RPG Tips for Playing with Kids

• Improvisation is the key to a successful play. Though the chapter guides provides details for things that can happen, the setup, and the background, every kid is different and therefore, improvisation is essential. Kids might ask to do the wildest things (such as feeding a stuffed animal a stick), as the dungeon master, keep in mind that you are trying to have the kid absorbed in the world.
  
  Saying things like ,"You cannot do that." should not be said unless for extreme cases in a role playing game. Roll with the questions and behaviors you see and act upon it. For instance, if a player asks to climb the rock that they cannot pass through, have them perform a test. If they failed the test, have them fall down and lose health. If they pass the test, tell them that while climbing the rock, they found some gold and jumped down because it was too steep to continue.

• Roll a lot of dice. Kids love rolling dice. If you find they are getting bored, try to ask them to roll dice to test for a given trait -- this can be done even if not said in the chapter guide. The chapter guide does have a fair bit of tests per chapter, however, kids might need more. You can make up various events such as the store owner is a bit cranky and asking the adventurers to try to cheer it up by testing for entertainment value -- as the adventurers what they want to do and roll a dice to test for the success of it. A success would grant them a discount.

• Make things challenging, but not easy. The monster statistics and guidelines are only guidelines. If you find the adventurers having a difficult time, ease down on the stats. If you find the adventurers needing help, random acts of healing potions dropping from the sky after they destroy a monster always brings cheers. Sometimes you will need to bend the rules to provide a better experience for the players.

• Keep the faster pace. The ideal chapter length is 1.5 hours, after that, kids ages 6.5 to 8 get a bit drowsy and yawns start coming. Don't let the adventurers dwell too long on something. If they are stuck, provide help in the means of a non-player character.

• Make them shape part of the game. There are many things you can do to encourage kids to shape the game. When the chapter is over and gaming is not in session:

  • Have the kids doodle potential characters in the game.

  • Have them model a character or creature with modeling clay.

  • Talk to the kids and what they would like to see. Modify the game and details as needed.

There are many times within a chapter that non-player characters are swappable. In these cases (the chapter guide will tell you when), replace them is fictional characters that they know and love. They will love to see characters they've made up or seen somewhere appear in the game!

• Gauge their comfort level. Young kids have varying interests and comfort levels. Pay attention and adjust the game to their comfort level. For instance, if they aren't comfortable with monsters getting killed, you can just say the monsters ran away.