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From a players point of view, I personally would play them.

If someone has an army, and if they at least LOOK mature (from face value), then I might as well give it a shot. Worse comes to worst, they are immature young TFG's and I never ever play them again. And I warn people about playing them, just because im trying to do my part to deny TFG's games so they can screw more people.

Anyway, from a overall point of view 6 and 8 are WAY too young to me. I would play them, sure, but I still would feel a bit...uncomfortable playing a 6 year old....im sure im not alone there....

When I was about that age I played Space Crusade and Hero Quest. They intro'd me to the hobby without having to outlay a lot of money. It was several years later that I bought my first Bretonnians and Imperial Guard. It's too bad those excellent titles aren't produced anymore.

My daughter started at 6 with a slimmed down version of 5th, after watching my wife and I play. She borrowed Mama's Eldar and we had a pretty good time. Helped her math skills too, though i would tell her how many dice to roll and what she needed.

She's 7 now, has her own small Nid army that she's painting herself (not badly for a 7 year old either... i've seen worse painted armies in adult hands) under the understanding that we will only buy her a new unit when she has fully painted the old one. I learned that one the hard way :(

She is pretty invested in the game when we play. and isn't a mini-TFG when the rolls or rules go against her. She might sulk a little if she really loses, but she's easily distracted from that by a family painting session



I started WHFB 1st ed when i was about 8, and had no issues. RT was the same way.

We won't be taking her to big tournament any time soon, as it's assumed you know the rules intimately at a tournament and don't need coaching/math help occasionally, but maybe some day. For home games she plays just fine. There is more to 40K than competitive tournament play

In a year or two we might go as a doubles team the local FLGS tournament, as the TFG quotient is low, and I can help her out if she needs it without slowing the game overmuch.

My nephew was about 6 when he started playing. He's 11 now, he hasn't done too bad. He has the odd day when he doesn't want to play the game proper and will instead just use the time to imagine a battle and play it out.

I'd say instead of going full hog 40k, just go Kill Team. 200 Points without an HQ, can lead to several short but fun games in half the time it takes to play a 1000-1500 point game. Helps to learn a few of the special rules and the basic rules. Plus its a nice cheap way to play the game. Personally I'd rather play a number of Kill Team games as opposed to higher point ones. I've enjoyed a few miniwargaming.com bat reps on youtube of late where they've played Kill Team with just HQ's. Phoenix Lord Vs Vect, Eldrad vs Calgar...

I'd say a few aspects of the hobby. Playing the game aspect yes, maybe the painting if they show talent and invest time, and definitely not LGS or tourneys until they are 10. At least.

Small games, max of 750, as that is a good game amount for beginners. Play as many games as you can with them, and vary it as much as you can. Never have a single, static list. Switch out the lists, keep it interesting and versatile. If you have more than two armies, have them play a different army and you play a different army. That way, it is the most interesting, aweosme experience they ever have. And that is the start of the hobby.

Paint with them, show them neat little tips and stuff. If they aren't good enough, give them a lot of help.

Doing all of this will get them indoctrinated into the hobby, and actually make them veterans by the time they are 12. They will probably own at the LGS by that time, and you can see which is the more mature, and which may be TFG.

Too young for the entire hobby, but no age is young enough for kill team.

I agree with Legion. Small games and kill teams with the family would be best way to go. And once you think they understand the game fairly well, then teach them proper Etiquette and sportsmanship. When You and the parents. Offer to take them to take them the local Gaming club. And keep close but let them try their first game on their own.

As for the fluff and grim dark setting, there's no reason that most of it can't be looked over and just stick with Their chapter/regiment/craft world. Are just a paragon of good people in a universe full of mean people. It's as grim dark as it needs to be for kids that age.

Actually my daughter likes being the monsters (Nids) that eat the 'good' people

Some kids, eh

When I was like 7, I played a lot of various hex strategy games and computer games. Now I am addicted to gaming in all forms, I have a life family kids etc but gaming is going to stay with me to death I guess and that's exactly because of the early exposure. I'm fine with that, it gives me pleasure but maybe it was too early and without it I would get better at a crucial non - scripted game called life with no save function, constantly changing rules, endless strategic and tactical possibilities and wins unachievable on any board, i.e. ethical, proffesional, personal or for the sake of others.

When I was like 9, I read Dune. I became an avid reader of SF and have a taste for bizarre, I like it obviously as this is how I developed but is it good? I have a "cool" taste now but maybe a cost is some sensibility, also I was exposed to ideas that made me mentaly older than other kids and at 15 I've already felt like 1000 years old. Not sure if that's a good thing, intelectual shock instead of gradual development and more of a standard childhood.

When I was like 14, I read proffesional psychiatry books. Now I subconsciously diagnose people around me, I like the skill but is it good? It takes a toll on you, on your perception of people and humanity not to mention it is kind of a simple stereotyping for the sake of treatment which you are not aware of at such a young age. Maybe I would be alot happier person if I didn't read it then, and maybe I would read it at age of 22 or 25 with the distance and perspective needed for that kind of lecture.

What you consume before 18 -21 shapes you forever, there are reasons for fairy tales, santa claus, guarding angels and all those things meant for kids, it fits their mental development. The kid will adapt to almost any content but at a price that depends on sensibility, varying from insignificant stress through slight traumas up to Richard Ramirez. Ofc there are obvious positives for a kid coming from strategy gaming or books they will get smarter etc but there are more neutral games like chess or economic boardgames. It's obviously not about rules, I was writing some at my age of 8 but imo 6 and 8 years old are too young for the ideas presented in 40k, such kids are unable to grasp the the whole parody, ridiculousness and over the top of all the bloodshed presented and will take it rather seriously. It is ofc times better than mindless Call of Duty but still. Also even if 40k turns out not harmless it obviouly leads the kid to SF/ Fantasy where apart from few must read series there is a ton of crap that the kid could potentialy waste his reading capacity on, where there are tons of classic books that he should read during his development, less atractive for a young mind but surely times more worthy and important.

40k is also tons of needless knowledge, I have nothing to loose as I know the world and all the tropes/ ripoffs included there from childhood/ teenage years but I don't draw new people into the game as I pity the guy/ girl having to memorise and get a grasp on all of this just to play one game. The kid could learn to construct the engine in the time that 40k wil potentialy consume and those are his best years to learn, whether the latter is automatialy better or not is another discussion but just saying.

Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with what I am and kind of proud of it like "man I've eaten Dune at 9" etc, just typing my thoughts about the subject. What I mainly want to say is that some of you who played 40k at 6 or 8 and turned ok doesn't mean you wouldn't turn up better not playing 40k at that age and still play 40k now. Anyway I'm not going to expose my kid to wargames before 12 and 40k probably before 25 when they have their own incomes heh.

Tyriion wrote:plus a kid who plays Skylanders obviously isnt old enough, or on the right level to play something like 40K.

Really? I know a few adults who play Skylanders, I also know lots that play Pokemon, and enjoy other 'kiddy' things. Liking X doesn't instantly mean you're incapable of Y.

yeri wrote:I'm pretty sure they're committed to this, they've been begging me to show them how to play for two years now. it was only this thanksgiving that I finally gave in. and the six year old understood the rules perfectly once I translated skylander stats into 40k stats. also they're not bad painters, so I'm not worried about that. what worried me is some of the fluff, but now that I think about it I've seen them playing CoD: black ops with their friends. so I guess I shouldn't be worried about ultra violence if their parents aren't. also, they'll be playing Yu-Gi-Oh over both mine and their father's dead bodies, we're both old MtG players.

If they're playing crap like CoD I wouldn't worry about the fluff - hell, GW fluff has tamed quite a bit in the last 2-3 editions to be a lot more... PG.
But you know - start em young, get the next generation into it. Especially If they're interested / want to now, there's every chance if you said no they'd simply later ignore.

ALSO! There's nothing wrong with YuGiOh. As a fan of both YuGiOh and MTG, I can safely say that both are great games. There's no reason not to play it just because of MTG - just play both.
Alternatively, You can also start them on YGO and move into MTG later as a sort of gateway-game, which is how a lot of the MTG players I know got into it (starting with a more 'publicised' game and moving into MTG when they felt like trying something new).

Within reason age is no guarantee of etiquette, grasping the rules or being TFG

What is the recommended age on the Box for starting?
Really, Im not sure 8 is old enough. Begginf to play and playing is different. They could find it extremely boring. Its like when you see someone else having fun with a toy, so you must have it because they had fun. But tthen you get bored 5 minutes later.

It's 12, though really, that's a bit much - I for one was playing Britannia 4th (? the one released by FFG) at the age of 8.

 juraigamer wrote:
It's a case by case basis. If these kids are the kind that are well mannered, then it's no biggy. If not, then suggest other options for the time being.

The last thing you want is a 6 year old who has someone make him the most brokenest list and the gets curb stomped by a player that knows what he's doing. All the sudden 6 year old quits game or breaks models, ect.

We have a few 30-50 somethings at my venue that do that.

6/8 is probably too young, I find the bar-mitzvah rule is good; at about 13 a kid is usually mature enough to socialize with others. But then again, kids often excel at at things adults with our age-addled brains find complex. (Like learning musical instrument, ect.) If they are smart and well behaved, there's no reason they can't at least start learning how to play with family. If they like it, in a few years they can move on to supervised with patient and mature opponents. (Nothing sadder than watching a 40 year old neckbeard throw a fit when a 11 year old curb stomps them!)

I'm 49, and I'm not sure I'm old enough for 40k...

I think that they would be fine as long as they can understand the rules and paint well enough to get the job done. The only thing I would do is warn them (or their parents) of how expensive the hobby can be.

Kids are more prone to cheating.

/thread

There are too many jerks and poorly socialized adults and near adults playing this game to be very nice for children.

 Ovion wrote:
hell, GW fluff has tamed quite a bit in the last 2-3 editions to be a lot more... PG.

Yep and that's bad - ther's another Star Wars at the end of this road. I remember Chaos Book having a "recomended for adult viewer" or sth like that stamp.