Rolling with the Youth

A 64 page guide to running inclusive, safe, and fun roleplaying games for all ages, with insights from years playing games with youth 12-24, working at youth-facing restorative-justice and LGBTQ-resource organizations. It also features sample prompts, story threads, NPCs, recommended systems, and other resources.

Scrapping plans that were hours in the making, explaining that you can’t seduce an inanimate object, and concocting NPCs on the fly with the help of fantasy-name generators - most Game Masters have seen their fair share of chaos. But running games for a younger audience brings a whole new set of challenges. What do youth expect in an age of D&D Tik Toks, Critical-Role discourse, and actual-play podcasts? How can you create an inclusive space where shy, marginalized kids feel comfortable putting themselves out there? And where do you fit in as a game master and the adult supervision? This guide covers all that and more!

Designed as a resource for those new to working with youth, those new to running tabletop-roleplaying games, and those already running a long-standing youth campaign, this guide contains insights from years playing games with youth 12-24, working at youth-facing restorative-justice and LGBTQ-resource organizations, and, of course, playing tabletop roleplaying games of all kinds. It also features sample prompts, story threads, NPCs, recommended systems, and other resources.

Jaclyn Lewis is a writer, game master, and youth worker. She’s founded two youth TTRPG programs and runs games for marginalized youth, encouraging creativity and self-expression, teaching boundaries and consent, and wrangling the (inevitable) chaos. She enjoys crafting words, gifts, and community, and can be found at gaming tables and conventions of all sorts and online