Tuala Morn vs Turakian Age vs Valdorian Age... plus kids

[Tonio]

I recently purchased Turakian Age and Valdorian Age (along with a slew of other FH books, w00t!) and am still waiting for them to get here (mail to Puerto Rico often takes longer than it should... grr!). My kids are coming here for Christmas, and I'm planning to run a FH campaign for them, sort of like a Christmas present. They're 10 and 12, girls. I'm sorta shying away from Valdorian Age, since it seems too "dark" and "gritty" for them (not that they can't handle it, more like they won't enjoy it), but I'm unsure as to whether to do TA or TM. I'm guessing I'll do TA since I neglected to include TM in my purchase (oversight!), and they're getting here soon, but I might still be able to get my hands on TM on time. I'd ask what they'd prefer, but I'd rather have an adventure ready for them ASAP.

So, the question is... if you're familiar with any or all of these three, which would you recommend for two girls aged 10 and 12? Also, what recommendations would you have, if any, for running such a game, especially considering they're entirely new to pen and paper RPGs (they do play World of Warcraft, though)?

[Thia Halmades]

Pwnies. Girls love pwnies. So long as pwnies are involved, they should be happy. Don't ask me why I'm just now thinking of this.

[Tonio]

Pwnies bite, tho.

[Thia Halmades]

So, the question is... if you're familiar with any or all of these three, which would you recommend for two girls aged 10 and 12? Also, what recommendations would you have, if any, for running such a game, especially considering they're entirely new to pen and paper RPGs (they do play World of Warcraft, though)?

A similar question was posed earlier; GA will be along and he'll post his reviews, but generally, IIRC, Valdorian Age is low fantasy (Sword & Sorcery), Turakian Age is the d20 simulator (generic High Fantasy) and Tuala Morn is Celtic Fantasy. If you want to retain a WoW feel, Turakian Age. If you want to break out a bit, Tuala Morn.

Of the three, TM has the most "pre built" mechanics and rules; Steve wrote it intentionally to get people into the system, so it's very strict, whereas VA and TA are the usual hero "wide open spaces" sort of design. Insofar as running for 10 & 12 year olds? Don't dumb it down for them, by any stretch. My parents never spoon fed me anything, and I'm very grateful for it. You may want combat to be gentle so they don't get greased while they learn tactical maneuvering and such, but don't "hold back" from a great story. If they can watch & understand LotR, they can enjoy a good RPG. :thumbup:

[AmadanNaBriona]

A similar question was posed earlier; GA will be along and he'll post his reviews, but generally, IIRC, Valdorian Age is low fantasy (Sword & Sorcery), Turakian Age is the d20 simulator (generic High Fantasy) and Tuala Morn is Celtic Fantasy. If you want to retain a WoW feel, Turakian Age. If you want to break out a bit, Tuala Morn.

Of the three, TM has the most "pre built" mechanics and rules; Steve wrote it intentionally to get people into the system, so it's very strict, whereas VA and TA are the usual hero "wide open spaces" sort of design. Insofar as running for 10 & 12 year olds? Don't dumb it down for them, by any stretch. My parents never spoon fed me anything, and I'm very grateful for it. You may want combat to be gentle so they don't get greased while they learn tactical maneuvering and such, but don't "hold back" from a great story. If they can watch & understand LotR, they can enjoy a good RPG. :thumbup:

I might not even rule out VA, honestly. I first read the Lanhkmar books around that age, as well as a lot of other classic S&S (I derived a lot of my reading list from the Bibliography in the original DMG). Kinda depends on the kids. The genre doesn't HAVE to be super adult themed, and I agree with Thia that in general you won't want to dumb things down.

Of course, for my part I'd be inclined to Tuala Morn. Go figure :p
Which would have the added bonus of introducing them to a body of myth with some very strong female rolemodels and archtypes, something occasionally lacking in real world myths tho well represented in fantasy fiction

[Tonio]

Oh, I'm not asking which is better as a supplement, or what they're about. I did read ghost-angel's excellent reviews on all three books. I was just wondering whether, for example, TM was too rules-heavy for newcomers to gaming who are also kids, or whether TA was too loose (too many options) and would have 'em drowning in options. I was leaning towards TA, in part because of the WoW factor, also because I'm more familiar with High Fantasy (I like Low Fantasy and Swords & Sorcery better, tho), but wanted to see what you guys thought.

As to not dumbing down... my thoughts precisely. I've always been of the opinion that kids aren't "dumb adults", they've merely accumulated less knowledge and experience (and not even that in some cases!).

Thanks for the response, m'Lord Captain!

Edit: posted while AmadanNaBriona was posting...

Yah, I remember reading Lanhkmar and loving it... tho I think I was a bit older. I dunno, I tend to overprotect, hehe. I'll consider it, tho. Good call on the Celtic mythos with strong female influences... IIRC, my older daughter enjoys playing a Druid on World of Warcraft; might be fun to show her a different sort of druid. ;-)

Thanks!

[Thia Halmades]

Oh, I'm not asking which is better as a supplement, or what they're about. I did read ghost-angel's excellent reviews on all three books. I was just wondering whether, for example, TM was too rules-heavy for newcomers to gaming who are also kids, or whether TA was too loose (too many options) and would have 'em drowning in options. I was leaning towards TA, in part because of the WoW factor, also because I'm more familiar with High Fantasy (I like Low Fantasy and Swords & Sorcery better, tho), but wanted to see what you guys thought.

As to not dumbing down... my thoughts precisely. I've always been of the opinion that kids aren't "dumb adults", they've merely accumulated less knowledge and experience (and not even that in some cases!).

Thanks for the response, m'Lord Captain!

Just remember to include the pwnies, and I'll be happy.

[Basil]

IMO, Tuala Morn is around about as gritty as Valdorian Age (at least in the "historical" background). Not as much, but getting up there.

So, given your hesitation with Valdorian Age, I'd say got for Turakian Age.

[TheQuestionMan]

Tuala Morn for 10 and 2 year old girls sounds best. Draw heavily from Celtic Myth and Cinematic Styles. Use the Fearie and mix a in a little Narnia styling.

Talking animals, villainous protagonists, and dangerous deeds.

Work out voices for each NPC.

Draw from Celtic Myth.

Horses are good. Even talking ones.

Create a Narnia Style with your girls going to visit you and discovering a Secret Closet or Garden of their very own.

Rules light.

Check out what they love reading and watching and extrapolate plots from there.

What If?/Elseworlds?

QM

[AmadanNaBriona]

Tuala Morn for 10 and 2 year old girls sounds best. Draw heavily from Celtic Myth and Cinematic Styles. Use the Fearie and mix a in a little Narnia styling.

Talking animals, villainous protagonists, and dangerous deeds.

Work out voices for each NPC.

Draw from Celtic Myth.

Horses are good. Even talking ones.

Create a Narnia Style with your girls going to visit you and discovering a Secret Closet or Garden of their very own.

Rules light.

Check out what they love reading and watching and extrapolate plots from there.

What If?/Elseworlds?

QM
Kenneth C. Flint has made a carrier of Elsewords Celtic myth, and while I'm not too fond of a lot of his stuff, they're quick reads and can be mined for some very good ideas. Raymond Feist's Faerie Tale is another good source for similar ideas, if one were to go thatway, and is an excellent read.

[ghost-angel]

Depends on the temperament of the girls.

VA can easily become the fast action, swords vs sorcery type game. If you don't give the Players any mages it can easily become both accessible and morally black/white (sorcery is obviously evil).

TA is the classic fantasy they may be most familiar with, it'd be the easier to recreate LotR with for instance. Flashy magic, lots of evil and easily identifiable monsters.

TM can be tricky, but if approached from the angle of Faerie Myth is doable for those not completely buying into it. If I were trying to create something similar to the movie Labrynth (with or without Bowie) this is the setting I'd start with.

And then again... if you've picked up the Asian Bestiaries you can turn any of the three on their heads and introduce some truly odd (by Western standards) creatures.

[Tonio]

If I were trying to create something similar to the movie Labrynth (with or without Bowie) this is the setting I'd start with.

Without Bowie?! HERETIC! BLASPHEMER!

Who's gonna tell 'em they remind him of the babe (what babe?), then?! :snicker:

[Thia Halmades]

Without Bowie?! HERETIC! BLASPHEMER!

Who's gonna tell 'em they remind him of the babe (what babe?), then?! :snicker:

The babe with the power (What power?!) The power of VOODOO! (Who do?!) You do! (Do what?!) 'mind me of the babe!

[Tonio]

YES! (Damn, must spread rep around! :weep:)

[Thia Halmades]

S'alright. You & E84 are both on the list of cats who owe me rep. ;)

[ghost-angel]

What kind of magic spell to use?

[Thia Halmades]

What kind of magic spell to use?

Slime or snails? Puppy dogs tails? Thunder or lightning?

Then baby said...

DANCE! Magic Dance magic... JUMP magic JUMP magic, put that magic spell on me, slap that baby, make him FREEEEEEEEE!

(no, do not actually slap the baby)

[ghost-angel]

One of the few true Fantasy movies IMO.

[Enforcer84]

S'alright. You & E84 are both on the list of cats who owe me rep. ;)
Not any more...! DAMMIT!
*slinks off to try to build the rep surplus needed*

[Thia Halmades]

One of the few true Fantasy movies IMO.

It is pretty spectacular, if nothing else for all of the things that it brought forward to the collective consciousness. Including Bowie's business, which was impossible to miss in any full length body scene in that film. :idjit:

[Susano]

And then again... if you've picked up the Asian Bestiaries you can turn any of the three on their heads and introduce some truly odd (by Western standards) creatures.

**Susano slips GA a $20.00**

Ahem... nothing to see here.

[ghost-angel]

excellent...