Keith--

I'd start them with whatever you are most comfortable running:  D&D's pretty easy to simply as folks have mentioned, and Ed Greenwood even wrote an article in Dragon #49 entitled "Players Don't Need To Know All the Rules" (which is quite true:  it's worth a read!).  

If you're looking for a good starter module that's still semi-forgiving, I'd start with B1 or L1, or T1 (if you tone down the giant frogs in the moat, as well as the final encounter with Lareth).  Or, perhaps N5 (moreso if they're likely to do more role-playing and want to be grounded in a setting/home area) or U1 (ditto).

I've started running Ethan (6) and Henry (2 1/2---he just rolls the dice ) in my own version of Castle Greyhawk, and they've been loving it (although we haven't played in the past month due to scheduling conflicts); see recaps @ http://knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb3/view ... =40&t=7247

(And for the record, Ethan played Dungeon quite a bit before he started in on D&D).

If yoiu can get your hands on any of the Black Box sets, that would be a great starter. Or alternatively, any of the Challenger series modules.

They all come with large color maps for miniature play and all the cardboard cutout miniatues needed to play that module.

I think this would give your novice players a much better feel for the game because they can actually visualize what is going on. Also, those particular modules are perfect for new players. They are relatively easy, but still have good back stories and solid atmosphere.

personally though bill, with even everything at your fingertips to give to new players, its still always what the DM does with them, that puts the ideas there for the players to imagine and "see" what they are meant to see.

i had a young lad once, who played a fighter. he couldnt get his head around the rest, so i gave him something simple (conan). playing along, everyone else was getting well into it, and he sat there quiet. i asked him what was up and the same "i still dont get it". so... what i did was direct more stuff around him so that it gave the rest of the group more time to talk about what was going on. he was listening to me more intently then as he was on the spot and then he was taking in what the rest were saying and what they were doing and finally, during the 2nd session (yes amazingly he came back) he got in and voila...a new player was born.

i had to go outside all of the material i had to hand and kind of coach him one-to-one, which was quite hard because i didnt want to lose the rest either, who were buzzing along at a fearsome pace.

thats why i suggested a kinda B1, B2 or U1, as they require minimal effort to run and you can use your own imagination to fire the players around in whatever situations you want.

in a different way, thats kinda how it was the first time i DMd at GenCon with mike and the guys. here was a group of VERY experienced players, who i felt would outstrip my DMing abilities, as mike is one awesome DM - i've seen some stuff he's developed and uses and man i couldnt even come close in a million years. so what i did, was plan to the extreme minimum, and DM everything on the fly, so i could react to whatever each of them did.

mike is nervous and tends to not go near dark recesses as this is always the DMs fallback "want something to happen" moment, martin is a little quieter and tends to take the laid-back "let it all unfold" approach, while John Lile is the more of a "f*ck this lets go and stab him in the eye" type and always a joy to DM. so i had to use a different approach for each of them, so i could let things unfold as a group properly, because i didnt want them to be bored. thats how the famous encounter came about funnily enough - it just happened. i thought about it about 20 seconds before it happened and i expanded out the combat so that every movement counted, rather than a round by round thing. this then gave everything plenty to do by what was happening and then i was able to put a kind of comedy turn on things so that it kept all involved and created a real hoot for everyone.

in a way thats a perfect example of how i DM a totally new player. doesnt really matter what materials you have to hand, its how you apply it as a DM is what people see and believe (well thats what i think anyway).

thats why i originally suggested a little made-up on the fly dungeon, with just a group of rolled to go monsters and just fill in the gaps as you go along - kind of like that cardmaster game i guess (which is actually great fun for new players too and very easy to play).

i think this is actually a really good subject to discuss.

the dungeon game is always a classic one to go at - you can even DM that in a way that its more than a board game. sass loves that and we have lots of fun - she beats me every time (that gets kind of annoying as i am even trying to win!)

best

Al

as i said keith, keep things real simple and allow each of them to take the lead at different times, dependant on the class they play, then they will all have something to discuss/brag about afterwards.

and of course, each thing that happens, spend time on it so its more involved for them - its more fun like that and will give them more of a feeling they are achieving a lot more than they actually are, but they dont need to know that

doing it on the fly easily allows that, as you can just make stuff up to fit things depending on what they do.

years later, jessica STILL brags about the shot she made to kill the orc leader, who was just about to kill the prisoner they were trying to rescue...that shot (which went into great detail), saved the day. thats how you get em to come back again and again as they get better, get a little bolder with what you give them to deal with rules-wise etc. you sound like you know exactly what youre doing so dont think you will have a problem at all.

you will all have a blast mate

Al

ashmire13 wrote:Which way did you go in the end KtT?

I decided to go with 1E and Saltmarsh.
The more I considered it, the more it seemed logical to go with the game rules I know best.  
The kids have rolled up characters and bought supplies.
They loved that part.
I was going to run a sample dungeon room but we got interrupted.
The girls seem as interested as the boys, which is good news too.

And special thanks to pipswich for a great transaction on material I needed

This is going to be fun!

Keith

You cannot go wrong with the Holmes Basic Set rules.

Toss in the dungeon concept from that module and you have an excellent starter.

Miniatures might help young minds grasp the spacial concepts inherent in imagining a dungeon environment.

Everyone has been so supportive on here, I wanted to give an update on the kids I've been teaching D&D to ....

It's a good news/bad news situation.

The (very) bad news is that one of the boys broke his leg in three places, has had undergo painful rehab and, most recently, has had to battle an awful staph infection that hospitalized him.

The good news is that he is back home and recovering.
Our D&D time has been limited, as you might well imagine, but I have been giving him and his siblings small dungeon "puzzle-like" challenges using a closed Facebook group.  

As the weather gets colder, and as Sanders gets more mobile, we'll begin  gaming in earnest.  
Right now, it's difficult for all five of us to gather around his bed (which has all kinds of physical therapy gear hanging off it) in order to play.

But the idea of an RPG seems to have really piqued their interest.

Again, thanks to everyone here on Acaeum with your kind words and help.

Keith

3 of the best boardgames that are very interactive and that i was able to get my kids to play and enjoy were:

Talisman -
All around the best play for you money. Only gets better with the expansions plus you can play along with them. Sometimes hard to find (go with the latest 4th Edition)

Dungeon Quest -
No longer in print and hard to find but the tile system makes it a different setting with ever game. If, and i mean if, you can get the Heroes expansion and the Catacombs expansion they bring more depth to the game.

Hero Quest -
Closest to a non-tsr dnd type boardgame. You actually have characters that advance in level and a Quest book to start of. Has a guide for you to create your own scenario quests as well. (Kids liked to make their own!) Lots of miniatures as well. LOTS OF FUN

4th ed Talisman had a limited print run but can still be found in gaming stores.

Yes, Heroes Quest is OOP but can still be found at relatively good prices at some auction places.