Here are some Updates about the evolution of the project if you are linking here directly:
I made some girl specific character sheets as well.
You can find them here:
http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-2-girls-part-1.html (for Paladin, Monk and Bard)
And here:
http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-girls-part-2.html (for Warlord, Rogue and Necromancer)
You can find a free high rez complied PDF of the Boy character sheets here:
http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-1-pdf.html
An Errata for creatures summoned by some powers can be found here:
http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-errata-summons.html
And finally... if you want to commission your own character sheet in this style... check out this link:
http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-commission-funtime.html
Posts
58 comments:
Awesome.
Gorgeous sheets.
Did they have any previous experience with RPGs of some kind?
CSC,
My son, the birthday boy in question, had played 2 games of Gammaworld and avidly watches our regular "adult" DND game. The other 3 boys have never played any RPGs but picked up the idea of a combat miniture game that also tells a story really quickly. I helped them with some math but ultimately they all had a great time.
Is there any chance you might release these as templates for others to use? They're great sheets, and I know my regular (grown-up) group would love to use them.
3 Quick Things!
1: The Barbarian up top doesn't link to a larger version. Possible to get a fix?
2: I'd love to see a few female pregens, in case someone wanted to use these with a group of boys and girls together. If you have time and feel like cranking out a few characters, that is.
3: Especially if you do a few female characters, you could package the whole lot of them in to a print resolution PDF for people to use.
4: Awesome, once again.
While I love the art, as a RPG tinkerer and designer I love how you simplified the game info. Many times I wish 4th edition was this simple. Did you also simplify the monsters for yourself as the DM?
Shawn,
1.I think I've fixed it.
2. That is a fantastic idea. I think I may work up either new class sheet for girls or tweeks of the current sheets. Either way that should definitely happen!
3. I've packaged the first bunch in a high rez PDF for download here: http://jamesstowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/dnd-for-dads-1-pdf.html As I do more of them I will offer more PDFs.
4. Thank you again.
W. Smith,
I did simplify the monsters too, yeah. I really wanted things to run fast and be fun for 7 to 8-year-old attention spans. Reducing distances to 'CLOSE' and 'FAR' and standardizing damage as a non-rolled constant really helped do that. But I did use elites, standards and minions. Just cause they are kids doesn't mean they don't want to be challenged. I lowered monster defenses though (save one on each) because I wanted to up the hit success ratio and less dice frustration.
Brilliant. Just... brilliant. The presentation, the simplification, and I echo all the compliments from the commenters before me.
Two thumbs up.
Pure Awesome. Pity my son is only 18 months old...
These are really great, thanks so much for sharing! I was trying to decide whether it was okay to make puppy dog eyes and ask whether you'd consider making any girls, but I see someone already asked and you sounded enthusiastic! Awesome, my daughter will be stoked if that happens.
Great work, dude.
This is the coolest. Thing. Ever.
Now do some for girls. Or a template.
Or some kind of flash tool or whatever to make these with a selection of portraits.
I would like to see this as a full on adult version. A simple and elegant dnd with straightforward options and a strong representation of character.
Were these chars around level 5?
Rach's Reflections,
I am glad you like them. I am working on a girl set of 6 that should be done by next Monday. I am also considering race/class portraits for the future now as well. The reception to this style really has been exceptional.
Zelphi,
Yeah, when I made them I started the character at level 5 so I could have a larger pool of powers to pull from in creating the core 2 At-Wills, an Encounter and a Daily. I am tempted now to write up a how I converted everything PDF. Maybe this will push me to write a DND for Dads blog or ebook or something.
These are amazeballs.
You def need girls though, really glad you're making them.
Bravo.
Very, very cool! - John
This is exactly what I've been meaning to do for my daughter. As soon as the PDFs are available, I'll be downloading them. And a PDF on how you simplified the monsters would be great as well.
Those are amazing. I have to agree with the idea of adding female character sheets. I'm totally showing these to my husband when he gets home...
You are my hero.
What kind of story/campaign did you run for them?
Just dropped by to say...
Best.
Dad.
EVER.
Awesome. While I am one of those 4ed haters, I must say that this looks like great fun. I like how you simplified the rules, condensed the characters while allowing the kids to have the character the way "they want."
It's great on the artistic and on the game design level. Great work!
Looking forward to any follow-ups! :D
Keep up the good work!
Totally awesome adaptation. I only wish I had more 7-8 year olds to introduce to the joys of RPGs.
As a lady, I am also totally stoked about you doing some sheets up for the ladies. That is amazing!
Thank you SO MUCH for making the high-res sheets available! As a woman myself, I look forward to seeing the versions featuring girl characters.
Amazing work. Thank you for sharing this.
These are BAD-ASS! Congratulations! I'm glad the game went well!
Out of curiosity (and I guess my one random nitpick), why did you remove random weapon damages? Just to simplify things & reduce the number of die rolls?
Truly great, James. I've posted this on my Xtreme Dungeon Mastery website just because we appear to be kindred spirits in the art of fun trumping rules.
Superhero. You are.
Can you post the whole adventure you did so we overtired dads can steal the whole thing?
Corby Kennard,
Thanks for the kind words... This project looks like it could expand well beyond what I initially intended. Once I finish the 1st character sheets for girls (which looks like it will be Bard, Paladin, Necromancer, Monk and possibly Fighter or Rogue and either Cleric or Warden) my new plan is some monster sheets, maybe some status handouts and even some adventures. This could turn into a full time hobby for me now :)
Jeff,
The story centered around all the boys being stuck at home while their adventurer fathers were out having fun. I let them help design the clubhouse and then warned them by messenger that several of their parent's monstrous enemies have discovered their location and were on their way. THen it turned into a "Home Alone" style protect the house from invaders session. Add a flatulent Goblin chieftain and a sneaky gnomish thief and everyone had a great time, especially me.
To everyone who is sending congrats and good vibes I really want to thank all of you. I just made these things for my son's birthday. I had no idea that the response to them would be this great. I am really humbled by it all and inspired to continue with this kind of thing. Hopefully I will be able to generate more DND for Dads (or whatever I end up really calling it) well into the future.
Tracy Hickman,
I've been looking at your website all morning. I would actually love to talk to you about how you promote and distribute a project like this. Please email me at stowe@cartoonistsleague.org if you are interested it talking or collaborating or whatever.
Absolutely love the work you've done here. I totally intend to ape some of you concepts for my own dnd group (since we're just learning, even though we're in our late twenties!)
really stellar work, and I'm glad to see you're going to be putting out more of it!
Sean,
I've known a lot of 20 somethings that have as much of an attention span as an 8-year-old. I wholly support these sheets being used to introduce anyone to DND. That is the real aim here.
Get your Grampa to play DND with the Son of Skorzo the Good Vampire character sheet! He will thank you for it!
I think these are the best things I've seen in a long while. Triple A.
A Masterpiece!
Do you have monster stats like this?
I'd like to see how you simplified those
I sure hope the Seattle types are looking at this. This is how intro D&D should look. Visually appealing, and concise, with all the needed info right in front of the player.
Do the same thing for a double handful of monsters, and maybe a couple of traps. Thought about making a skill challenge in this format? (I'm working on the assumption that the DM would be as green as the players, so the same principles as you use on the sheets would be applicable to the DM's stuff.)
Still, great concept, and well executed. Better marketing tool than any intro box (ahem red box)!
What would you suggest to someone who wants to play DnD for the first time, with no prior experience whatsoever? I'd like to play with my brother some time, but I'm unsure on where to start. There's also so many resources available on the web that it confuses me :(
Just freakin excellent
MY kids are 6 and 8 and they will be looking at these soon
Freaking excellent !
My kids a re 6 & 8 and they will be playing these soon
Great job! Get them while they are young!
Absolutely loving these. I played 1st and 2nd ed. 20-30 years ago, and I toyed with 3-3.5. Last year I introduced my daughter to basic RPGing with story, characters and abilities taken mostly from memory.
What you've done is beautiful!! I can't wait to see the girls.... I'm also very interested in how you converted monsters.
Great work!
Isn't D&D 4E already dumbed down to an 8 year old's understanding? That's what the marketing for the edition was for.
In fact, D&D Essentials is dumbed down even further because 4E wasn't enough.
These are really ,really, really awesome, and I'm glad to see the female characters being added as well.
these are great. id pay to download these kind of things and print out . not much but i would still pay ..
@symatt via twitter
id pay for sheets like this to download , print and play. not much but id still pay . brilliant stuff
@symatt via twitter
Symatt,
High Rez versions are free to download right now. But I always accept donations!
These are amazing. If I could replace all my fingers with thumbs, I would put them all up.
@Razz: That comment was bad and you should feel bad.
This is made of awesome, with a heaping topping of awesomesauce.
Bravo!
The world truly needs more people like you bringing more kids into roleplaying.
Kids already "roleplay" so to interest them into a game that has rules, encourages creative thinking and problem-solving while learning math and reading is beyond awesome.
If you were to do a book - or a world for DnD for kids - I'd buy it. I'm all for promoting DnD to a younger generation. Which is why I don't have a real complaint about 4th edition, because it appeals to new RPers in general.
I am happy to report it was a huge success, each boy had a fantastic time... and so did I. I would happily do it again.cnttech.org/
it is simply superb, tried it out.
As Seen On TV Products
I impressed with this post. I rarely found this. I came across this and interesting stuff is present here.I will bookmark your website and share with my friends. I am waiting for your next interesting post.
sex on camEscort Roma
While I love the art, as a RPG tinkerer and designer I love how you simplified the game info. Many times I wish 4th edition was this simple.
Vegas Escortslolita dukker
Post a Comment