An RPG like D&D for Children 10+ years of age

When I started playing D&D in highschool, I was 16 years old and my friend Jon was 11. Someone recently asked me to recommend an RPG like D&D that would be good for children aged 10 and up. This is actually a bit of a tough ask. Jon was that age when he began playing D&D, but D&D has changed. It is much more complex now than it was back then. I first began playing with AD&D 1st Edition, but the first set of rules that I actually owned and read for myself was the D&D Basic Set from 1981 by Tom Moldvay.

  

Man, I read that book from cover to cover many times. At the time, I preferred AD&D because I saw my basic version as just that, a dumbed down incarnation of the game that I wanted to play. That's the thing about being a kid. You don't want to be talked down to. You want to be lifted up. You want to learn the "grown up" game. In my old age, I've gone the other direction. I really appreciate the clean simplicity of Moldvay basic. It was designed so that players could learn the game by reading the rules. AD&D wasn't.

There are games for kids younger than 10, out there. But, once you hit 10+ it seems to be assumed that you are ready for the big leagues. But D&D is a monster. It's built as a modular framework on which to hang as many products as possible, and unless you have been navigating that landscape for awhile, it can be impossible to figure out how to start.

  

  

There is a D&D Essentials boxed set that's good. The trouble is, there are actually several such "starter sets" and they vary in quality. The one that I like is the D&D Essentials set that contains the Dragon of Icespire Peak adventure. It's rulebook is streamlined and surprisingly complete, but it only contains four classes (Fighter, Cleric, Magic User, and Rogue) and it only takes characters up to 6th level.

Still, that's pretty good. It's arguably better than the Moldvay Basic Set. But, it is limiting, and it lets you know that it's limiting. It sets itself up to sell you the "real" game of Dungeons and Dragons. Kids see that and think that they are missing out. Heck, most adults see that and think that they are missing out. I'd happily play this version of D&D, but most would find the limit of four classes and six levels too restricting.

Fortunately, I do know of a game that is complete, and is written to be new player accessible. That game is Dragonbane. Specifically, the Dragonbane boxed set is a real bargain. It contains the full Dragonbane rules, a full prewritten adventure campaign. It has dice, and a beautiful full color map of the world where the campaign takes place. It includes premade characters so that players can jump right in and play. It has standees so that players can have "miniatures" at their table from day one.

  

  

I've spoken about Dragonbane before. I have mentioned that I like it as an alternative to D&D because it is easier and more accessible. I have spoken about the beautiful artistic presentation of the books and unequaled product quality. But, I realized as I was answering my friend's inquiry, that Dragonbane is also a perfect entry level product. It's the Tom Moldvay Basic of my youth, without any of the limitations.

The inclusion of extras like standee miniatures and a decks of cards for equipment and treasure push this product over the top.

  

  

This is the full list of what the Dragonbane boxed set contains:

• Rulebook with fast and effective D20-based game rules for character creation, skills, combat, magic, and travel
• Adventures book with eleven complete adventures, to be played separately or tied together in the epic Secret of the Dragon Emperor campaign
• The booklet Alone in Deepfall Breach letting you play Dragonbane solo
• Huge full-color map of the Misty Vale
• llustrated playing cards for adventures, treasure, and more
• Ten transparent polyhedral dice, including two custom D20s
• Five pregenerated characters
• Five blank character sheets
• Cardboard standees for characters and monsters
• Double-sided battle mat

I own the boxed set as well as the hardcover rules book and a monster book. It's all gorgeous. If you own the boxed set, you don't need the hardcover of the rules. In fact, you don't need anything else. The softcover that is included in your boxed set is identical to the hardcover except for one short introductory adventure that they added. The monster book has all of the same monsters in the core book, and adds more. It's not necessary, but cool if you really get into the game and want to explore further.

I hope that Dragonbane gets more love and continues to grow as an introductory and advanced RPG product. I think that it's brilliant and it is one of the most attractive (if not THE MOST ATTRACTIVE) products that I own.

  

  

Oh, and did I mention: You can play a DUCK!

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong Issue #7 - The Final Issue

Warning Spoilers!

The final issue begins by explaining Clark / Superman's disappearance. Batman and Cyborg worked together to combine tech from the Justice League Satellite Teleporter and the Mother Box to teleport Superman's body to the sun for a super charge. Which worked.

  

  

In the meantime, we finally learn the fate of Toyman. Pretty much the moment that he touched down in Metropolis with his new "toys," Godzilla stepped on him, crushing him to death. I really like this reveal. It speaks to the danger that has always been inherent in magic that is powerful enough to grant wishes. It always comes at a price that is way too high. Toyman paid that price with his life. As for the Dreamstone? It's missing.

  

  

So here we are for the big final battle. All the monsters, and the mechs, and the supers, converged in Metropolis for a final mega battle, and it doesn't look too great for the heroes ... but Clark has a plan.

  

  

Now Clark is back and he realizes that the best chance the supers have of stopping all the titans who have invaded this DCU earth is to set Godzilla free and let him do his job. His plan is pretty similar to how it worked in the latest Godzilla X Kong movie: make the king of the titans mad and point him in the right direction.

  

  

Will Superman and Godzilla arrive in time? Will they be enough to stop the combined might of the other titans and the Legion of Doom? Maybe? Maybe not. But, the writers have one final surprise up their sleeve and I did not see this coming. Remember that Grodd killed Guy Gardner?

  

  

When a Green Lantern is killed in action, its ring goes out and finds the most worthy new ring bearer that it can. Who does Guy Gardner's ring find. Who among all present is the most worthy? Surprise! It's Kong!!

  

  

And ... Now, Superman and Godzilla make it to the scene of the battle and the tide quickly turns. This is the grand finale we've been promised!

  

  

With the villains and titans defeated, Superman uses the Dreamstone to send the titans back where they came from. Wait? What? Where did Superman get the Dreamstone? When he freed Godzilla he found it lodged in the bottom of the titan's foot! As for Superman using the Dreamstone? I like this too, because he only undoes what the Dreamstone did. He doesn't make any new or selfish wishes. He doesn't try for example to bring Toyman or Guy Gardner back to life.

  

  

This wraps the story in a pretty much happily ever after fashion and I for one was very satisfied. If you are interested, I believe that the entire 7 issue run of Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong is available as a trade paperback. I read mine as individual Kindle editions.

  

  

PROS:

• The Fate of Toyman
• Kong Green Lantern
• DC Comics Presents: Superman and Godzilla
• The satisfying conclusion

CONS:

• Sadly, it's an Elseworlds story. So, we are unlikely to see these characters brought together again.

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong Issue #s 5-6

Warning: Spoilers.

  

  

Issue 5 sees Supergirl checking on Clark before returning to check on Kong. Unfortunately, Grodd has taken over Kong's mind and does the same to Supergirl because of the Kryptonite horn thingy on his head.

  

  

  

Aquaman uses the distraction caused by the Kraken to chain Godzilla in the same kind of chains used to keep the Kraken in check. (Nth metal or some such nonsense.)  It works and at least for now it seems that Godzilla is dealt with.

  

  

As issue 6 begins, Godzilla is out of play and Clark has disappeared.

  

 

In the meantime Lex has used the tech he discovered in the beacon (at the end of issue #3) to find out all kinds of secrets about the Monsterverse including plans to build his own Mechagodzilla.

  

  

Lex isn't the only one playing giant robo in this issue. Batman and the Green Lanterns get in on the fun!

  

  

  

It's beginning to look like the heroes may finally have Luthor's Mechagodzilla on the ropes when Grodd shows up with a mind controlled Supergirl and Kong. Suddenly, things take a major turn for the worse.

  

  

Oh, and Grodd kills Green Lantern Guy Gardner. That's right KILLS. (This is an Elseworlds story. Stuff like that can happen.)

  

    

The heroes react in a sudden fit of rage and manage to knock the Kryptonite mind control thingy off of Grodd. But, will it be enough? And what's this? Superman is back and talking with Godzilla!?

  

  

Yep. That's how issue #6 ends.

  

  

PROS:

• Art and Story still both awesome!
• Giant ROBO issue! (Issue #6.)

CONS:

• Almost no Godzilla. (Issue #6.)

  

Up next: The Grand Finale!

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong Issue #s 2-4 Review

Another Spoiler FILLED review.

  

  

It's not just Godzilla and Kong who have been transported to this version of the DCU, but the entire population of the Monsterverse (or so it would seem.) Superman has his hands full in Metropolis, but the rest of the Justice League have to split up to cover monster threats all over the world. Specifically at key locations important to members of the Justice League. After all Toyman's wish was to use these "toys" to "play with" the Justice League. (Good thing he didn't wish for the monsters to "destroy" the Justice League, because then this story might have ended quite differently.)

  

  

The big finish to the second issue happens in Metropolis as Billy Batson, aka Shazam arrives to help Superman. Billy decides to use his magic lightning bolt to blast Godzilla which does hurt the Titan, but not nearly enough. 

  

  

Superman is forced to place himself between Billy (who transformed in order to perform his lightning attack into his vulnerable human form) and Godzilla's atomic breath attack.

  

  

This attack is more harmful to Superman than one might hope and in the end it looks like Superman is really in trouble. That's how we end issue #2. Issue #3 is a lot more monster vs hero battles. In the end the heroes reveal that the monsters are responding to some kind of beacon. Then we change to a scene that shows said beacon as it is being discovered by none other than Lex Luthor. This seems bad.

  

  

Through the next few issues there's an ongoing search for Toyman. He and the Dreamstone have disappeared. There's a really nice scene at the start of issue #4 where Batman shows a bit of vulnerability in his concern for the fate of his friend (Clark / Superman.) It's a good moment. I really liked it.

  

  

After that, we finally get to see a bit more of Kong, who has not yet posed a threat to the heroes. There's a good bit where Supergirl attempts to commune with the giant primate before leaving to check on her cousin.

  

  

  

Next we have a huge monster battle in Atlantis, where surprise! Aquaman releases the Kraken!

  

  

PROS:

• Story by Brian Buccellato continues to entertain
• Art is still awesome. Artist Tom Derenick is listed along with Christian Duce in these issues, and while I think that I preferred the art in the first issue, the later issues give me strong Brent Anderson vibes, and I suspect that's Mr. Derenick's influence. Certainly, not a bad thing. I love Brent Anderson's work and his influence in these pages and in Tom Derenick's work is welcomed. 
• Kong and Godzilla aren't portrayed as bad guys, but Godzilla is certainly a threat.
• Release the Kraken!

CONS:

• There's a side story with the League of Assassins which just seems like one too many here. It's why I don't mention it in my overview. It just didn't grab me.

Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong Issue #1 Review

  

This is a "spoiler filled" review. I finished reading the comic, "Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong" and I want to talk about it. It was a seven issue series that crossed over the DC universe with the Godzilla Universe (Monsterverse?), and that's cool. I believe that this is one of those stories that falls into the category of an "elseworlds" story. If that term is even still being used. It refers to a story that exists independently of the regular comic book universe continuity and it just being told for fun. I like that. All comics should just be told for fun.

  

  

The story starts with Clark and Lois on the top of the Daily Planet building in Metropolis enjoying a romantic dinner. It is pretty clear that Clark is about to propose. (Establishing this as a story with its own continuity, because I am pretty sure Clark and Lois are already married in the established continuity. I may be wrong here. I have not read comic books regularly for many years. So, I may be out of touch.) Anyway, the pending proposal is cut short by the sudden appearance of Godzilla rising up out of Metropolis Bay.

  

  

Flashback to the Justice League answering an alarm call from the Fortress of Solitude. Supergirl is filling in for Supes because Clark informed all of his Justice League friends about his plans for the evening and asked that he not get interrupted. Supergirl and the League go to the Fortress to investigate the cause of the disturbance. It's the Legion of Doom. (Geeker joy! Yay!) They have broken into the Fortress to steal the device known as the Mother Box. The Mother Box is able to teleport anyone anywhere in the multiverse. Luthor wants to use it to banish the Justice League to the Phantom Zone.

  

  

The plan is messed up because Toyman sees something shiny that he wants and, in grabbing it, he sets off the alarm. It doesn't take long for the good guys to arrive and a battle to ensue. The battle ends in the Legion of Doom accidentally sending themselves gosh knows where courtesy of the aforementioned Mother Box. The Legion of Doom finds itself on Monster Island home of King Kong (or just Kong now?) and any number of other giant monsters.

  

  

There's a great moment in here where Grodd first sees Kong. Using the Legion of Doom for this story was genius. The group of villains argue and scheme and point fingers, mostly at Toyman whom they blame for their current predicament.

  

  

The Toyman in the meantime is not taking the abuse very well. He does try to spin the events to his advantage by pointing out that these monsters that they have discovered would make wonderful toys and fantastic tools to use against the Justice League. Unfortunately for Toyman, no one wants to listen to his ideas. On the other hand, remember that "shiny" that Toyman stole from the Fortress? It's something called a "Dreamstone" and has the power to grant wishes.

  

  

Toyman wishes the Legion of Doom and all the monsters of the Monsterverse back to their home dimension without actually meaning to. At least, I don't think he knew of the power that he had. He just thought that the stone was shiny, and wishing on it was dumb luck. That all feels like a bit of a stretch, and maybe the story would have been more believable if all of these events had just been part of Luthor's plan from the start. Anyway. that doesn't matter because now the stage is set for the next six issues of superhero vs giant monster mayhem. Which brings us up to date and back to Clark and Lois' date. That's how issue #1 ends.

  

  

PROS:

• The Legion of Doom!
• Grodd's reaction to Kong!
• The engaging and witty story by Brian Buccellato!
• The gorgeous art by Christian Duce!

CONS:

• All the coincidences required for the set up are a bit much. If this had all just been a well executed evil plan, I would have found it more believable.

I Host My First Party

I was getting to know Dave better as well as his best friend Robert. Now that I was back for the Wednesday Night Champions Game, I got to see them every week (Dave twice a week.) But the Champions Game, while fun, was starting to collapse under its own weight. There were so many people. Even that was okay for most. People stood around and talked and enjoyed each other's company, and maybe, if there was a combat, they would take a turn and roll the dice, once … maybe twice. That was it, but no one complained. They all just enjoyed hanging out together.

In my personal / professional life, other things were happening. Platt College moved to a bigger "better?" building. The college had been leasing office space, but this building was their own. Honestly, I wasn't too excited about it. I liked the old building. It had a little restaurant called Mama Rosa's where I would go to eat lunch. (To this day the best Reuben I have ever tasted.) And, I had just signed a lease and moved into an awesome apartment that was practically next door to the old building.

But, since Platt was moving ... I decided to move too. I moved to a place called the Fontana Apartments (I think … they were near the Fontana Shopping Center in Tulsa, and near the new Platt College location.) Sally took over my lease at the Brownstones and moved in there. (We both really loved that place.) As soon as I moved in, I threw a little house warming party and invited my friends from the Champions game to come. Everyone came. Sally showed up to help me host the party because I clearly didn't know what the heck I was doing.

She brought her grill from home and a case of beer and set up grilling in the back. We had Sally's delicious food, and I believe that Dave sat outside and had a beer and visited with Sally. Inside, I entertained by popping in the new VHS of Disney's "The Little Mermaid." It was shown on my wonderful 13" TV! And everyone gathered around and watched it and laughed and sang the songs, and we all had a fantastic time!

  

  

Later, Sally confessed to me that she was shocked that I had a party of more than a dozen adult friends sit around with me to watch cartoons. And even more shocked that everyone had a great time. No one drank beer. No one wanted to sit outside. (Dave did both, but he was trying to be nice to my sister who had obviously gone to extra trouble just for me.)

I believe this would have been around July of 1990. Others might have gone outside if it hadn't been a million degrees. Tulsa in July is hot. But, the truth is, I had found my people. They liked what I liked. They liked Disney animation. Everyone of them had met me in a comic book store and showed up every week to play a game where they got to pretend to be superheroes. (Sally's mind was blown.)

So, my first party was a success. I didn't have enough glasses to serve drinks. We had gotten paper plates, but I foolishly didn't think about glasses. Someone went out and got some. So, the crisis was averted. And the next time that Dave and Nancy came by to pick me up to take me to watch Blake's 7, they brought me a house warming gift. A set of drinking glasses (bright yellow plastic tumblers, great for parties because they couldn't break.)

PS - I found the above image of the Little Mermaid VHS in an eBay listing for $5000.00! The tape was discontinued in a controversy after an image of a penis was found hidden in the artwork. (Not so much hidden as prominently displayed as the center spire at the top of the castle.) Sadly, I don't still have my copy. Oh, well.

The Boys Next Door

When I first got back to Tulsa, I was living with Bob Fultz at the Villa and looking for a place while waiting for my first payday. Sally drove me around to look at apartments when she was able, and we found this great place called the Brownstone Apartments that were both among the most lovely apartments that I have ever lived in, and practically right on top of Platt College where I worked.

I also checked in with folks at the Tulsa Center for the Physically Limited where I had been doing theater. The moment I walked in the door, Cyndi Vetter greeted me with some exciting news. Cyndi Vetter was the head of the Theater program at the Center. She encouraged me, and taught me all about community theater, and is to this day one of my favorite people in the entire world.

Cyndi told me that the founder and executive director of Tulsa's American Theater Company, Kitty Roberts, came to the Center asking for me personally by name. This was apparently a really big deal. Cyndi gave me the card that Kitty had left with her phone number. I called Kitty that night, and was fortunately not too late. Kitty wanted me to audition for an upcoming production for her theater company, a play called, "The Boys Next Door."

  

  

They had not actually set a date and time for the auditions just yet, and Kitty took my information. She told me that they would call me to let me know so that I could go to the auditions. And, for the next few weeks. I forgot about it. I worked my job. I moved into my apartment at the Brownstones. I ran a Champions game for a dozen people every Wednesday at World of Comics.

Then the call came. I got a call from the director of the play. His name was Tom. He asked me to come to the auditions, and even offered to give me a ride. I went to the auditions and I did really well. A few days later I was informed that I had been cast in the role of Arnold Wiggins. Arnold was a fantastic role and I got many accolades for my performance, both from the review in the Tulsa World and just from random people who would come up to me in a restaurant or grocery store.

Going into rehearsals meant that I couldn't run the Champions games on Wednesday anymore. One of the other players, Dave stepped up to take the mantle of GM and I went off to become a Boy Next Door. On opening night of the play, Dave came to the performance with his new wife Nancy. To my knowledge Dave was the only member of the Champions group to come to the play.

Maybe others came, but didn't stick around after? I don't know, but Dave and Nancy stayed around to greet me after the performance and the three of us went to Village Inn to chat afterwards. (I'm always starving after a performance.) We sat and talked and I enjoyed some food. (I can't remember if they got anything.) We talked about fandom things. Dave knew that I liked Doctor Who because the Doctor made an appearance as an NPC (non-player character) in the Champions game.

We talked about Doctor Who and they told me how it was Doctor Who fandom and a group called Starbase Tulsa that is how they had met. Nancy asked me if I had ever watched a series called, Blake's 7. I had not. They invited me to come to their house on Friday evenings after work to watch Blake's 7. The play would be over in a week. So, I would have the time. I went over to their house to watch Blake's 7 and we watched the whole series over the next several weeks.

That's how my oldest adult friendship started. Dave and Nancy are still my friends today. In fact, we are playing D&D together tonight over video chat.

Not Powered By The Apocalypse

Gah! I just can't do it. I've been trying to read Chasing Adventure. It looks amazing. I just can't seem to get through any of the Powered By The Apocalypse games. 

  

  

It's not like I'm stuck in the old school. I read Golden Sky Stories just fine and it was loaded with all kinds of unfamiliar ideas. What is it about PbtA games? I haven't been able to get through any of them. 

The text starts talking about "Moves" and my eyes glaze over. And there's all these separate "play books" that seem like a better version of character classes, but you have to print them out separately, and for some reason this makes everything feel disjointed. 

  

  

I know that it's me. I'm the problem. The funny thing is that I think I would love these games if I could just get past this weird mental block that I have that prevents me from reading them. 

I read and enjoyed Quest by Adventure Guild, but that's not really PbtA even though it seems to borrow heavily from the task resolution system for those games. (Side note: Quest is actually too light even for me. If you want to introduce a group of new players to fantasy RPGs, try Adventurous by DawnFist Games.) 

  

  

"Help me, Obi-Wan Ke-Internet. You're my only hope."

Are there any good PbtA games out there that don't get bogged down in all the jargon? Or are these just never going to be the games for me? 

I spoke about presentation making or breaking a game in a previous post. I keep thinking that this is the case for me with PbtA games. I'm sure that if I can just find a presentation of this system that appealed to me, these games would finally find their way to my table.