recomendations for newbie, 8 year old

[unbdm]

My eight year old son has taken interest in WOW. I installed a copy on two computers, and set up two accounts, so I can work with him, although I've never played a game like this (when I was young, D&D was on graph paper, and hand drawn, that was about as close as we had).

What type of realm, or even specific realms should I start him on? He seems caught up on playing an elf druid if that has any bias.

Thanks,
Barry

[zkajan]

Try a PvE relm, at least at first. While he may relish a PvP experience when he kills a character, I think his first few encounters with PvP will likely be him getting one or two shot by a much higher lvl character, or a group of similar lvl characters, and that would likely turn him off. (pvp servers aren't "fair"). Also stay away from RP servers unless you both have done Roleplaying before (which I am guessing is a no) elewhere.


Night Elf druid is fine. You probably want to pick a Night Elf as well then, since the other aliance races start pretty far away from where the NE start off at.


You might want to turn off the chat channels on his computer, and only play when you both play together. The game itself is not rated R, but it is filled with players of all ages, including early-teens who thing the f-bomb is the coolest thing since sliced bread, and 20-somethings who assume they're addressing an audience of peers when they speak about the chick they picked up last night. Not saying everyone is doing this, but, it *can* happen. But keep the conversation running on your computer so you can keep up wiht what's going on in the area, if anyone is looking for group or forming a group for somethign you two want to do but need help with, or if someone is buying or selling something you want to trade with them.

To form a group type /invite <the other person's name>.
You can then type /p to chat with people in party with nobody else seeing it (though I suppose you can just talk if you are in the same room). But you then also share experience and stuff like that too so you should still do it.

edit: oh, just read you used to D&D. Well.. there is RP relms which is for people that want to RP their characters, so if you feel comfortable with your son doing that then, there you go.

Have fun.

[unbdm]

Thanks for the advice, that all sounds like great stuff.

Also, we're both level 4 now, but before long I imagine I'll come home from work and he will have been playing for 4 hours, and will be very far away. Are there any tricks to keeping together?

I unknowingly started us on scilla-US, which is PvP, so we better start over before we get any further...

Also, should we just be building experience in the newbie area, killing animals and knocking out quests? I assume we'll get to a quest that takes us to another area before long, right? I guess I'm asking will the game lead us to where we need to go when we get up a few levels?


Thanks,
Barry

[Blaizze]

Don't suppose it has much relivance in this day and age but be aware it is an age 12+ game.

[Wasabee]

You can start over if you want. PVE is a safe way to play. (So when you are in higher level zones you won't have people being jerks taking you guys out.)

Make sure you turn those chat channels off. /leave 1 (general chat), /leave 2 (trade chat), /leave 3 (City defense), /leave 4 (Looking for Group channel).

If you guys want to play together (my wife and I do). Have him make himself an alt. This does 2 things.
1. it keeps him from leveling his "father/son time" character, and
2. Helps you know exactly how much time he plays. There is a command that you can check time played.

If he plays a Druid, you might want to make one too, to help him with the mechanics of his class. Or make anythig under NE (Druid can make up the difference off whatever you choose.)

Knock out the quests for each area, and pick up everything. (Sell the junk to a vendor).

Let us know how it goes. Some of us have small kids that might be playing in the next few years.

[Kodonn]

Thanks for the advice, that all sounds like great stuff.

Also, we're both level 4 now, but before long I imagine I'll come home from work and he will have been playing for 4 hours, and will be very far away. Are there any tricks to keeping together?

I unknowingly started us on scilla-US, which is PvP, so we better start over before we get any further...

Also, should we just be building experience in the newbie area, killing animals and knocking out quests? I assume we'll get to a quest that takes us to another area before long, right? I guess I'm asking will the game lead us to where we need to go when we get up a few levels?


Thanks,
Barry

As zkajan ammended...you might want to try out an RP realm. There are still many players on those realms who are not hard core RP'ers, but those realms are self-policed a little better so you may find a more promising (i.e. acceptable) environment for your son. Oh..however, some players do like to RP a little more "racier" in the INNs (must be all those beds) so that might not be a good place to loiter too long.

As for keeping together if he is playing while you are at work.....
There are 2 ways to gain experience in the game. Quests..which grant a lot. And what most people call grinding...i.e. just killing things.

So, you might be able to stay pretty close in level if you both quest together, and then if he only kills monsters while soloing. At least at first..he may have a few more deaths than he would like, but that will also slow him down some :rolleyes:

Another choice might be to let him roll (create) a second characater. A hunter might be nice, because they can solo a lot after getting their pet. That way, he can play that character by himself, and when the 2 of you are together, you can play you original characters. The nice thing about this, is after the 2 of you go through an area and complete the quests, he can redo them on his solo character and will know where to go.

You are right about the quest lines leading you where you need to go. Once you reach a certain level, they will send you to newer areas with higher level mobs. Something you might want to do (or remember), before leaving the newbie zones, is to collect everything and sell it for coin. You will need some later for training and gear. Also, in the night elf area...if you kill a lot of those little grelkin guys, they tend to drop bags. That is the one item that new players never seem to have enough of. That's another option you could use to keep your son from getting too far ahead in levels...put him in charge of raising funds :thumbsup: or a gathering profession.

If you happen to re-roll on an RP server (Feathermoon), look me up (or drop me an ingame letter in the mail), our guild is always looking out for new players to help along until they find their place in the world.

[kcma]

yeh, pvp can be so brutal on a 8 yrs old :p then again, pvp is full of 8 yrs olds... maybe that's why it's so brutal :D

[rasik]

Just a quick side note - you are right in assuming that you will be led onto an area appropriate for your character's level, at least up until. To begin with (up until about level 20 or so) the progression from zone to zone is relatively linear. Most Night Elves will go from Teldrassil to Darkshore, and from there they will progress to Ashenvale.

Past a certain point, however, things can become slightly more open-ended and there are many zones where you can choose to level, all with the same or nearly the same level requirement. Even so, there will be quests that lead you to these areas - don't fret! World of Warcraft isn't rocket science. I'm currently helping a friend of mine get started in the game as well. He's just got to level 25 and is loving it. I'm sure you'll have a great time :)

Edit: Bah, beaten to it. It's the thought that counts though :grin:

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Don't suppose it has much relivance in this day and age but be aware it is an age 12+ game.

That is simply a recommendation by the publilsher, and not a hard restriction. Especially when the child has parental supervision, like the child has in this case. For instance, my girlfriend's daughter, who is 7, really enjoys playing the game with me, however she tends to like watching me play more than actually play herself.

[kcma]

awww how cute <3

[Blaizze]

Guess its just me but i'd rather see an age restriction of 18 :p

[Skahr]

IMO: Enroll the kid in somekind of reading program, or edumacational something or the other, and save him now while he's young. This game is very addicting, and all sarcasm aside, will screw up your sons life. People will laugh at this post, but we all know deep down inside, its true!

[Baal]

I've got to say - about your "playing for 4 hours before I get home" thing... Don't allow that. 4 hours is way more than enough playing time for a video game, especially an 8 year old.

I'd seriously set a limit on how much he can play a day, and teach him moderation.

4 hours ocassionaly isn't bad - my fiance is going away for 3 days next week, and I already plan on playing 2 long days and gaining a lot of levels - however, that's a "special ocassion". I limit myself to 2 hours a day MAX - often I don't play for 1-2 days, then I'll play from 10-12 at night or something.

Basically - don't let him get addicted to it. 4 hour a day would be bad if it gets regular. Which it easily could.

[kcma]

there are certainlly worse things a kid can be hooked on :p

i say let the kid play AFTER homework and chores are done. and he can play as long as he wants to :p

[Mitya]

There's a programm, that allows to play only limited time (don't remember, how it's called). You can also create some administration rules to prevent opening WoW during you're at work)

[kcma]

and that would stop an 8 yrs old from using it? ever since i was 8 yrs old (ok... 10... that's when we first got our first computer). i was always the one who control the access of everything not my parents :p

[Mitya]

and that would stop an 8 yrs old from using it? ever since i was 8 yrs old (ok... 10... that's when we first got our first computer). i was always the one who control the access of everything not my parents :p
When I was 8, I've done "Doom" only with a chainsaw)

Well, I think, it's better to avoid giving moderating privileges to a 8 years old guy... And there's a lot of way to do it)

[kcma]

@ 8, it's debatable. some kids are smarter some kids aren't. by the time they're teenagers, moderating your kid when it comes to tech stuff is a fantasy/wetdreams parents have.

you have no control/power when you lack knowledge. and any teenagers nowaday will have infinitely more knowledge regarding tech than their parents.

you'll just have to wish that you have been a good parent all along and continue to be one and spend time with your kids that they make good choices on their own. maybe not the small stuff since, kids don't make good choices, but at least you'd hope they get the big pictures. what rules should never be broken.

a piece of software advertised to give parental control back to the parents is a ill-conceived solution that's made FOR the parents not the kids. so they can install that lame program thinking that's what make them good parents.

***

kid wanna play WOW for 4 hours aday? sure, play with them. when you play with them the whole time, you know what they're doing, what they're saying, and what they're thinking. you communicate and you interact. it's no different from baseball or fishing or working on the car.

NO parental control software will EVER do that.

what's wrong with 4 hours of gaming aday? nothing. what's wrong is when they play completely neglected and unattended.

[zkajan]

I agree. Don't let him play alone, at least at 8 years old.

[MoRRoW]

Thanks for the advice, that all sounds like great stuff.

Also, we're both level 4 now, but before long I imagine I'll come home from work and he will have been playing for 4 hours, and will be very far away. Are there any tricks to keeping together?

I unknowingly started us on scilla-US, which is PvP, so we better start over before we get any further...

Also, should we just be building experience in the newbie area, killing animals and knocking out quests? I assume we'll get to a quest that takes us to another area before long, right? I guess I'm asking will the game lead us to where we need to go when we get up a few levels?


Thanks,
Barry

I know I'm not the first one you make you suggestion, but here my thoughts on this.

1) PVE server for sure. You may want to go to a PVP server later (or even just transfer for a fee later to be on a PVP server) or to a RP server (I don't have any experience on this). Reason : You will be able to level when you play, have fun killing mobs, learning all the tricks/special little commands of the games before you get to play against human player that have been playing for a year. (stuff like using tab to switch from target to target, self-casting button, etc). You will also have the chance to learn your spells and how to play your character a little bit (although some you will definately use a lot more when facing humans than ingame mobs).

2) a)If you don't want him to level to fast and you don't mind him playing for 4 hours a day + the hours he'll play with you, get him to create an alt that he can play with you, and his main when you're not around.

b) If you don't want him to play 4 hours + the time he plays with you (since he's 8 years old and he should be doing some exercice so he doesn't get fat by not exercising) change the password, and don't tell him. Log him into the game every time you want him to play. this way, you can control when he plays, how long he plays, etc.

c)If you're not there a certain day and you don't mind him playing, tell him the password, then change it after. If he switches the password and tries not telling you the new password, just go into the account settings (since it's probably your info that are in there) and have blizz switch the password. Then next time he wants to play, don't give him the password and tell him that you don't wanna have to redo the process of changing the password like it happened last time.

3)The quests will definately send you exploring different areas of the game, so since you're playing pretty much for fun, and not for the actual grinding to 60 the fastest you can, you should have a lot of fun following the quests.

[kcma]

excercising = overrated btw. just dont eat so much sugar and butter <3

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

When I was 8, I've done "Doom" only with a chainsaw)

Well, I think, it's better to avoid giving moderating privileges to a 8 years old guy... And there's a lot of way to do it)

Heh, when I was 8, I wrote a 'space invaders' clone, and then a 'pac-man' clone. 8 is more than old enough to begin getting into games.

[zkajan]

or even just transfer for a fee later to be on a PVP server
fyi, you can't do this. for precisely the reason of "if you want to be "on top of the food chain" on PvP server, you have to "grow up" there, not do it elsewhwere then just transfer and pick on the lowbies

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

fyi, you can't do this. for precisely the reason of "if you want to be "on top of the food chain" on PvP server, you have to "grow up" there, not do it elsewhwere then just transfer and pick on the lowbies

I could have sworn a few of the choices of servers I could move to were PvP servers, even though I'm on a PvE server.

[kcma]

i think there were a few on limited basis. no details tho.

but i agree with zkajan that's kindda chicken :D

[Benzoate]

I don't think its an issue of playing/not playing video games as an eight year old child, its about MODERATION. Too many parents are as afraid of this word as they are about the birds and the bees....

[DrOsmius]

My eight year old son has taken interest in WOW. I installed a copy on two computers, and set up two accounts, so I can work with him, although I've never played a game like this (when I was young, D&D was on graph paper, and hand drawn, that was about as close as we had).

What type of realm, or even specific realms should I start him on? He seems caught up on playing an elf druid if that has any bias.

Thanks,
Barry


Have fun Barry. My son started playing at age 6, without being to read very much. He loves it. Mostly he likes makiing new characters and whomping around in the newbie area. At last count I think he has about 15 toons (3 servers) in the level 2-10 range. His best is a 25 warrior, though you know for sure that I gained him a lot of those levels.

He also just plain loves exploring and emoting (/dance, /strut, /silly).

He is also a good little farmer for me...gathering professions are about the limit of his ability, so I give him skinning and mining, and have him collect it and send it to my toon (I do the actual mailing...but he could learn that easy too).

I will assume you have read the info at the Blizz website and/or the manual, and know all the basics of the game; reading the forums here periodically will get you tutored on most of the rest.

So here are my advices:

1. Make a "do not disturb" macro, which automatically responds to all whispers. I use: /dnd My dad wrote this for me - I am 6 and cannot read, which is why I don't respond.

2. There are various, but rather expensive, "pets" in the game...critters you can get that do nothing but follow you around. Kids love those.

3. Druid is a very good choice. He will probably very much like changing into a bear and cat.

4. The portrait for a mob will have a number in various colors, telling how easy they are for a single character. Most times, if you are good and have good stuff, you can manage oranges and an occasional red. My son sticks to greens and yellows. But if you are duo'd, it will be MUCH easier.

5. The "V" key. This rolled me for a bit. When you hit V, you get health status bars over the heads of people and monsters. This is great for monsters...but it will hide the title of npc's. When you are new, it makes it difficult to determine who is a vendor, a trainer, etc.

Also the "Y" key,which reverses the camera point of view...nearly impossible to run around and do anything reversed, and very frustrating if you didnt know it was Y that did it (or will undo it).

6. Learn complementary professions, and learn them early. For example, you take mining, he takes herbing. You take enchanting, he takes alchemy. Then you both get potions and enchants, and can gather all the nodes around for making them or making money.

Again, have fun. But yeah....it is very addictive and one father to another, set some limits (on both him and you :azn: )

[zkajan]

i have been playing for 2 years and never knew about:
- Y key
- /strut

nice drosmius :D

[scry]

I'd say stick with the nelf Druid for him on a PVE server - turn off the channels use parental controls and also I'd recommend you play a Priest so you can heal/shield him - presumably he'll want to be using cat or bear form.... being able to keep him alive will remove any frustration he may get from dying often should you both be dmg dealing clases or w.e

[DrOsmius]

Or since you are both new, both play Druids and learn together. One can heal and one can damage, both can damage, etc. Since you are both learning, you are more likely to learn more (2 heads are better than 1, unless you are an ogre mage).

[kcma]

dont turn of the channel man. talk to him about what's going on. he'd figure it out and see it on his own one day.

not that i ever want to have kids, i dont, but if i do in some hypothetical situation. i want to be the one introducing my kids to cigarettes, booz, weed, porno, and stuff. not that retarded punkass next door or some moron who can never make it to college at school.

[MellanCholera]

Have him make a horde character
alliance is full of dancing bikini clad human and elf females. Horde does not have the same problem, since our characters are all big and ugly and "monster" type characters. There's less sexual innuendo.

I'd also play with him, if you have any interest in video games. There is little difference between wow and a chat room. There is no real problem with criminal behavior, but it's more like sending him out to play with strangers. Keep the computer in the living room just like you would if he were browsing the web.

On an RP server, the players are older and more mature (I am 34, but mostly it's players over 18 or so). On other servers the players are often teenagers. The benefit of the older players is they are usually nicer, swear less, basically how you expect young adults to behave. But a PvE server will be his peers. So.. it depends on where you think he'll have the most fun.

But i agree not a PvP server. He will experience nothing but swearing and cruelty there.

[zkajan]

Have him make a horde character
alliance is full of dancing bikini clad human and elf females. Horde does not have the same problem, since our characters are all big and ugly and "monster" type characters. There's less sexual innuendo.
for the next two months... enjoy your blood elf "ladies" then

[kcma]

swearing and cruelty build strong kids with characters <3

[unbdm]

Thanks for all the comments all, lots of good stuff.

As to four hours a day, that was hypothetical. He usually only lasts an hour or so. I coach his soccer team, and he is in karate, and of course homework... he likes gell time around the house... But great points on the addictive nature of the game, I will watch it... I tend to be a tad compulsive myself.... He played Kingom Hearts on Playstation for a while, but I think he got bored of it without getting too far along.

He's going to be ticked, but I'm going to switch us to a PvE server. I'm not sure about RP, by reading the descriptions on the WOW web site, I just have a bit of trouble identifying the real diference. The fact that there are more likely older, and presumably more mature players on RP servers sounds good.

As to the eight year old aspects, I really do apprciate all the thoughts. He reads well, but right now the user interface and game in general are enought that neither of us read too much of the chat. I don't want him exposed to bad language, or extreme crudeness, but he thinks the dancing characters are silly, and I don't find them offensive.

Thanks again for all the great comments!
Barry

[kcma]

he IS 8 right? i'm sure his bad language and crudeness cherry is gone :p u might be too late to put a verbal chastity belt on :D

[det]

Well kcma..no idea where you live..but even at 13, my kids have still not lost the "... bad language and crudeness cherry" ^^

[unbdm]

ah, I guess my kids are pretty sheltered. My wife will shut this operation down quick if he turns up with an expanded vocabulary that is for the worse...

[DrOsmius]

He's going to be ticked, but I'm going to switch us to a PvE server. I'm not sure about RP, by reading the descriptions on the WOW web site, I just have a bit of trouble identifying the real diference. The fact that there are more likely older, and presumably more mature players on RP servers sounds good.

Barry

RP servers are very nice, and the modus operandi seems to me (I am on one) that: you do not need to RP and no one will get upset if you don't, but if you do like it, you will find it usually either returned or appreciated.

In other words, it seems an "extra" to me, to take or leave as I choose. And I have found about 95% of the people I've met to be polite & helpful, 4.9% unresponsive or smart-aleck, and maybe 0.1% crude & anti-social. Politely asking questions on the /1 general channel will almost always be helpful to you.

And don't worry about the switch...even my 4yr old got a toon to level 4 with nothing but autoattack in about an hour.

PS. While I have to watch & set limits on my son....it's me that I have to watch. I'm like a recovering alcoholic in a bar...and in fact, I have to quit posting now and do my job!:laughing:

[kcma]

:p more reason u need to have a talk with him.

"ok _____, make sure that... mom, NEVER... EEEEEVER... hear any of these words: ____________________________." or no more wow...

det: whoaaaaaa... that are you haven't been paying attention/are in denial... he's gotta be exposed to that stuff @ 13...

ps. det have u noticed that there are still only pics of 2 members in the gallery? what's wrong with everyone else?

[MoRRoW]

fyi, you can't do this. for precisely the reason of "if you want to be "on top of the food chain" on PvP server, you have to "grow up" there, not do it elsewhwere then just transfer and pick on the lowbies

I thought it was the other way around. ;)
But I guess once you're on a PvE server you're stuck there...

Nonetheless, start on a PvE server if you can, then when you're lvl 25 and you got the feel of the game, you can create a new character on a PvP server if you want to be on a PvP server.

But don't worry if you're on a PvP server... by the time you get to lvl 35-40 burning cruisade will probably be out or soon to be out, and everyone will be zerging in new content to get to lvl 70... so ganking won't be so bad... ;)

[MellanCholera]

well wherever you go you, you could also make a post on your server's forum at the official forums, saying you play with your son, and are looking for a friendly guild to join. There are plenty of other parent/child teams that play, so you might find a good guild for him that way to make new friends where the language won't get you in trouble with the boss ;)

[kcma]

is there a guild that's really ever truely appropriate for a sheltered 8 yrs old? i dont think so :p

[unbdm]

MellanCholera, Thanks for the tip, I will check out the official forums.

Thanks for the continued info kcma, and everyone. You've convinced me I need to watch it with regard to language and 'other' exposure.

DrOsmius, Thanks for the input, I'm now thinking I'll try out an RP server, I was thinking just a regular norm / PvE. I'll read the agreement about RP servers just to make sure it sounds reasonable. Also, I'm sure I'll have the same problem as you... I'm also at work now... chatting about a silly game that I'm... I mean my son is getting into!

Thanks,
Barry

[kcma]

in RP server. you cannot act 'out of char' in the general channel. that was how it started anyway i dont know if it's still enforced tightly.

[Mitya]

is there a guild that's really ever truely appropriate for a sheltered 8 yrs old? i dont think so :p
It's a great idea to create some kind of "WoW for kids" or a guild like "Young Alliance/Horde Slaughters")

[rgirty]

in RP server. you cannot act 'out of char' in the general channel. that was how it started anyway i dont know if it's still enforced tightly.

I play on an rp server, and there was a 45 minute discussion last night in the general channel about how would pwn who in a fight between chuck norris and steve irwin.

Chuck norris won.

No, it isn't enforced in the least.

[kcma]

i dont know... chuck and stevie are pretty even to me :D

dood, there were many times GM warn me NOT to talk about tacos and burrito in general channel.

[DrOsmius]

in RP server. you cannot act 'out of char' in the general channel. that was how it started anyway i dont know if it's still enforced tightly.


Not enforced to any degree in any shape or manner that I can tell. Only enforcement I know of is on names.

And while you will still see a few names like "Ipwnzu", you get a lot larger majority using name names, carefully chosen with meaning etc.

[kcma]

well there was a time long ago when it was :D

[rabidstoat]

Didn't see it explicitly mentioned (might have missed it) but one of the options in the game is to filter out language. So you can at least filter out bad words. Can't filter out immature idiots, unfortunately.

The parental controls I remember on the game allows parents to set certain times of the day when characters are allowed to be played on that account. Just as an FYI. I thought it was kind of neat.

You might try checking on the official boards, on one of the guild recruiting boards, to see if there are any family-friendly guilds to join. I remember reading of a few that had young children, and strict policies on keeping the channel chat away from adult topics or profanity accordingly. Since you're making new toons, you could join just about any server if you found a group that sounded compatible.

[ninjakoi]

Lots of good tips here. And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with a little kid who plays WoW. lol My 7 yr old daughter is addicted to making new characters and running around the starting areas.

I think a lot of what you let the child do depends on the individual child and their maturity level, and personality. For example, my girl has nightmares easily and is spooked by "monsters", so the only Horde race she's allowed to play is Tauren. She doesn't even know the Forsaken are commonly known as "undead", because OMG that conversation would never end... lol

I think the dnd macro is a great idea. I'm going to have to get my husband to make one of those.

I've also found it makes for a great opportunity to talk about our family's values on certain topics, like violence (ie, "if I catch you whacking your brother on the head to loot his quarter for the gumball machine, NO MORE WoW!!!"), hunting, "good" vs "bad". The game is what you make of it. It's up to you to moderate how much the kiddo plays and to an extent, what he learns from it.