I'm launching into an exciting new challenge for my Pathfinder DMing. Previously, my 9-year-old daughter wanted to play, so I ran her through the Beginner Box and then started a full-fledged campaign through "Reign of Winter". Ambitious I know...
Now my 7-year-old daughter wants to join the fray, without the gentle introduction of the Beginner Box. We've rolled up a character, and tonight will be her first time. They will be each playing with one character, plus two NPC characters for a party of four. Throw in a pet dog for a little extra help.
I am still figuring out how to adjust things. For starters, I've toned down some of the environmental effects that are very prevalent in the AP I am running. I'm also had a very "good" party being built with an emphasis on capturing enemies rather than killing, which is a big concern for me with regards to a potentially violent game. I've also focused on smaller, hour-long sessions to keep their attention spans and to fit playing into a busy schedule.
They are certainly excited to be playing, as they've been very disappointed when scheduling issues foiled the last time we wanted to play. It has been enjoyable to watch their joy in just creating backstories. I wish I could make the adults I play with have that much fun making backstories. Now they are filtered through young minds, but they are still creative. I hope I can make the session enjoyable for them. I will update the results of the session in a later post. I am also thinking about a series of posts where I get into how to introduce younger children into roleplaying.
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