Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi there

My nephew is 11 years old. He's showing interest in painting miniature. Cool, He bought some paint. I gave him a couple of miniature to paint. We paint from time to time. It's great.

I'm sure he would love to play a game with the toy soldier he painted. But what?

- WH40K, with small army (300-400 pts)
- Mordheim
- Bloodbowl
They are fine game, but aren't they a bit complex for a 10-11 years old?

Something else?

Maybe go for a more "Board Game" styled games like Dust Tactics? Those are simple but they still have some nice wargaming styled list building and other features

Oike & Shot from Warlord games would fit a 10 or 11 year old well I recon. The minis are easy to assembel/ paint and do not cost too much either.

I suppose board games would be most straightforward. Something like 'Dwarf King's Hold' or 'Project Pandora' from Mantic are both very cheap, with cool minis and very easy to get into.

On the other hand I was playing GW games at a younger age than that, and the editions of 40k, WFB and Epic were considerably more complex than the editions we have now, so you might well find that he picks them up fairly easily. On the other hand, those games also need a significant investment of money! So going the GW route I would probably recommend Necromunda or Mordheim.

I would recommend mordheim. I just love that game. Its not terribly expensive to get into, if you have some fantasy figures..

Mantic Game rules are also quite a simplistic system, compared to the warhammers that is. The board ones especially are quite fun I hear

Heroscape. Made by Hasbro for that age range and is a great gateway-game into more complex games.

Gavin Thorne wrote:Heroscape. Made by Hasbro for that age range and is a great gateway-game into more complex games.

I cant recommend Heroscape enough OP. However, I will warn you, you will get into it. Its got a huge following of fans, and for good reason...its a fun game.

Only problem, its OOP, and some of the rarer sets are quite expensive. Ive got the vast majority if the pre-D&D sets, and Id say it would cost me a couple thousand dollars if I was to try and buy it all at current market prices.

Gavin Thorne wrote:Heroscape. Made by Hasbro for that age range and is a great gateway-game into more complex games.

Oh man I forgot about that one. I loved the tiles they come with!

If you're in need of tiles, I have an excess that I'm looking to get rid of. I've got tons of models, but they're so good for DnD that I can't let go of them just yet. :/ Shoot me a PM if you're interested in tiles, glyphs, cards, etc.

Don't underestimate what an 11 year old is capable of understanding in a game. I think Mordheim or Necromunda might be just the thing.

My 6 year old plays 40K (albeit with reminders on what some rules do, as there is a lot to remember )

I started playing WHFB before i was 11, and Napoleonic 15mm and WW2 15mm since i was about 8 (my brother got me into it )

An 11 year old is more than capable of playing WHFB, 40K, Mordheim, Blood Bowl etc etc, assuming that they have an active imagination and an attention span greater than that of a goldfish

Good for teaching vocabulary and basic math too. My wife and i have recruited several folk over the years, and improved their grades along with giving them a new hobby

Try Castle Ravenloft, its a stand a-lone D&D board game with very simple mechanics (1 D20 roll to hit, then the weapon deals set amount of damage) Minis are very nice and everything you need (tiles, counters etc...) are all included.

Mage Knight - I played this when I was 9-10 in tournaments all the time at my FLGS

My eight and six year old have both played 40K, they pick up things quickier than we sometimes give them credit.

Although of late we've been playing Heroclix due to Avengers excitement.

Oh god, I'm blanking on the name.

It was a Hex game with pre-painted models, different levels of terrain, and had factions.

That is a great game for kids.

What about something like Super Dungeon Explore?

It's a good halfway point between a board game and a mini game, and seems a fairly robust rule set

Chowderhead wrote:Oh god, I'm blanking on the name.

It was a Hex game with pre-painted models, different levels of terrain, and had factions.

That is a great game for kids.

Pretty sure you're talking about Heroscape, mentioned above. It's a good idea.

If he likes painting and he's good enough with 40k models, why not use the Kill Team mission in the Battle Missions book. Small point cost, individual models.

Just add bits and pieces of the rules slowly. Stick mainly with bolters and a few close combat weapons and work up from there.

If you just want to play a quick game with him, how about Hero Clicks or Dungeons and Dragons miniatures game (out of print, but you can grab a few starter boxes for cheap).

Go with something using the D20 system. They are simple to learn.

Of course, there's always Clay-O-Rama...

I run this at the local convention every year and usually get a table full of kids. It's a great pick-up game, especially for younger kids, but even the early teen players have fun with it once they stop brooding.

If you don't mine me reposting...

I recommend introducing him to the joys of wargaming with a ruleset like "Song of Blades and Heroes" . It's a great easy-to-play fantasy skirmish game..
http://www.ganeshagames.net/product_info.php?cPath=1_6&products_id=7&osCsid=pgpbuqrs6io30d3d9agqr7aln1
...that still has enough tactics to keep experienced players engaged. It's our club's go-to fantasy skirmish game and we play it often.

-3 stats and a couple of special rules per model
-7-10 miniatures per player
-All measuring is done with 3 sticks rather than a measuring tool
-30-60 minutes per game
-all dicing is handled with 3d6
-$8 PDF provides all the rules you need, but there are lots of expansions if you want them.

It's completely generic. Stats are provided for all the basic fantasy races, and there is a free online warband builder program so you can stat up any figure quickly.

We ran it at a convention and had players from ages 6-60 learning the rules and playing quickly.
http://rpgdiehard.blogspot.com/2011/04/song-of-blades-heroes-play-report-from.html

As far as relative complexity It's a far easier system to learn than Necromunda, Mordheim Hordes of the things and Mercs, but it's probably on par with Heroclix or Heroscape.

M_Stress wrote:
- WH40K, with small army (300-400 pts)
- Mordheim
- Bloodbowl

Of these 3 choices I would teach a child Blood Bowl.

If your looking for something simple, fast, and cheap SONG OF BLADES AND HEROES by Ganesha games. It's kind of like simplified Mordheim and you can use any fantasy models. It's also only $5 for the PDF.

The Green Army Men game. http://www.combatstorm.com/

Then theres the obvious-

Space Hulk.

If you can find them- Tyranid Attack, Space hulk expansions, and Necromunda.

OR-

just get a couple of boxes of squads, paint them up, and play small level as in each figure represents a unit, until the kids comfiratable, then add five, then add ten. then add in the vehicle.

Works every time.


Heroscape is great. I wished they would have made it a stable game. The minis were really getting better in quality as the game began to wind down. wouldn't have minded a G.I.Joe version. What really was good was the batch of Marvel guys they had. Don't know what they were smoking not putting out the rest of the range.


You can find them every now and then in the darnedest places. Love this game.!!!

My friend played heroscape back when I was 9, and I really enjoyed doing it with him, although I only got 1 go...

I started 40k when I was 11, but didn't start playing until near 1/2 a year later, because I was still doing the beginners course at my GW. The beginners courses seemed to be how GW got young people into the hobby, because most older players didn't want to play noobs like us, so they would go down on sundays to learn the rules.

good luck with it

If you could get an ebay copy of Heroquest I'd recommend that.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/699/heroquest

If for some reason you think Fantasy/40k might be a little too involved BattleMasters is another good option.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/699/heroquest

Talisman too is very fun and engaging.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/699/heroquest

I really like

Super Dungeon Explore! Cool miniatures and fun to play

Also Castle Ravenloft,

Again, stressing Mageknight. You can buy the figures for dirt cheap. I would reccomend one of the earlier sets and buys a case of boosters or starters!

SUPER DUNGEON EXPLORE!!

I walked my 6 year old through a 40k game the other day, his first and it went well. Think it was just over 500pts, he actually stomped me hard and ended the game with more points then he began with (Tervigon).