Thoughts: RPG, kids, friendship group
Aug. 14th, 2008 08:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnGary is off at convention, so we've missed a week of questing. Typically, we've figured out a few ideas to make the game better, starting with the overly complicated Character Generator. We're in the process of knocking out an Quick Guide which we'll present to Gary while holding out our hands for our new miniatures.
We invited another couple to join us, thinking the more the merrier. These are foster parents of three active young boys and we figured they could use a night of adult interaction. Almost immediately, they began demanding all sorts of conditions: gaming had to be held at their home, change the night, etc. At this point, we quietly back away slowly and got out of dodge.
Gaming with a housefull of children is not gaming. We can't wage war on monsters while watching our language, yelling over Guitar Hero and hoping that their attention can be pulled away from their child long enough to roll. Having seen how these two run their household and the constant disruptions they consider normal from the kids, we couldn't compromise.
Every so often I start to think I'm really way too strict. Then, after a Chris and Sherry consultation, I realize that our friendship group is fairly disciplined. Kids have figured out when its appropriate to ask questions, that interruption is not permitted and that when you whine the answer is always no. Backing each other has provided a very strong united front and the kids have adapted gracefully. They are learning the subtleties of body language, conversation lulls, respect and compromise. Not too shabby for gaming geeklings.
We invited another couple to join us, thinking the more the merrier. These are foster parents of three active young boys and we figured they could use a night of adult interaction. Almost immediately, they began demanding all sorts of conditions: gaming had to be held at their home, change the night, etc. At this point, we quietly back away slowly and got out of dodge.
Gaming with a housefull of children is not gaming. We can't wage war on monsters while watching our language, yelling over Guitar Hero and hoping that their attention can be pulled away from their child long enough to roll. Having seen how these two run their household and the constant disruptions they consider normal from the kids, we couldn't compromise.
Every so often I start to think I'm really way too strict. Then, after a Chris and Sherry consultation, I realize that our friendship group is fairly disciplined. Kids have figured out when its appropriate to ask questions, that interruption is not permitted and that when you whine the answer is always no. Backing each other has provided a very strong united front and the kids have adapted gracefully. They are learning the subtleties of body language, conversation lulls, respect and compromise. Not too shabby for gaming geeklings.
