From: v124pz9t@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (David Cheng, using Mark S Cheng's acct)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Re: RPG's for disabled kids
Date: 12 Aug 92 16:40:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

> 
>Some time ago, I was asked by a classmate to give him a hand bringing some
>blind kids around ice-skating. I was a bit reluctant a first, but
>agreed. We brought the kids ice-skating, they were brilliant. I haven't
>met a group of such happy and generally okay kids ever. Some time later
>Dave a fellow RPGer, suggested that we go out to the school and start
>regular RPG sessions with the kids. We put this idea on ice, I for one
>wanted to make sure we could definitely commit the time, every week to
>do this. However, in terms of systems and mechanics - I keep coming
>against the wall of what of my GMing do I need to change. For example, I
>can't say: There's a green dragon sitting over an enormous pile of
>gleaming gold and silver. What's green, silver or what does a dragon 
>look like to a congenitally blind child? [To be fair not all the

I think Mary Kuhner really has the right idea.  How about calling Red 
dragons "Fire Dragons," and White "Cold Dragons"?  Other creatures
should be described with adjectives like "large, furry, scaly," etc,
which I would think blind kids would still have a sense for.

I feel your dilemna, though, even as I type this response...

>children are congenitally blind, or even completely blind - but the
>point still stands]. Simple things like dice results cause problems,
>[Roll 2d6? Where are they? What's the result?] these could be solved 
>by me rolling all the dice and the players trusting me. However, I feel
>this would only enhance the feeling that the players are not involved and 
>would detract from game. Perhaps I could, buy large dice, give each
>player a different type of dice [eg. Player #1 gets all d6's, #2 gets
>d10s etc] whenever a player dice needs to be rolled they ask the player
>who holds that dice to do this, reading the result with their finger
>tips. Do brail dice exist? Small problems like this can be surmounted,

I have never seen braille dice.  I might suggest contacting Lou Zocchi,
and/or Koplow Dice, our industry's dice kings.  Maybe they would 
even consider casting some for you (that would be _awfully_ generous
on their part, considering the economics of it, but who knows?)

I have found that the dice are a real attractant for new gamers.
They are so used to d6's, that these new dice are regarded as 
"really neat." 

>but I'm sure many more will present themselves when/if I actually 
>sit-down to run a session. The main problem I see is describing the
>adventure scenes ala above. Any advice/experience would be very welcome.
>Perhaps I'm just foolish, perhaps teaching blind kids to play RPG's is a
>a nice idea but not very practical. However, I still feel that a game
>which thrives on a person's imagination, should be able to surpass many
>physical barriers eventually.
> 
>I'm now thinking about systems - I recently obtained a copy of
>Prince Valiant. Nice system, simple rules, heroic comic-book genre -
>seems ideal for playing with children. Any Comments? 
> 

I use Prince Valiant with my "What are RPG's" event for the parents.
Totally simple, no dice (just coins: heads/tails), two stats aided
by a few skills.

I feel the BEST reason for using PV with beginners is because so 
many people have seen the comic strip, and thus have a base to go
on.  Your kids here would probably be lacking that, unfortunately.

>Fergal
>-- 
>|boingboingboingboingboingboingboingboingboin~ Fergal  "no sleep till bedtime"|
>|            A LEAP AHEAD                    ~ Somers.  ftsomers@cs.tcd.ie    |
>|          THROUGH INSANITY                  ~ JEDER FUER SICH UND GOTT GEGEN |
>|boingboingboingboingboingboingboingboingboin~ ALLES -  but always SKATE HARD |

Kudos to you for your open-mindedness, and willingness to at least
consider this challenge!  How many of the rest of us would do the same?

-David Cheng
 drcheng@wissel.stern.nyu.edu, or the other address above.