Hobbit adventures for children

[Trotter]

Hello! I have two little boys, ages 5 & 1/2 and 3 & 3/4, and with the oldest I have played the Hero Kids RPG, and I’ve “Savaged” the rules so he can use his different dice (he’s known what an octahedron is for half his life) and experience the fun of exploding dice. I’d like to start a simplified TOR game with him, and maybe my youngest boy too. I was thinking of something along the line of a junior Bounder group of hobbit children, learning the ropes from their Bounder dad, or something like that. Beyond that, they m not sure what types of adventures in the Shire would work other than chickens getting loose and needing to be rounded up, and would appreciate any suggestions from the creative minds here for adventures that would work in even a simplified set of TOR rules. Thank you for any help!
- Stephen

[Otaku-sempai]

Well, I did a region guide (A TOR Guide to the Shire) that's posted in the House Rules forum (sorry, no adventure scenarios), but your best bet might be if you can turn up a copy of the Hobbit Tales story-telling card game.

If you do run some adventures in the Shire, you might set them at a fair in one of the Farthings, or at the Free Fair held every seven years (S.R. 1343; 1350; 1357; 1364; 1371; 1378; 1385; 1392; 1399; etc.). That way they can also enter contests, get involved in the election of the Mayor of Michel Delving (political intrigue!), and take part in other fun activities. According to Frodo Baggins a Hobbit has never murdered another Hobbit in the Shire.

[Trotter]

The fair idea is great! And yes, I have read your wonderful guide. I’m a big fan, Otaku-sempai! I have been using the Adventure cards to make up quick little stories, but I haven’t used them to make adventures. With the hazard cards maybe I can pick a few to come up with an advent. Not in my darkest imaginings did I think of introducing hobbit murder. I’ve mostly been thinking at the level of a fox in the henhouse type of problem.

Thanks for writing!

[Otaku-sempai]

Well, I never meant that you should introduce murder! Maybe a prize livestock animal goes missing (a competition being sabotaged? a practical joke?) or a child in Buckland gets lost in the Old Forest. But for something more ambitious, Lake Evendim and the ruins of Annuminas are only a couple of days walk north (fishing trip for especially daring Hobbits!). I don't suggest using my Fell Wraith or a Wight as an adversary, but maybe they could help a Ghost find its rest.

[Trotter]

Good ideas. I do love that particular adventure in Ruins of the North. Much thanks again! It’s very helpful just talking about this.

[Otaku-sempai]

Here's a hang-out I came up with for the Northfarthing: The Rabbit Hole, a tavern in Greenfields (an alternate name, The Hole in One, seemed too on-the-nose ).

[Trotter]

I like it! The golf reference is good, and on the nose is fun for kids, and hobbits like that too. Also, my first hole of putt-putt at age 2 was a hole in one. I should have thrown down my putter and walked away.…

[Rich H]

Sent you a PM, Trotter.

[Otaku-sempai]

I like it! The golf reference is good, and on the nose is fun for kids, and hobbits like that too. Also, my first hole of putt-putt at age 2 was a hole in one. I should have thrown down my putter and walked away.…

The signboard, naturally, depicts a crowned goblin's head tumbling into a rabbit-hole.

[Halbarad]

The ‘Nineteenth Hole’ might have been a good shout for the tavern’s name as well.