Keep Calm - BECMI D&D

So the Kobolds came from somewhere, and the mayor of Honeywood wants to know where. Our intrepid PCs strike out to explore the Keep on the Northern Sea!

[@lonnytucker1345]

I have an 8yr old and we play a mash up of B/X and BECMI. Like you played a bit in the 80s Then took a 35 year break. My son also help to rekindle the spark and got me back playing, My wife humors us and is drug into our games from time to time . We both really enjoy seeing the excitement and suspense on my sons face as he squirms in his seat as the game unfolds trying to strategize his next move. Brings me back to all those years ago when I was also on the edge of my seat hanging on every word the DM said. These are great video’s thanks for taking the times to make and share them. I am honored to meet another dad who has taken the time to properly pass the torch so the next generation can also despise and loath Bargel for years to come. We can now die happy men😊

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! Aleena shall be avenged!

[@ForeverYoungKickboxer]

This is am awesome comment to read!

[@Lightmane]

Love everything you said here

[@AdventuresWithDice]

These recaps are awesome! I love that you are passing your love for the game along to your boys. I run a weekly game at my house for kids. We have used Basic Fantasy RPG and currently play White Box. I love the old school feel and they love the simplicity of the game.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

That's great! We're looking at starting a game at the church, using BECMI (with some home brewing), for kids and parents to play together. And thanks!

[@Lightmane]

That was quite a fun little adventure. Love your approach to the game. A perfect way for kids to enjoy playing.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thank you! They enjoyed it, as did I. The re-learning curve for me has been huge!

[@shaunhall960]

I have a soft spot for playing a Dwarven Cleric or Paladin. Kobold day care... LOL!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Our party sorely needs a cleric!

[@Fnordathoth]

Another fun one, again a very funny intro. Also, nice job on gently getting them to more thoroughly engage their critical thinking skills by having that kobold retrieve that key in their presence.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thank you! Yeah, this was early days and they weren't as used to connecting things and being thorough in their sweep of the dungeon. The magic sword grabbed their attention - shiny!

[@rcgunner7086]

Torchberry- the saga begins.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I love that he was an NPC that wasn't even planned, that I just threw in at the table in reaction to things they were doing.

[@misterschifano]

Been running your adventure as-is for my high school group. Their strategy was completely different. They have a dwarf, so they can speak kobold; they negotiated with the kobolds on the highway, then stormed this ruin looking for the cruel gnoll. They used sleep to put most of the kobolds out, singled out the gnoll, and promptly butchered him. They could have simply murdered the remaining kobolds but chose instead to set them free with their belongings, taking only the sword for themselves. Some of the kobolds will no doubt run away to tell their gnoll masters, but a few were grateful to these kind and powerful strangers. They warned the party about the "worm thing" in the east room, but said nothing about the halfling; so the party took up positions in the tower and sent word back to town to wait for a garrison.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

That. Is. AWESOME!

[@Mercury-Wells]

Impressive.

[@christophersims7060]

Hahaha, Kobolds took over!

[@mykediemart]

I enjoy your recaps.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! I enjoy making them.

[@Mercury-Wells]

Don't over sell it, Mike. 😄

[@williamobraidislee3433]

Still loving this but we gotta get you a mic to dampen some of the echo!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

It's probably more to do with the location, a mostly empty basement. Maybe I can hang some blankets about to absorb some sound!

[@williamobraidislee3433]

@@TheDungeonMinister Yeah that ought to do it. I really like your style of, err, “writing.” There’s probably a term for it. Where you build your background after the fact. It’s so cool because even though you’re writing the story it’s almost like you get to discover actual events as you go. Like you’re exploring a lost world and piecing together events as you investigate.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

That captures it nicely. I write myself into a corner only to find that it's a balcony that looks back out onto a previous part of the story. Umberto Eco talks about a similar phenomenon, reading his own books and discovering things he didn't mean to include. Or Stoppard's remark that he feels like a smuggler's dupe, standing before the customs official as he pulls from his play themes about life and death, morality and meaning, etc. "I have to admit the stuff is there but I can’t for the life of me remember packing it."

[@williamobraidislee3433]

@@TheDungeonMinister Regarding morality building itself into these sorts of things, your lads are lucky to have - as you said - "A cleric as their dungeon master." Like your take on the kobolds in the last video; they're cowardly and do brutal things to travelers. They're angry because they are forced to do things by a larger force (the gnolls). Are they "evil?" Or are they just "enemies?" Or does it even matter from a practical standpoint when if you spare them they may just cause more harm? I feel like D&D is good for these kinds of questions for young people if they have the right DM. I've just been back through Mentzer's Basic set twice and had forgotten how much emphasis he put on "talking to monsters." If the right reaction is rolled they can even be "friendly" and cough up info without a fight. That sort of thing. Man long ramble sorry lol.

[@Mercury-Wells]

@@TheDungeonMinister Huzzah for Umberto! ❤🥳😃

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

Is there a spider crawling on the wall behind you? I wanted to say I am really enjoying your campaign so far. I am a sucker for BECMI.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Might be! I record in a basement where spiders are the dominant life form. I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'm a BECMI loyalist, dyed in the wool. I've sampled other games but never found one I liked better.

[@manowode6286]

😄

[@Lightmane]

0:25 so... about what I said about Kobolds... 😛

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Yeah, they read that. I really need to get someone else to run the sound board and handle social media...

[@Lightmane]

@@TheDungeonMinister well tell them to keep reading... you'll see... eventually : )

[@kindermord]

What do you think are the challenges of running a game for children?

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Wow. Lots! Though also some advantages, like ready imagination and willingness to play pretend. My youngest occasionally checks out, when things get either too scary or too talky. Middle guy gets frustrated when he's on a streak of bad rolls. And sibling rivalry is more a factor than age. Overall, though, knowing them as well as I do, it's mostly to the positive.