Warhammer F B rules for kids learning?

[Biggley]

Dear all, my two nephews have got to that age where I want to teach them WHFB, how should I approach this? I don't want to muller them with the full on rules which would be terrible, they are 10 and 12 after all, what I want to do is 'WH FB lite' as it were. I am tempted to knock up some house rules that are very light, but before I do that I was wondering if any of you have done this previously so I could pick up some ideas. Anyway any help would be appreciated - or perhaps we could knock up some rules here?

Cheers

B

[theunwantedbeing]

1. Set up the game for them so it is there when they arrive
2. Let them pick which side they want to be
3. Walk them through the entire game letting them make their own decisions and telling them what they can and cannot do when they get stumped

They are children not idiots, so long as they are interested they will pick up the rules.

[Mirbeau]

1. Set up the game for them so it is there when they arrive
2. Let them pick which side they want to be
3. Walk them through the entire game letting them make their own decisions and telling them what they can and cannot do when they get stumped

They are children, so long as they are interested they will pick up the rules.

Agreed - kids can suprise you with how much they take in. My first game was like that, I was much younger than your lads and I loved it.

If you're still concerned, maybe take them to a gw for an intro game against staff, who can teach them the rules/drum up enthusiasm?

You could get them a wee box (think they still do circa £5-6 snapfit stuff?) to take home after, that should hook 'em!

[jack da greenskin]

I'm probably going to take a lot of flak for this, but you could try teaching them Kings of war? LINK

Easy, quick rules, simple to understand, no confusing tables and you can use your fantasy armies? From what I've read, people running demo games normally dont have to explain rules to the beginner after turn 2, its that easy

[blackcherry]

Run an intro game for them and as long as they are interested in some way you will be surprised how quickly they pick it up. I was reading both the main systems rulebooks at that age and remembering most of the rules when I came to play.

[6mmhero]

If there is a store near you take them in for an intro game and build on that.
Otherwise like others have said set up a table with two armies and let them pick. give them both a level one mage with a magic missile (Magic is a very fun part of the game). I wouldn't point both armies for the first game or two but go for roughly a force that has a bit of every phase to really give them the flavour (at the end of the day after a few games you can start to introduce the more complex elements and army lists). O and make sure they know about challenges and such as it is little things like this that can really make a game fun and you can build a narrative with them for their next game based around the noble champion who took on an orc boss one on one etc.

That was how I used to run intro's when I worked for GW, keep it simple and exciting and they will want to learn more and you can then introduce more and more. :-)

[6mmhero]

If there is a store near you take them in for an intro game and build on that.
Otherwise like others have said set up a table with two armies and let them pick. give them both a level one mage with a magic missile (Magic is a very fun part of the game). I wouldn't point both armies for the first game or two but go for roughly a force that has a bit of every phase to really give them the flavour (at the end of the day after a few games you can start to introduce the more complex elements and army lists). O and make sure they know about challenges and such as it is little things like this that can really make a game fun and you can build a narrative with them for their next game based around the noble champion who took on an orc boss one on one etc.

That was how I used to run intro's when I worked for GW, keep it simple and exciting and they will want to learn more and you can then introduce more and more. :-)

[Biggley]

Guys thanks for the advice, I will take a gander and the 'other system' *dont burn me!* and also knock up a simple rule set for the wee kids to get their teeth into, a simple rule set cutting out all the other junk to make it quick you never know i might even post it here! Any other advice would be great - also i will take some of the advice from 6mmhero

[Whitwort Stormbringer]

One idea that I've used when introducing 2 younger people to a game at the same time, so as not to discourage them, is to set up two forces and have them team up against me. Particularly with two kids, it's easy for the winner to get overly boastful and the loser to feel discouraged. By playing the opposition, you have a lot of control over how the game goes and you can let them win without it being obvious that you're throwing the game. Once they've had a good time beating up on uncle Biggley for a game or two and have a feel for the rules, you can let them at each others' throats.

As far as simplicity, I'd agree that kids (especially at the age range you're talking) pick up on more than you'd think. I started Warhammer at age 12 and we pretty much played straight out of the book. For the intro game you could ignore particularly complicated or situational rules, and avoid throwing the whole book at them all at once, but I'd say just go for it and teach them things as they come up. Probably give a quick rundown of what each unit is capable of or good at to begin with, and then let them work it out.

[Bodysnatcher]

I started 40K 2nd ed and bloodbowl at 10.
Kids need to be pushed to try things that are a bit harder sometimes.

[iamfanboy]

Heh, we in the professional child-rearing business call it 'scaffolding'; children are quite capable of reaching a higher level of play with an adult helper. In turn, they are likely to turn around and help even younger children up.

that being said, I'd go with the suggestion of them playing two smaller forces against your big one.

Also, I'd make the central focus of the game their heroes; not making him into a huge points thing, but explaining each unit in terms of 'how it relates to THEIR character' sort of thing. "This is Count Kickass's personal retinue of knights; they work to protect him on the field. This is Count Kickass's regiment of handgunners...." that sort of thing.

[Iron Puritan]

Scenarios designed to emphasize a particular game mechanic can help people learn how to play a game. That's pretty much how how Battlefront explains learning the basics of Flames of War by using some tanks to run through the rules. Adding some narrative can make even a basic small scenario a lot of fun.

[Shadey]

I haven't picked up a box in ages but I seem to remember them coming with a quick start rules which simplified the rules to a few pages.

[Tarliyn]

I would have them play against you. Let them pick all the models they wanna play with and then you choose another force of kinda cool looking models that would make for a roughly even game (erroring on you being weaker). Then use simplified rules. For example a fire wizard model only has fireball spell. Any ogre he picks is just a basic bull. If he chooses something like a butcher you pick the easy to understand spells, like +1 str or +tough. All models have basic profiles and simple rules like fly. Baaically don't bog this first game down. Get them rolling dice and get them seeing the models they like on the table. Gradually introduce more complex rules as thy grasp the old and eventually introduce army books.

That is how I would do it atleast:


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[Sleazy]

I haven't picked up a box in ages but I seem to remember them coming with a quick start rules which simplified the rules to a few pages.

I think he's right y'know. Always used to at least?

[Rogue]

Honestly your 12 year old nephew is old enough to handle WFB by itself. I believe that he is just getting into the target demographic for GW. The 10 year old may be a tad young, you may want to start either something easier like chess or a board game first to see if he is mature enough to play a game like WFB. If he is having trouble setting up a game plan with say Stratego or Risk, I would imagine that WFB would be a bigger challenge. Other than that, I would recommend a doubles game with you and one nephew and someone else and another newphew. Finding the right friend for this will not be easy, you will need someone who will have the patience to teach, set a good example, likes kids, etc.

[Bob Hunk]

I agree, there's no need to dumb it down - if they're interested they'll learn it quickly. I learnt 1st edition 40K when I was about 11.