitted it.
It sucks that the internet is full of a bunch of awful people and isn't really safe for kids, but I think your kid will be able to play with friends pretty soon through school! :)
In the meantime, when I was 11 (maybe I was younger, can't recall)
https://www.fightingfantasy.com/ff-gamebooks
Not D&D but adventures you can play by yourself.
As a parent myself, I'll offer the following (though my kids are older and police themselves on the internet).
Just be straight up.
All things Lich - DM tips, tricks, and other creative shenanigans
What about your friends? I have a group of teacher friends in one of my campaigns and my son plays with them.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
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-Ilyara Thundertale
I've been DMing since March a group of mostly 10-11 year olds myself (I'm the Dad of one). I'll agree with everyone else regarding launching the child into Internet communities to find a game. There's just too many toxic places once could step accidentally.
I think your best bet, if your local geography has one, is to reach out to your local game store. Where I'm at most game stores also function as a sort of bulletin board for local game groups, and often have adult and kid tiers. Some do these formally with online listings etc. Other places sort of work by calling the store and the management may be able to point you to a good group.
A last option which wouldn't probably work for regular play, but there are fee based one shots out there hosted by reputable vendors. I don't know if I should be dropping names in here, maybe if a mod can chime in, I'll drop the two I know of in a subsequent post. But most of them are basically done as "online seminars" some literally introducing new players to the game, others basically one shots of the sorts you'd find at conventions. A lot of them have bio statements of the organizer, a sort of philosophy about gaming with kids etc, and even past participant reviews. Not a perfect solution, but something to check out as a bone to throw once a month or so if the less formal options don't pan out.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Hello! You might try looking at your library or school websites. At some schools, various after-school programs are hosting virtual D&D. Some libraries also have hosted virtual D&D. Each of these probably will at the very least help introduce your son to the game.
Additionally like MidnightPlat said check your local game store. Hope this helps!
When players get creative.
While I can understand begin worried about the state of the internet for a child I do have to say that the people I have met through the Looking for Group forum here on D&D Beyond put me in contact with some of the nicest and wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure of gaming with, and every one of them would be safe for an 11 year old kid to game with.
If you take the time to vet anyone who's interested you could find a wonderful group of people for you and your kid to game online with.