After three weeks of delay, I managed to pull the trigger on the new and longer-running Games Club at the school wherein I work. Promo should begin next week and I’m excited!

As part of the offer, I’m going to organise and run a pretty basic and loose open table D&D game aimed at newbies and inexperienced players. This will be a small regional hex map with some cool locations and initial jobs for PCs.

As the game continues, I hope to generate an Open World where players learn to make choices and have those decisions matter. You know, like a decent game of D&D probably should run… at least, that’s the way I learned to play it.

My main decision point is this: D&D Basic (1981/1983) or D&D 5e (2014)?

With 1.5 hour session times, D&D Basic appeals because it’s quick and easy to run. Combats are quicker and simpler. It’s easy for a newbie to roll a character then play inside 10 minutes.

D&D 5e is an option largely because it’s the modern game and a recognisable brand entity. I’d have to use pregens for newbies (because it takes too long to create a character) and it’s a lot more crunchy. But character options and super-heroic cinematic fantasy appeals to teenagers.

I am leaning heavily towards showing them the old game and then pointing them towards the new if they are interested. Past experience with teen clubs has proven to me that the old D&D games are a hoot and the players will get into them easily enough… but I am letting the decision mull overnight.

The main news is this: I’m going to be back at the table in about a week and playing some games with the students.

Game on!