Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

I find the Bondian method "In Medias Res" to starting a session to be the most effective way to capture my 13 year old's and his friends attention. In immediately gets them in the mood and then they can settle into the RPG element. Starting off cold with dialogue and exposition leads to a lot of fidgety and distracted kids. Which is almost the total opposite for most adults and especially girl gamers I have played with. They thrive off of setting the atmosphere and character and then letting the action play off it later.