Re: Newbie Players (Kids) and LARGE party HELP!
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:57 am
Hi there - thanks for the nudge to post a follow up report.
First off, I did take the advice offered here and limited the party to just the kids - a much more manageable 5 PCs. The dads were there to help keep the kids focused on the game but mostly kept out of it and let them make their own decisions on what to do in-game.
As one would expect from BFRPG, the character creation session went quickly. I did work up a document with a few house rules and additions (Lord knows I can't run anything RAW) but none of those will really come into play until they have a level or two under their belts. I've ended up setting the game in the TSR Thunder Rift setting - a very simple, contained setting they used as an intro for new players & DMs in the Rules Cyclopedia twilight era of Basic. Started them in a small village I added to the setting and set them off.
With the remaining time after character creation, I had a quick RP interaction with the village blacksmith, worried for his new apprentice who had not arrived a couple of days prior as expected. Off the party went, taking the road north towards the larger town the apprentice smith would have used. They met a traveling merchant coming south who reported he hadn't seen the fellow, but there were rumors of goblin raids along the route. Further on they do indeed stumble into a goblin ambush and a quick first combat encounter.
Next session we picked up with he party back-tracking the goblins towards their lair, meeting a pair of goblin scout outriders on wolves (including them capturing and questioning one instead of just killing both) and finally finding the goblins cave hideout (using an awesome Dyson Logos map!). A decent combat followed - no PC losses but they got pushed to the limit and learned some care. Threw in some archers to highlight both ranged and melee combat, as well as a shaman for a bit of spellplay. They dealt very well with the challenge of a darkness spell.
We have since then only had one more session to clean up the end of that encounter, rescuing the apprentice who had been captured, along with a halfling captive - a new player. They then cleared a small outbuilding that the goblins had barricaded shut due to the crab spider inside and delivered the apprentice to the blacksmith before travelling to the larger town to pursue their fortunes as adventurers.
Next I need to detail the setting a bit for them and give them a couple of job offers to choose from. I also realized I've added too much fuss with some of my proposed house rules even before they've seen them and will be simplifying that to some degree.
All in all, a very positive gaming experience for all involved. The kids have been excited to play every time and the dads report they continue to ask when the next session will be. Success!
First off, I did take the advice offered here and limited the party to just the kids - a much more manageable 5 PCs. The dads were there to help keep the kids focused on the game but mostly kept out of it and let them make their own decisions on what to do in-game.
As one would expect from BFRPG, the character creation session went quickly. I did work up a document with a few house rules and additions (Lord knows I can't run anything RAW) but none of those will really come into play until they have a level or two under their belts. I've ended up setting the game in the TSR Thunder Rift setting - a very simple, contained setting they used as an intro for new players & DMs in the Rules Cyclopedia twilight era of Basic. Started them in a small village I added to the setting and set them off.
With the remaining time after character creation, I had a quick RP interaction with the village blacksmith, worried for his new apprentice who had not arrived a couple of days prior as expected. Off the party went, taking the road north towards the larger town the apprentice smith would have used. They met a traveling merchant coming south who reported he hadn't seen the fellow, but there were rumors of goblin raids along the route. Further on they do indeed stumble into a goblin ambush and a quick first combat encounter.
Next session we picked up with he party back-tracking the goblins towards their lair, meeting a pair of goblin scout outriders on wolves (including them capturing and questioning one instead of just killing both) and finally finding the goblins cave hideout (using an awesome Dyson Logos map!). A decent combat followed - no PC losses but they got pushed to the limit and learned some care. Threw in some archers to highlight both ranged and melee combat, as well as a shaman for a bit of spellplay. They dealt very well with the challenge of a darkness spell.
We have since then only had one more session to clean up the end of that encounter, rescuing the apprentice who had been captured, along with a halfling captive - a new player. They then cleared a small outbuilding that the goblins had barricaded shut due to the crab spider inside and delivered the apprentice to the blacksmith before travelling to the larger town to pursue their fortunes as adventurers.
Next I need to detail the setting a bit for them and give them a couple of job offers to choose from. I also realized I've added too much fuss with some of my proposed house rules even before they've seen them and will be simplifying that to some degree.
All in all, a very positive gaming experience for all involved. The kids have been excited to play every time and the dads report they continue to ask when the next session will be. Success!