Comments on: Ask TGN: Games for younger players

By: Runs with Scissors

Runs with Scissors — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:41:46 +0000

Or rather more lightheartedly, how about WRG 1925-1950? Think of all the fun they’ll have cross-referencing wind/range/muzzle velocity/armour tables. I presume they know how to use a slide rule?

By: Runs with Scissors

Runs with Scissors — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:39:07 +0000

Song of Blades and Heroes from Ganesha Games would be ideal, plus the download is incredibly inexpensive. The rules come with stats for all the basic fantasy races, but there’s a simple system for creating your own troop types, so you can have the lego men fighting plastic dinosaurs within 1/2 an hour. The basic mechanics are wonderfully simple. Figures have 2 stats in their profile - Quality and Combat, plus they can have special rules to make things interesting. Most of the special rules are esentially exceptions to the basic mechanics, so they’re very easy to learn and remember (and you only need to know the ones that affect your figures).

By: Marauder

Marauder — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:59:07 +0000

If others are going to suggest prepaint then I’ll jump on the band waggon too! Star wars miniatures! A very easy game to learn, but difficult to master. It uses preprinted maps, so you can get a gaming going very quickly and just about anywhere.

By: Warlady

Warlady — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:54:12 +0000

I will throw my vote in for Heroscape and/or the Marvel Heroscape as well. Lots of booster pack figures to choose from, and very kid friendly. There is certainly an infinite variety of terrain arrangements, and the interlocking pieces keep everything stable while playing. There are stat cards for each figure/unit with point values and special abilities, so there might be some appeal to your son there.

We’re about to try Song of Blades and Heroes ourselves, so while I have no playing experience with it, the rules do seem easy enough for younger kids, while still offering a challenge. And you can play it with minis you already have, which is a big plus.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:46:35 +0000

I will second BattleMaster (thats what got me into gaming when I was 12), and Heroscape (never played it but it seems made for this age group.

One I haven’t seen mentioned, but have had great success with personally is Hundred Kingdoms:

http://100k.blackorc.com/index.php

The rules are free online, quite simple, introduce players to both skirmish or formation battles, and have a lot of room to grow tactically. I started my 7 year old on this when he was 5 and he picked it up in a few minutes. On top of that, it has really inexpensive, nice minis and army selections a kid can really enjoy. My 7 year old loves his dinosaur men (he is the biggest dino nut I have ever seem), while my 4 year old thinks the monkey men are awesome too. With the Warbands rules you can have a fun game with just 5 miniatures. We started out that way, and now our Outkast force has grown to hundreds of minis.

The rules also all use one type of dice and one rolling convention which teaches simple math and never confuses children with exceptions. Since all of the rules are free, including army lists, you might check them out at least and play a game with proxies. Our first game was played with plastic dinosaur and king kong toys!

Good luck!

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:45:16 +0000

I’d suggest something board game orientated too, with Heroquest and Space Crusade being personal favourites (if you can get them).

Do they have any preference between fantasy and Sci-Fi?

By: a_thousand_hats

a_thousand_hats — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:54:01 +0000

I’ll throw in another vote for Space Hulk, Battle Masters, Heroquest (if you already have it), Dark World (if you can find it) and Blood Bowl (3rd ed).

Like many have said 40k is actually really simple to teach and it doesn’t require loads of minis - play only 400pt (40k in 40mins/combat patrol) or 500pts - these are still good games.

My boys are a bit young yet but when I mentioned selling off a load of my minis they went up in arms about it saying that I could pass them on to them!

So it looks like I have at least two opponents in years to come.

:-)

By: gavroche

gavroche — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:28:29 +0000

I would avoid the Warhammers or similar games, as they really are rather complicated, require a lot of bookkeeping & need quite a bit of figures. Games like Battlemasters, Space Hulk, Heroscape or any skirmish game which is not too rules heavy would be much more suitable. Perhaps you could also have a look at this site: http://www.freewargamesrules.co.uk/ Lots of neat little games in different genres, and all for free.

By: Zac

Zac — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:33:55 +0000

I wouldn’t suggest it for younger gamers as it does require a bit more tactical finesse than Blood Bowl.

By: Muteki

Muteki — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:11:58 +0000

Out of interest; how easy is the new Elfbowl game?

By: Probert

Probert — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:43:53 +0000

Blood Bowl is perfect.

I would also recommend Legends of the Old West by Warhammer historical. Small groups of cowboys shooting it out in the old west.

By: Stu

Stu — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:53:29 +0000

I’d second Cosmotiger’s suggestion too. Song of Blades and Heroes is an excellent fast system for Fantasy gaming that requires ~10 figures a side. Despite being a free-form figures war game, during play it feels like a board game. It’ll probably be the first war game I introduce my son to in a couple of years if he’s interested.

Another suggestion is search the web! There’s plenty of free war games out there. Unbridled Fury’s offerings spring to mind.

By: Muteki

Muteki — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:50:11 +0000

RichB:

I have both back at home in the UK! I might have to grab those when I go back.. in fact I think I think I have all the “first ed” kinda stuff - Space Crusade, Heroquest, Space Hulk, Talisman, etc. I hope they’re still in shape to play though..

By: Muteki

Muteki — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:47:00 +0000

Hey guys (this is Gaz), I’ve got the 40k Macragge boxset actually (I live in Japan and my kids speak Japanese) so I picked up the J version for this years. I’ve got a 4×4 table so a 500 point skirmish would be ideal. I started to show the younger of the 2 the various armies and he liked the look of the Space Wolves :D

I’m really interested in some of the other games people suggested and will definately be picking up Monsterpocalypse (since I love PP!)

Quick question; having near played Heroscape - does it use cards too? The 9 year old absolutely loves Yugioh and a few other CCGs, if cards were integrated that would probably be an added bonus.

By: Phillip

Phillip — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:25:50 +0000

Get the Battle for Macragge box set and the expansion booklet ‘The Battle rages On’.

Superbly written, well playtested and a box full of minis. The scenarios slowly build up the game and are fun to play.