I was wondering if anyone else plays these games with their kids?

Mine are 5 and 6 and I have modified the rules and complexity so that they can understand how to play a simplified version of the game. It is still quite fun, and they ask to play every night. Esentially I am grooming them to play this and other more complicated games when they are older. I was getting sick of monopoly Jr. and other dumb kiddy games.

Essentially what I did was remove most of the reading elements of the game. I took out classes and the overlord deck, and I created simple (and even a few moderate) adventures that appealed to them, and they hack and slash their way to victory (and of course sometimes defeat). I give them a few weapons and pieces of armor to choose from, and we go a questing.

Within a few years I will have some hard core gamers on my hands. Should be fun!

Wish I would have gone through that.

I'm trying to get my sister into board games but she's already a teenager.

Guess I will follow your example when I have kids.

I have thought about sitting my brother down (14, but high functioning autistic) to play at some point. I think he would be really good with it if he had the patients. I feel it's a great way to learn cause and effect, planing ahead and other great life skills if they let it. And it's super fun!!

I play with my 9 year old as she has surprised me with her ability. She plays the Overlord most of the time and always goes for the objective rather than try to kill my heroes. She has also picked up several deadly Overlord card combos. I thought I would have to dumb it down for her but she actually ended up winning the campaign!

The only suggestion I have is to remind them to reinforce, draw their OL cards etc while playing

Nice! That is very encouraging. When did she start playing?

I have only had the game for several months so she started Descent when she was 8. I did let her play other games before that like Talisman (which was my favorite) and Hero Quest (which I don't like be she really liked).

I have a five year old as well and after reading your suggestion I think I may try to do something similar with her as she has also shown interest in the game. I let her play with the figures while I play with my old daughter. It tends to turn into a game of mothers & fathers with my Crypt Dragons, Demon Lords and Giants though.

I have thought about sitting my brother down (14, but high functioning autistic) to play at some point. I think he would be really good with it if he had the patients. I feel it's a great way to learn cause and effect, planing ahead and other great life skills if they let it. And it's super fun!!

I think so too. Maybe have a pen paper present and keep track of the state of the game so you can come back to it if the patience wears a bit thin.

Depending on where his mind is, he could become ultra obsessed with the game and be a master player, or just not give a ****. Autism is interesting that way.

Is the fourth edition of Talisman less based on luck? I am playing Talisman prologue, which I understand is based more on previous versions of the game, and it feels like a very "roll of the dice luck" kind of game. I am interested, but not sure if it's what I'm into or not.

Prologue is based on the new edition, but it's a crappy solo player conversion. The game is based on luck but there is the strategic element of planning your game based on your character abilities and items & followers you pick up.

If you didn't like the mechanics of landing on a space and randomly drawing a card, you are not going to like it.

Hmmm. I don't mind random cards, but the movement system is not my cup of tea, at least in the prologue version. Is it different in the board version?

Hmmm. I don't mind random cards, but the movement system is not my cup of tea, at least in the prologue version. Is it different in the board version?

Its the same

Actually one thing I haven't taken into consideration is the whole other people playing aspect. That probably changes things considerably... I will have to look into it more.

Talisman is and always has been highly luck based.

Aside from the "goals" you need to complete, Prologue is basically an exact port of the 4th ed Talisman board game mechanics.