TOPIC: Kids at True Dungeon

Aging is mandatory.

Maturity is optional.


I would have started TD a Year sooner, but I waited until my son was "legal."

I have run with some kids that I preferred to some of the adults I have run with.

I can tell you as a coach I'm not carding anyone, so if they look close enough good to go. Its the parents honor to call the age.

As a player I tend to avoid random people all together by buying all the tickets.

I agree, people don't pay attention to the ticket slots already adding another wouldn't work. It would be a decent idea, but so would a seperate run just for them. Make the run shorter, make all the items lighter and smaller and lower the hight on the combat board. Could call it True-Tyke or something. LOL

Great idea. Calling it something other than "True Dungeon" would make it less likely for adults to wander in. Making it better lit, kid-friendlier (chase the monster away instead of killing it, for instance) and a little slightly less scary would keep crying to a minimum, and there might be a way to make it shorter, simpler and cheaper. No XP, comp tokens, etc.

Well, by the time we get to our next Gen Con (2015), my son will be 12 so I won't have to worry about pre-approving his attendance again or (hopefully) other adults scrutinizing his age on the way in.

What's really heartening though from this year's experience is that my boy, at 10, was more mature in his response to getting killed in the last room than the other six adult players in our party were (we all died). He simply said, "Well, that was the risk we took. That was fun." and smiled while they stormed out, pissed off and without even shaking our hands or saying, "Nice to meet you". I even made a point of telling him that I thought he handled that part very maturely--better than the others, in fact.

I get the age requirement thing. You don't want to be in the dark with crying kids, screaming kids, kids wetting themselves, etc. etc. etc. I wouldn't want that experience after paying $44 a ticket.

At the same time, you know your kid and what he or she can handle. And if you have the foresight to check with the event organizer ahead of time as I did, no harm, no foul.

The spirit of gaming should be inclusive, not exclusive, and we should foster that spirit in ways that benefit the hobby.

DantesGame wrote: my boy, at 10, was more mature in his response to getting killed in the last room than the other six adult players in our party were (we all died). He simply said, "Well, that was the risk we took. That was fun."

It sounds like you're parenting skills are pretty damn good.

Druegar wrote:

DantesGame wrote: my boy, at 10, was more mature in his response to getting killed in the last room than the other six adult players in our party were (we all died). He simply said, "Well, that was the risk we took. That was fun."

It sounds like you're parenting skills are pretty damn good.

It sounds like it would be a pleasure to storm the castle with him.

Glad you son had a good time.
I have had my daughter on runs the last 2 years but waited until she was 13 to go. My son turns 13 next year so he will get to go too- he has been very eager. I have usually had fun with kids in runs. I agree that having a dedicated kid run won't work because people don't pay attention to slot descriptions. But buying the entire run and posting on the forums will usually get you others of similar mindset. I find it a great way for me to bond with my daughter (and son next year).

Of course, now she wants to volunteer as an NPC but will only be 15yrs 10 months old at next year's Con. She will need to wait one more year for that...

Brad Mortensen wrote:
It sounds like it would be a pleasure to storm the castle with him.

"Do you think they'll make it?"
"It'll take a miracle."