Appropriate for Father and Daughter Team?

[ddelruss]

Hello ALFA. My 7 year old, Artemis, has been asking for more NWN2 since we played through both games and most expansions. Does team adventuring fit into the universe very well? Just like the real world she doesn't know everything about the mechanics (who does?), so we're hoping to learn as we go. Our characters are a father, Stade, and his daughter, Artemis (she has a cool name so she uses it for NWN...), so most of the interaction comes pretty naturally.

Think we'll fit in here?

PS She's pretty funny, loves mythology, enjoyed God of War (KRATOS!), wants to watch South Park anytime her mom is away, and isn't afraid to make fun of the deserving.

[dergon darkhelm]

Hi there and Welcome to ALFA!

As a PW many players create characters that have a strong bond with one another. So I would say that "team play" is a fair notion, so long as it is incorporated into working alongside other PCs and NPCs.

I'm pretty permissive, and as a very recently married 43 years old with NO parenting experience I can say that I don't think that ALFA is the right place for a 7 year. In game it is PG-13 (for strong language, violence, and adult themes).

Many people playing here play darker characters that will kill, cheat, lie, sacrifice others, mame, rob, gut, etc etc.

If I had a 7 year old I would not want her avatar sitting in a tavern listening to my PC.

Of course, you know her best ...but I am just saying .....

[Galadorn]

Welcome to ALFA!

As a 37 year old long time player of dozens of NWN1 and NWN2 persistent worlds for over a deacade, and with over 25 years of PnP expericne, and as a father of my own 7 year old daughter, I strongly suggest ALFA is not the place for your daughter to play NWN2.

I do hope this does not hamper your decision to give ALFA a try though, I do hope you join, but I nearly fell off my seat when I read your post.

Just a heads up if you're not entirely sure about ALFA... it's very hardcore RP, and very dangerous. There are very few if any places even 2 low level PCs can go running through any places that are survivable, and 90% of the time, 3-4 hours go by sitting in Taverns RPing between PCs run by people well over 20-25-30-35! years old about political issues in the game world, religious issues between differing PCs who worship sometimes radically different Gods, and/or adult subject themes relating to in-game relationships, marriages, etc, and/or rivalries, pregnancies, drinking, smoking, violence, disease, etc. Many taverns have women standing around that offer "night time" activities upon a click that would cost your PC a few gold in payment to procur...... 'nuff said.

Hope you stay!
PG13 at LEAST as far as i'm concerned. In fact i'd never let my own children play on ALFA before age 18. But that's just me. There are hundreds of PWs kids can play on that are much more suited.

cheers!

~G

[Mick]

What Galadorn said.

Furthermore, as a father of three who are a little older than Artemis, I would feel uncomfortable gaming with Artemis. I like my RP how I like my RP, but like Galadorn I would not allow my own children to partake in said RP.

Hope you yourself will give it a go, though.

[oldgrayrogue]

I too am a father of three, ages 12, 8 and 2. I would not let my 12 yo play on ALFA, let alone my 8 yo. ALFA RPs adult, often intense, themes as has been described above. Further, it is a "permadeath" persistent world, which means that when your player character dies it stays dead unless resurrected through in game action which is very rare. There is no "respawn" like in the single player OC. I have seen adults whose cherished characters died a permanent death become greatly affected by it. I do not believe our platform is suitable for a 7 yo.

All that said, I hope you decide to give ALFA a try, and bring along some (adult) friends along.

[CloudDancing]

Alas I must agree with the Daddies here. I am an educator and I actually encourage parents of kids of reading age to not allow their kids on adult MMORPGs like WoW and limit them to NO text based chat games which there are in profusion (like the Lego MMO and Hello Kitty Adventure Island.)

This is simple for the reason that people are specifically liberated to use their free full expression of english language and terms which I cringe as woman to even "hear" coming from the minds of twenty year old males.

As per Alfa, I am utterly one of many players that iconically pulls no punches in my gameplay. BUT my character got pregnant and had a child herself whom she is furtively trying to keep his life whore and low-life free. This results in depending on druids for daycare often but it is a constant trial when his bedroom is being invaded by undead zombies from ancient wars coming through the floor boards.

Personally IF I saw a little kid character, I woud completely change my gameplay to accomodate that kid, much like I tone it down when I rp having Windsun.

However, the permadeath aspect might be particulary painful to deal with for a young child. The evil characters are VERY evil, to the point where IF there was a child character being played by an adult, they would probably stalk them JUST to corrupt them or worse.

PG-13 all the way. Heck I get nervous when I think of 17 year olds sneaking around here pretending to be older.

[Blindhamsterman]

I believe I was 16 when I started playing ALFA, I never had any issues with anything that happened here as far as RP went, but I have to admit I don't think anything much younger than that would really be appropriate, too many folk here enjoy taking their RP to the level of Explicit, be it in a 'romantic' manner or simply a down right depraved manner, as Cloud says, our Evil folk tend to be genuinely Evil.

That being said, I'd encourage you to give it a go, seeh how you find things, and go from there. The setting is great as are the people that play here, and as Cloud says, it's likely people would tone it down if they had forewarning that a minor was playing.

[Veilan]

ALFA is officially T/PG-13. In reality it should likely be rated AO, as violence, swearing and adult themes can become pretty graphic between consenting parties.

I would advise against letting a 7-year-old play, but it is your call, of course.

In any case, I hope you manage to get enjoyment and fun out of ALFA anyway. Thank you much for your interest!

Cheers,

[Mirabai]

I'll chime in from a "I have no children nor do I ever plan to" perspective, for what that's worth. Also from a DM's perspective.

I think it would depend on what server you play on. I can get more into that, if you like, via PM. But suffice to say that like tends to attract like.

Also, from my outsider perspective it seems to me that all kids are different. I was a sensitive kid and was totally traumatized by Bambi, for instance. However if your kid is watching SOUTH PARK and has not shown signs of any pathological disorders, I'm betting she could handle ALFA on the right server. I really don't see this as any different than escorting your kid to a PG-13 movie. So long as you're with her it should be allowed and it's your call.

And anyway people, don't forget that Rotku was like, what....8 when he started? He seems to have turned out alright.

[Mord]

Short answer: No.

[zicada]

You're all clearly being trolled.

[Burt]

[Veilan]

And anyway people, don't forget that Rotku was like, what....8 when he started? He seems to have turned out alright.

Emphasis added... and he was 6, at the most!

[Dorn]

And anyway people, don't forget that Rotku was like, what....8 when he started? He seems to have turned out alright.

Emphasis added... and he was 6, at the most!

Personally I think the whole phrase gives perhaps more credence to Rotkus quality as an adult than is deserved

To OP. Most of teh RP here is light hearted and fun. Some of the RP here is dark and fun. For exmaple i've played many paladins and 'goodly' barbarians or priests of good gods and song and blah blah. I've also played a devil worshipper who kidnapped, skinnned and ate bits of NPC children.

Seeing those situations in may result in quite a bit of explaining on your behalf...

I have a 10month old boy. I had to tell him he's not allowed to play NWN2, play with guns or drive powerboats for at least another few years.....he burped and crapped himself in protest.

PS - the devil worshipper was well before i became a father.....that woudl just seem weird now...more weird i mean

[ElCadaver]

My proudest moment was when my daughter saved my lvl 2 mage from a goblin ambush. She was a lvl 1 druid with a bear companion. I was on the ground, bleeding out, surrounded by 3 goblins. she charged in, killed them all, and healed me up. Father daughter bonding doesn't get any better than that!

I have played both ALFA and Exodus sessions with my then 7-8 year old daughter. I would not say it is a bad thing. Kids love roleplay and she had a great time both times ( Although she ran around in circles screaming when we got attacked by zombies in the waterdeep sewers, her PC, not the person)

What I would advise is to not involve Kids with anyone who roleplays hardcore adult themes. I for one have no idea why people need to do that anyway... don't we come here to escape from the world? Why drag all the crap along with you.

A bit of a dungeon crawl with people you know and trust is fine. I would not let them on alone however. My daughter is 13 now, and grew out of fantasy gaming, unlike me.