My 11 year old son wants to DM for the first time for his friends at school, but since he has zero experience I…

My 11 year old son wants to DM for the first time for his friends at school, but since he has zero experience I…

My 11 year old son wants to DM for the first time for his friends at school, but since he has zero experience I recommended that he start with a simple, pre-written adventure. I always sort of wing it, so I don’t have any experience with DW adventures, so I’m turning to you guys for help.

Any recommendations for something short and simple that doesn’t need a lot of interpretation on the DM’s part? This might be a good time for something railroady, as we’re talking about a first time DM (though he has played before) running for first time players.

Thanks for any help.

13 thoughts on “My 11 year old son wants to DM for the first time for his friends at school, but since he has zero experience I…”

  1. DW is great for first time players, tough for first time GMs. I would recommend he pick a monster or three out of the main book and start with something really basic like, “you’re back at the inn after your latest caper when you hear screams from outside – monsters are attacking!” Just jump into a scenario everyone is familiar with and roll some dice to get their feet wet. Then they can ask questions about why and what happened and that will lead to a bigger adventure.

  2. I don’t necessarily recommend a published adventure just because it’s his first time. He will have “homecourt advantage” with an adventure of his own design, and the familiarity that comes with that might actually be more beneficial than having to study/prep for a published scenario. Obviously I don’t know you or your son, but it’s just some food for thought.

  3. I do not agree on the “railroading is easier” part.

    I think it’s better to follow the game’s rules and throw in all player’s contributions. Teach him to include other people’s ideas, the game is designed to do that, too!

  4. I remember playing D&D as a kid. We just drew dungeons that made no sense and put monsters in them. We all loved it. I think I was about the same age. I don’t think we used the rules properly. It just didn’t matter, we were having fun and using our imagination.

    I agree with Ed Gibbs and Marshall Brengle. Maybe you could help give him the guts of a really simple scenario, ask him something like “what do you think would happen if your players saw this?” Get a couple answers out of him, and let his imagination fill in the rest? (An abbreviated 3 paths technique)

    It’s so great that your son wants to do is. I bet you’re proud. 8)

  5. “My 11 year old son wants to DM for the first time…” this is great! I think that it’s a great chance to let him find his own way using the GM zen

    * Portray a fantastic world

    * Fill the characters’ lives with adventure

    * Play to find out what happens

    If he play to find out what happens… it will be an amusing experience and likely there will be a second time!!

    Otherwise if he starts seing DMing as like a sort of homeworks (something to study before), or a job (hei you are in charge of your friends amusement) or a performance (do also funny voices for NPC!) this could become a quite discouraging.

    My 4 years son already plays by himself and creates funny stories with his action figures. I love to think that lack of imagination shouldn’t be a big problem for kids 🙂

  6. I tend to agree with the general sentiment here, I would let him write his own adventure. Usually the first game of DW is a little bit scripted but for the most part he will have the advantage of the players helping create the story. Marshall Brengle suggest is sound have him pick out a monster or two he thinks are interesting and give a rudimentary save the village from crazy goblins quest. It will give them an easy one game task to accomplish and he will have the input from the players about who their characters are and what kind of game they want to play. The biggest thing to remember is during the first game ask you player questions. I like Redbox Vancouver’s Blog for set up material, they were and still are super helpful and he doesnt even have to stick to those questions.

    https://redboxvancouver.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/setup-material/ and

    https://redboxvancouver.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/setup-questions-for-nonhumans/

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