D&D Players - I have a question

[YankeyMCC]

How old were you when you started with the game and did you have older players to introduce you to the game?

I discovered that my son and his friend have invented a game on their own where they create dungeons and/or city layouts and that sort of thing. My son is also a big LoTR fan so I know he likes wizards and dragons and that sort of thing.

So I thought he'd be interested in D&D but I'm thinking it might still be a bit to much of a reach for him and his friend to get going on their own, they are 9 years old.

I'm know of D&D of course but never played. (Although I wanted to when I was young...well it's kinda a long story end result is I may have a son who's interested but unfortunately I can't be much help to him since I've never played myself)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I was mid-teens.

I learned how to play through a friend of the same age. I don't see why he couldn't give it a shot - but if you don't know how to play thoroughly, it's not stuff for an amateur to teach. For example, you're not just going to pick up an instruction manual and figure it out. You definitely need a hand holder.

[AllegroRondo]

2. I started at 12

but at 9 he should be able to handle it, especially if they're already designing their own dungeons.

But you definitely need someone who knows the game to teach it, its near impossible to jump right in without help.

[Book Lover]

3. Early teens

I agree with the above - if the kids are already mapping their own dungeons, etc, D&D is ready for them :-) I would recommend a nearby game shop, if that is feasible. You can peruse the offerings, and there are always bulletin boards with postings for gamers; if any are open to teaching or to younger gamers, it'll say.

And by the way, as much fun as they are, yes, you *can* have too many dice!

[LeftyMom]

4. I think I was seven or eight when we started doing little graph paper

dungeon crawls.

If there's a hobby store with gaming space near you maybe you could take him and his friend over to observe a game or two? For the most part gamers are really good about getting younger kids started in the hobby. To get started they'll need a players handbook (ideally one each) a monster manual and a dungeon master's guide. I suppose they could limp along without one of the three for a little bit, but really you need one to play for long. Oh, and a shitload of dice in wierd-ass configurations (the hobby store will have sets for D&D players.)

There are a lot of canned settings and games on the official D&D website, plus a crapload of fan sites with similar stuff all over the net. Chances are they'll find that helpful because younger players tend to make very uni-dimensional charachters and plot lines that have more in common with FPS video games than a good RPG session really should. they'll have fun even if they just make dungeons be twinks and play for monty haul though.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

5. I started at 9.

I had my brother introduce me to the game, and then I learned more of it playing with a few friends.
It takes a bit to understand it first off, but it can be fun.

[Akoto]

6. I was nine, and I must say ...

For all the mud-slinging directed at the game by fundies, I owe my real-life success to Dungeons and Dragons. It really gave me the creative inspiration and the love of acting that led to my career in voice over. You might also be interested to know that Stephen Colbert is a D&D enthusiast and also attributes his career success to the game. ;)

I found the game on my own in the bookstore. At the time, the internet was just becoming sorta known (I am 21 now) and met others who played through it.

[ThomCat]

7. Somewhere in my teens

and, no, there were no older kids. It was just me and a group of friends my own age.

[Broken_Hero]

8. I started when i was 20...

I was a late bloomer, and all. :) I think, D and D would be fine for kids who are 9 or 8 and up...if they can count, and add, and subtract, they can get it...:) Damn, my little brothers/sisters were younger(5-11), and they knew how to play Pokemon card game, and they tried teaching me, and i was hard pressed to understand a single thing they were saying...:)

[Broken_Hero]

9. btw...

I had three friends who knew the nuts and bolts of game play, like what to roll in order to hit, and damage, and thaco and all that...other than that, we made shit up all the time, and following the rules "strictly" isnt' the best way...:) ITs a fantasy game, anything goes!...:)

[NewJeffCT]

10. I'd say I was around 12 or so

But, if I had discovered the game before that, I'm sure I would have played sooner. I had been into comic books at an early age, as well as the Narnia books & LotR.

[YankeyMCC]

11. Thx so much

for all the feedback everyone.

How did I know I'd find some D&D players here? ;)

I was pretty much despairing since it sounded like they would really need a D&D mentor. That fit with my experience too. I was a Boy Scout and the older kids we very into the game, I saw this and was very intrigued by the game and asked several times if I could join in - I was rebuffed every time. And when I tried to get my own circle of friends interested it seemed I was the only one who had any interest and I could never quiet get it going on my own.

But great suggestion from some of you to check out local game/hobby shops. We have a place right downtown that may be just what we need.

Hmm...so lets see he's probably going to be a band member in Middle and High school (violin) and now he might also be a D&D player. Good thing he also takes Karate. :) Just kidding of course.

[_testify_]

12. I was six when I was first introduced to it

My older brother hung out with a crowd that contained guys who went on to work for TSR. I still have an original Dungeon Master's Guide, with the big red badass demon on the front.

[no name no slogan]

13. I still have all my original AD&D books

circa 1981, when I got into the game (I was 11 or 12). I have a near-mint condition Fiend Folio, which I imagine would fetch some decent $$ if I ever decided to sell it. I also have the original Dieties & Demigods in similar condition, too.

Good God I am a geek.

[_testify_]

14. I lost my Deities and Demigods

But I have the Fiend Folio's predecessor: the Monster Manual!

I also have the original Player's Handbook, etc.

I don't know about you, but I have come to embrace my nerd-dom. It's who I am. And if anyone wants to get a campaign goin', I'll bring the dice!

[no name no slogan]

15. Yeah, I got the original MM, too

with the horribly bad illustrations on the cover-- back when TSR didn't have any real artists on staff, and was a 9-person operation behind a store in Lake Geneva, WI.

I actually played in a 1st Ed. AD&D campaign eight years ago, for awhile. And better yet, my new boss runs a new edition D&D campaign-- and asked me to join the group!

36 years old and still tossing goofy dice. Damn I need a life!

[_testify_]

16. I haven't played in about 5 years

and it wasn't AD&D, it was Cyberpunk 2020 and Werewolf.

I do miss it though.

[NewJeffCT]

17. Do you have the original Deities & Demigods?

The original had printed the Cthulu & Melnibone mythos' without permission... then, they had to reissue without them. I had the original, but sold it on eBay maybe 6-7 years back after getting divorced.