DnD For the Kids

This is a post about making your own worlds with your players at the table, whilst playing a TTRPG, like Dungeons and Dragons. It is not actually about any beverages, caffeinated, alcoholic, or otherwise.  I need to preface this post with the following admission. I am not a home brew guy. I grew up in the 90's, surrounded by more D&D products than any one person could ever run and no one to play D&D with. I spent hours enjoying the " lonely fun " of steeping myself in the the lore of The Forgotten Realms, Planescape, The Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Greyhawk, Mystara, and Thunder Rift. I poured over sourcebooks, read adventure modules, and experienced the adventures of Drizzt, Caderly, Minsc, The Nameless One, and many more through novels and video games. When my day finally came to begin running D&D adventures for my friends, my children, and anyone who would let me, I was prepared with decades of lore in my back pocket. Nothing comes up that I don't have an an

So, I finally did it! I had the opportunity and support to start a D&D club at my Middle School building. Now this isn't a big after-school program or anything. This happens during the school day in our "clubs period" every other Tuesday. Joined by my friend and colleague, Jared Reck  (read his books!), I ventured to come up with a club that would introduce our students to this awesome hobby.  The Setup The advertisement we put in our middle school clubs catalog looked like this:  D&D is exceptionally inclusive. All you need to join is an imagination . Playing is like creating infinite stories that you and your friends write—and rewrite and re-rewrite—together. You’re all active participants in writing a unique adventure through different, fantastical worlds and scenarios. There is no winner. Instead, the goal is to deepen your understanding of your character by interacting with other players and their shared environment. Participation in tabletop cooperative role