If the alternatives are tavern talk, waiting, postponements and buying equipment, then yes, combat is the better way to go.
Combat is conflict, conflict generates tension, conflict gives the RP meaning and a frame of reference.

You can wallow in RPing AFTER the first cleared Cave, then it has meaning and a frame of reference.

Quote from: SettembriniAnother hint:

- Don´t do the original Caves of Chaos with them. They´ll get eaten alive according to 3.5 rules --> lack of morale rules in 3.5

- Exchange the part of the original Caves were they enter with one of the small mini dungeons I linked to, Dark and Stormy Knight should do.

Thusly the survivors can level, which they should find is awesome, and after that you can let them loose on the real caves. 3.5 second level characters can take tha original Caves, especially if they already have a first mini-module under their belt.

You're almost human now, Sett.

I've been going through the caves and adjusting based on my sense of what they will be up against.  It's interesting to note that it seems to assume there were to be more in the party given the challenges. Somebody had already provided the conversion link in the original GaryCon thread, so that's what I'm adjusting.

What I'm looking at is some quick hits and then back out.  Have Goldleaf help them in non GMNPC-centric ways - like when suggesting it's time to turn tail and run, etc. This also gives them some opportunity to role-play as the keep folks give them a little razzing but in the end respect them for coming back alive - that is, of course, if it goes that way. Nothing is expected, nor pre-written, nor directed.

Quote from: SettembriniMore help:

- Download the digital version of Keep on the Borderlands, to have it at work

- You have a Battlemat now? Do you have erasable pencils?

- If not, print out the square grid on paper. You most likely can do this in amatter of minutes at home or work. If you want, I can provode you with a pdf.


- look here for a 3rd edition version of the Caves of Chaos: http://www.jumpspace.net/DnD/Modules.html

I have the battle mat and overhead pens.  It was great being able to draw out the keep - helped them immensely too...

As I mentioned, somebody provided the link in the GaryCon thread - but thanks!

BTW - I just found this site in a link in one of the Yahoo Living Greyhawk/Verbobonc groups - you can create your own pdf of graph paper.  Very nice little utility.

Sounds like a fun game, James. I wouldn't worry too much about not reaching the caves yet, organising a bunch of kids around an already hectic adult timetable is like herding cats. The important thing is you kept them entertained. Their expectation must now be at an all time high, which will serve you well with your depictions of the dungeon as a sinister and dangerous place.

Anything going on with the game?  Just curious how they fared in the perilous caves of chaos...mwhahahahahah!

James,

I think it is cool that you are able to get young kids interested in gaming and they are having so much fun they talk about it afterwords.

My suggestion to you is to put Settembrini on your ingore list (I did), that guy has serious mental problems and arguing with  his screwed up logic is just a waste of time.

Your doing a good thing and more people should follow your example.

Keep up the good work and let us know how it goes

Quote from: Mike S.James,

I think it is cool that you are able to get young kids interested in gaming and they are having so much fun they talk about it afterwords.

My suggestion to you is to put Settembrini on your ingore list (I did), that guy has serious mental problems and arguing with  his screwed up logic is just a waste of time.

Your doing a good thing and more people should follow your example.

Keep up the good work and let us know how it goes

Sett is fine - you just have to know how to translate, even when he's speaking english.... :haw:

Thanks for the interest, guys.  I just mentioned it to the kids this week and they are still psyched. It's been crazy for all of us with all of the activities we all have; I'm managing my son's baseball team and helping coach my daughters softball team, amongst being busy at work and spring work on the yard and shit.

And now I'm in the online AD&D game with folks from here at TheRPGSite (including Sett!)...

But perhaps this weekend we'll give it a go...

So how did it turn out? or did it? Just curious. I am pretty impressed with the few guys like you, that I know, who are attempting to run games for kids in this age group. Something I don't know if i could do.

Quote from: Serious PaulSo how did it turn out? or did it? Just curious. I am pretty impressed with the few guys like you, that I know, who are attempting to run games for kids in this age group. Something I don't know if i could do.

Well, I try.

Alas, rain-outs and rescheduling caused some serious time constraints this weekend.

I will say they all expressed excited interest, but with soccer, baseball, softball, etc. it was not to be.  Hell, I had to give up my online AD&D with Abyssal Maw and the gang!

But I did get a chance to go through the information in B2 again and I'll be ready to go when the moment presents itself...

Just wanted to note:

Two of the boys are neighbor kids we (my wife, really) watch before and after school as their mom is a teacher. When they arrived this morning, the younger one's first words to me were "Mr. Skach - can we play D&D?"

Unfortunately, we all had to leave in a half hour. So I told them later in the week when it's raining I'll pick a day to come home early from work and if they have their homework done, we'll put a couple of hours...

I want to give you a big handshake, James.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I want to give you a big handshake, James.

Thanks, Doc.  Someday....someday...

Quote from: James J SkachSett is fine - you just have to know how to translate, even when he's speaking english.... :haw:

No, the behavior that Sett displays is exactly the kind of behavior this hobby needs to purge.  This is the kind of behavior that causes people to not want to start gaming or leave gaming because they just want to stop dealing with it.

Quote from: SettembriniIf the alternatives are tavern talk, waiting, postponements and buying equipment, then yes, combat is the better way to go.
Combat is conflict, conflict generates tension, conflict gives the RP meaning and a frame of reference.

You can wallow in RPing AFTER the first cleared Cave, then it has meaning and a frame of reference.

This might sound counterintuitive, but from remembering my first D&D sessions and the few sessions I have run for my kids, buying equipment and planning for the expedition is one of the high points of the experience. Not sure why...

Quote from: cmagounThis might sound counterintuitive, but from remembering my first D&D sessions and the few sessions I have run for my kids, buying equipment and planning for the expedition is one of the high points of the experience. Not sure why...

It's an interesting observation. If anyone is interested in pursuing it further, I've started a thread over on d20 Haven.