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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 9:55AM
#1
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- Core Coliseum
- Heroic Dungeon Master
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So teaching my kids D&D has been kind of off and on. I've gone through character creation and a mock round of combat, but otherwise, my kids have mostly just played around with the Heroes of Hesiod game. While I like the introduction that game gives, it is far too simplistic for long-term fun (hence why my kids and nephew added a) a new section of map b) 4 new monsters with very interesting (if overpowered) abilities and c) a new character (a healer of sorts).
I've been promising my eldest that he could go with me to D&D encounters over the summer for a while. But between him just not behaving (and it was going to be a reward for him not hitting and doing well on listening) and me only getting to D&D Encounters twice this summer, it just hasn't happened yet.
This past Wednesday though, he did get to go. I have to say - I'm really glad he went.
For the first 45 minutes, he did really good with rolling and adding his numbers, but not so well with speaking up among all of the strangers (I'm not surprised about that). However, after that, he didn't want to focus on the numbers and instead focused entirely on what he wanted to do. He did get a little disappointed when he missed, but he rolled with it very well.
He was so excited about it that he wants to go again next week and the excitement is infectious since my daughter wants to go as well (okay - the 3-year-old does too but he doesn't get to yet. Soon though...)
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 10:18AM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 19, 2007
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I'll break out Heroes of Hesiod after dinner and play with my 5- and 3-year old. We pair the game with the Monster Slayer book so the kids can visualize what their fighting, and we'll read through the pages that describe the monsters. The game is just the right entry point for my 5-year old, but the 3-year old we dumb down quite a bunch. For example, as long as he can identify the number on the die, then his attack is a hit. I have to remind both of them of their special powers, and I've gotten to the point where I don't even make them track their damage. After all, the best part of the game is when both of them pump their fists and scream when they slay the monsters! (Okay, they don't really "slay" the monsters; I have the monsters run away at 0 HP.)
I remember the first time I played the game with them and how excited they both were, especially my 5-year old. He was so pumped whenever he scored a hit, and even more so when he took out a monster. I could only imagine that your first-time experience at Encounters showed the same level of fun and excitement.
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"Jacking up the level rewards has always carried the taint of bribery, in my mind. If people need to be bribed to play D&D, then something's wrong with the game."
-Steve Winter (http://www.howlingtower.com/2012/01/illusory-math.html)
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3 years ago ::
Aug 13, 2010 - 11:10AM
#3
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- Core Coliseum
- Heroic Dungeon Master
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The main period of excitement for my son was pretty close to the end of the fight. He was playing the brawling fighter and we hadn't really focused on what the powers do. So in this particular round he decided that he wanted to "Grab him, pick him up over his head and throw him to the ground." He hadn't used grappling strike during the fight yet, and that seemed like a good fit (grabs the target at the least), so we went with it. He was very excited to hit and giggled when we corrected the DM when the opponent tried to shift on his turn.
I should post the stats of the monsters and characters my kids and nephew made for Heroes of Hesiod at some point - if only to make sure they never get lost.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 19, 2010 - 7:22AM
#4
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- Core Coliseum
- Heroic Dungeon Master
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This week I brought both my daughter (6) and my older son (7) to Encounters. This time we had a more full table, though, so it was a bit slower pace and with the skill challenge to start the encounter, the kids had to try to think their ways into the action.
Luckily - kids are never short of ideas - so after I suggested one possible action, both of them were able to run off and do their own thing. My daughter was playing a psion and tried intimidating our captors, saying that she would control their minds and then used Send Thoughts to reinforce it. My son helped the minotaur monk break down the bars of the cage.
Although my daughter was very soft spoken about the game, she did quite well and I think she'll want to go back again next week if she's able to.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 23, 2010 - 3:19PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jun 14, 2008
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I think you'll find that Heroes of Hesiod is Castle Ravenloft. My son is 8, and has been playing since he was 6. I started him on strategy games at 4. (I used AT-43 without the leadership rules.) Starting him early helped him think tactically to win, and lose with grace. We played some hero clix the other day, and I accidentally cleaned his clock. He held out his hand and said, "Good game." We then discussed strategy and how to improve for the next time. My daughter plays the Rogue, and likes to gork people with backstabs. She is without mercy, often keeping a count on kills. (Otherwise she is kind, gentle and likes to wear pink.) I just got an Emissary and I've started being able to play Encounters style. I leave the game set up and play for an hour or two every few days; www.worldworksgames.com/forum/viewtopic....I am find this format of play quite handy.
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