Basic D&D with Teenagers

Years ago, I tried to get my kids into D&D. I think any gamer parent worth their salt wants to make some attempt to pass on the love of the hobby to their offspring.

But one of the funny things about love is that it can't be truly faked. Sure, you can try, but just as with romance, you can eventually tell when someone isn't reciprocating the love of roleplaying.

I wasn't too heartbroken when it came to my kids being disinterested in tabletop roleplaying. The hobby is still fun for me personally, and different strokes for different folks, right? 

Years passed, and along came Stranger Things, with its 80's nostalgia (even for those who were born long after that decade ended). The show has helped to buoy D&D into the popular consciousness as a viable pastime rather than just a joke. And lo and behold, my kids came to me of their own volition and excitedly asked me if I would run some D&D for them! Well, of course I obliged! In addition, there's a neighbor kid who wants in on the fun. 

So my son, daughter, and the neighbor kid have been introduced by your truly to the wonders and horrors and Barrowmaze! I'm using the B/X D&D rules using a mix of products, including the original books, OSE, and Labyrinth Lord products/materials.

My daughter the budding visual artist has been doing character portraits for her own PC as well as for her brother and the neighbor (here's her character, the magic-user Gylbart the Gallant):

So far, the group seems to be having a blast, as am I! I've definitely kept things as accessible and light-hearted as possible. These are teenagers we're talking about, after all. But here and there, things get "real" and they fear for their PC's lives when the monsters swarm and the hit points start dropping! 

I'll be checking in soon with some highlights of our sessions!

MR Welch Recaps D&D's Entire History Off the Top of His Head

 

End-of-Week Art Post (1/28/22): The Legend of Vox Machina

 Anyone going to watch The Legend of Vox Machina? I'm going to check it out. 

Just off the top of my middle-aged brain, but I don't think I've watched a D&D-based cartoon since...well, the old Dungeons & Dragons cartoon from back in the old days (unless I'm forgetting some other animated offering based on the grand old game). I mean, there's HarmonQuest, Disenchantment, and even Adventure Time...but those were perhaps inspired by D&D and fantasy roleplaying in general. Vox Machina is, I suppose, official "sanctioned" by the owners of D&D at the moment, right? 

Anyway, I say we give it a try! Why not, right? 

Happy Birthday, Gary!

 

Hail the ODM (Original Dungeon Master)! Thanks for all the adventure over the decades! 

End-of-Week D&D Art (4/30/21): Blue Dragon Fight!

 

End-of-Week D&D Art (3/26/21): Red Dragon Fight!

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (13)

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! May 2021 find you often at the game table, virtual or otherwise!

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (12)

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (11)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (10)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (9)

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (8)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (7)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (6)

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (5)

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (4)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (3)

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (2)

 

End-of-Year Artsravaganza: Rime of the Frostmaiden (1)

To close out the year, let's go back to Rime of the Frostmaiden to close out the artstravaganza!

End-of-Week D&D Art (10/30/20): Coldlight Walker

 This is a really cool creature from the Rime of the Frostmaiden adventure for D&D 5E! It was inspired by the iconic poster for 1982 version of The Thing:

I love that movie, so I really appreciate the homage! Coldlight walkers are the reanimated corpses of humanoids who died from cold exposure. Awesome! Really makes me want to run this adventure, just to have players encounter this creature! 

I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!