Specialist Games and Kids

[Grailkeeper]

Hi Bols (very) long time no see.

I plan on running a specialist games (RIP) campaign for my Cousin and his friends. Age wise they;re about 11-13. I was wondering which specialist game you think would work best with players of that age? I'm thinking Mordheim but am open to suggestions.

Sorry for being away for so long, life got in the way.

[Wolfshade]

One of my absolute faves is Blood Bowl, but obviously there is issues that that is only ever 1v1.

I like Mordheim I think the small scale and development of characters is very good. Either that or the 41st K equivalenet Necromunda.

[pgarfunkle]

My friends and I play Space Hulk and Dreadfleet with up to four players either on teams or individually, you have to tweak the rules a bit but still great fun.

[scadugenga]

In order of preference I'd go

Blood bowl
Mordheim
Battlefleet Gothic

Easy to learn and fun to play.

[YorkNecromancer]

Blood Bowl, run as a campaign, but ignoring the Spiralling Costs (so they have the gold to buy everything they like the look of) and wear and tear rules (so they can build up characters they love and keep them).

[Daemonette666]

Infinity is a decent game with many races that you can build your small forces for. Campaign - seize and hold territory, forge alliances, etc.

Blood Bowl is fairly decent, and has a new box set released by GW and there are lots of 3rd party miniatures out there for it. The campaign for that is easy, each player has a team in the bloodbowl cup, of another league where they are trying to win the cup for that year.

I know you may not think it suitable, but it builds up a child's mathematics skills working out the to it number needed to hit and with Classic Battletech only need between say 1 and 4 miniatures each. With a generous history line, and background that has not really changed (been ret-conned at all), you can re-enact engagements, famous battles, perhaps form a mercenary force and hire them out on missions, repair their mechs, and get battlefield salvage. IFor 7 years I was part of a group that had a mercenary company that lasted 3 generations of characters and our mercenary company grew and shrank as we almost got blown to bits and rebuilt. It has a roleplaying element that they can get into once they progress to the age where they will enjoy that, and that can be incorporated into the campaign.

Mordenheim is not so bad either, though GW has not supported it for a long time. I can see the attraction to that, and you might even be able to add some role playing elements to it.

I think bolt action is another good game they will enjoy. you can get both plastic and metal minis for it, and it is squad based, and you can run a campaign over WWII Europe with a good range of armies and time periods early, mid and late wars.

Also Saga is another special small sized game that I have seen played that looks very easy and fun to do. It could be run as a campaign over an ancient map of western Europe fighting for territories, raiding for supplies, etc.

Now based on the area where the thread is posted you probably mean a GW specialist game, however do not over look the other NON-GW specialist gaming systems, especially those where you could incorporate characters, that they could develop in a role playing element.

[Grailkeeper]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking mordheim as they'd have the models already but might look into BB.

HAve you tried Bolt Action? Is it fun? I like the RPG element of the specialist games (your gang evolving as you play) is that present in BA?