Justin Halliday

Hero Kids is designed as a first game to introduce young kids to the world of RPGs, but the way it goes about doing it is baffling to me. The focus is completely on combat encounters with mandated grid maps, and all other aspects of RPGs are treated like an afterthought. In fact, the book is explicit about which order you should introduce the concepts to kids - it says to start with running a few sessions with [i]only[/i] encounters - no story, no roleplay, no choices. Only then, gradually, start introducing elements like obstacles, multiple choices, traps.

And [i]only then[/i], quote: "The final ingredient for the full experience of roleplaying games is actual role-playing."

Some would say that role playing is one of the [i]first[/i] ingredients of a role-playing game!

Look, as is often wisely said, there's no wrong way to play RPGs. And I'm saying this as someone who enjoys tactical combat, in RPGs and in board games. But personally, I would never introduce anyone, not kids or anyone else, to RPGs in this way. I would always start by highlighting what makes RGPs unique: imagination, creative problem-solving, telling a story [i]together[/i]. Never "here are six rats on a gridded paper, you've won the game when you have killed them".

But if you are in the market for a simple tactical combat game for young children, I guess this can be okay? But for me, it's a pass.… (plus d'informations)

Hack 'n' slash dungeon slog - y'know, for kids! Players want to stealth or showing any other signs of creativity? Better shoot that down - the players are supposed to have only 1 option: Kill (sorry, "KO") all the enemies - this is explicit in the text, every room has a text similar to "Conclusion: Once all of the rats are KO’d, read this: The rats stop their shrieking as you finish off the last of their number ..."

I'm not in a moral panic saying kids will get damaged by playing this, by the way. I'm just saying this is a very, very boring RPG adventure.… (plus d'informations)