DCC sidetrack

The first real rpg experience for my kids was, hopefully, a nice one. They were a little confused by the fact that they had to use funky dice and try to describe actions of their characters. Elder first responded to my queries about what will they (PCs) do by saying "running in circles", and I responded "The 4 of you start running in circles, trying to get their blood up and running" (she had 4 characters). Younger claimed that one of his character goes to "punch trees". I allowed that, but described how it is very hard to dent a tree without real tools. They laughed at my descriptions and relaxed a little, and it went quite well afterwards, considering that younger had no experience barring Minecraft and elder had lately began narrative storytelling, that seems dubiously more like shipping experimentation rather than anything else.


DCC in itself was good system, and at such low level I didn't even need to glaze over more descriptive materiel. They are old enough (and have played Minecraft, at the very least) to know such fantasy deaths as what D&D-based games have (ran out of hit points, even if not described as such). They even showed some tactical sense as the ratlings had prepared an ambush- some of their characters had taken rear and side positions thus foiling the ratling's plans. And bribing the bridge guards, who were better armed and armored than them, with cheese dip (thanks to the random background of DCC characters). Speaking with the apparent foes was little clunky and hard to initiate, but otherwise as they began it went well, especially as no strict IC/OOC was enforced. The characters gained even some "character", in that some were more braver or brash than others, and some perferred ranged combat (ironically though most effective ranged fighter had dex of 4...). I tried to encourage them to think of more characteristics to each of their PCs, as they now rise a level and should think of a career.


But age shows clearly; elder was very concious of her sayings and tried to jest, although I didn't faze at her anecdotal actions but described how they seemed in the game world, she tuned it down a little. Younger grew more restless as evening progressed and had very hard time to concentrate on the game in the later phases. Hopefully such game nights allow them to learn to focus on tasks at hand, as we try to teach that in all works and plays anyways.


In all, I think we all had fun, and that's all that matters in the end.