The Adventures Continue ...

So far, our family game time has been a mixed success. The kids love it. I love it. Faith won't play, but I'm not blaming her. Its just not her thing.

Unfortunately, each game can from one hour, to four or more, and it takes a fair amount of prep time, which I'm not getting during Christmas Break. I'm not getting much free time period during "vacation." I'm sure most parents know what this is like. But, the kids go back to school on Monday. Then, I can go back to playing games, reading, writing, surfing the internet, and now "prepping."

This "prepping" is a lot like writing for me. I need to know characters, their histories, motivations, ethics, and so forth and so on. I need to know the lay of the land, politics, religion, politics, natives (human, non-human, aggressive, etc.) It is "creation" at its greatest. I love it. But instead of typing it all up and posting it, I get to live it with my children.

They each have two characters they are running. Ryan has a human fighter named Luxord, who left home to see the world. He heard stories of his father's youth and how exciting it was, so left when he was big enough. His other character is an elfin mage named Stevo. (Steve-o? Well, its his character, I guess.) He was trained for years by a local wizard, who finally told him he had taught him all he could (which left him as a level one? whatever).

Hope has two halfling rogues. I guess she likes rogues, and halflings. *shrug* Hers are cousins named Zoey and Sonic (which is Ryan's current favorite video game). They left home because Zoey wanted to go out and help people. Sonic justed wants to be with Zoey.

I laid out a piece of paper, and started drawing a map for them of the town they started in. On a hill, I drew a large building. They both automatically knew it was a church, and Ryan's first response was "I need to buy good clothes. I can't wear armor to church." lol That's too funny. Now, if I can just get him to stop wearing shorts and t-shirts to church IRL (In Real Life.)

They (Zoey & Luxord) found lodging in a local inn. After a day or two, Ryan realized they needed to go find jobs, so they could continue living in-doors, and eating, and buying other supplies.

I've learned a couple things about my children from this time. First, both are fairly timid. They run into one monster, and immediately want to run back home and heal up, rather than pushing on. I don't suppose that is a bad thing, in children. But adults? Well, we'll see how they turn out.

Secondly, they are somewhat responsible. Hope's first order of business was to secure room and board. They don't sleep in the woods. They don't hunt. They don't break and enter. (I'm not sure she knows what a "rogue" is.) Ryan suggested they find jobs to support themselves. Most gaming experiences I've been through didn't involve jobs. It was usually "kill things and take their stuff" to make money. They may get to that point, but right now they have jobs.

I see places in the game where they aren't doing things the way I would. I suppose their age and inexperience is the reason for that. They haven't played a game like this before. But, then again, they haven't had much experience at life either. Both of these will change.

Oh, I just have to add, after our last gaming session, Ryan said it was more exciting than video games. High praise indeed.