Most published D&D adventures are written for adult tables. With a few changes, they can become great adventures for kids and teens!
đ Important Note: All Young Heroes games must follow the Young Heroes Content Policy. This guide shows how to put that policy into practice. It doesnât replace it.
The 3 Rules of Adapting Content
Match the youngest and least comfortable player. Plan for the player who needs the most care.
Explain more, depict less. Talk about hard things without showing them in graphic detail.
Always provide recovery. After a hard moment, give the heroes a way to make things right.
How Do I Adapt a Module?
Read ahead. Flag any scenes with gore, harm to children, romance, substances, or hopeless endings.
Change the why, keep the what. A villain kidnapping villagers for a sacrifice can kidnap them to dig in a mine instead. The heroes still get to save the day.
Pick a tone match. Think of a movie or show your playersâ age group would enjoy that has the feel youâre going for. Asking âWould this scene fit in that show?â is a quick way to check your content.
Cut away early. Describe what the heroes find, not what happened.
Defeat, not death. For younger players, enemies and heroes can be knocked out, captured, or flee.
Check in. Use Lines and Veils, and ask players what they enjoyed after each session.
Quick Swaps for Younger Tables
In the module | Try this instead |
Death | Knocked out, captured, or turned to stone (and restored later) |
Gore | âThe monster stumbles back!â |
Children in danger | Children are lost and need help getting home |
Drinking | The inn serves cider and cocoa |
Romance or obsession | Friendship, rivalry, or a villain who wants power |
Module Examples
Curse of Strahd
Ages | Feels like | How to adapt it |
9 to 12 | Scooby-Doo, Hotel Transylvania | Strahd is a grumpy count who stole the valleyâs sunlight. Death House is a silly haunted house with friendly ghosts. The heroes win by bringing back the sun. |
13 to 14 | Goosebumps, Coraline | Spooky mists and werewolves are fine. Focus on mystery and who the heroes can trust. Keep any sacrifices offscreen. |
15 to 17 | Stranger Things, Wednesday | Gothic horror themes like corruption and despair are okay, but keep gore offscreen and end with hope. |
â ď¸ At every age, remove Strahdâs romantic obsession with Ireena. Instead, he may want her magic, or be after something only she could find.
Lost Mine of Phandelver
Ages | Feels like | How to adapt it |
9 to 12 | How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek | The Redbrands are bullies taking over town, and the goblins are sneaky troublemakers. Venomfang the dragon can be tricked or bargained with. |
13 to 14 | Percy Jackson, Avatar: The Last Airbender | Add Glasstaffâs betrayal of the town. Losses like Thel Dendrarâs death are mentioned, not shown. |
15 to 17 | The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves | The Redbrands are a real threat, and characters can die, with time to honor them. |
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Ages | Feels like | How to adapt it |
9 to 12 | Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz | Play up the carnival magic and silly fey. The hags are grumpy and mischievous, and their curses can be undone. |
13 to 14 | Over the Garden Wall, Spirited Away | Fey bargains have real costs. The hags can be unsettling, but not horror-movie scary. |
15 to 17 | Labyrinth, Stardust | Explore dangerous deals and broken trust, with a hopeful ending. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my table has players of different ages?
Plan for the youngest player at the table.
What if a scene goes too far during a session?
Pause, soften, or redirect right away. Itâs okay to say âLetâs rewind thatâ and try the scene again. Be willing to step in and stop things if a player needs to be redirected.
Do I need to tell Guardians about my changes?
Yes! Make sure your Game Templateâs content warnings match your version of the module, and list your changes so Guardians know what they are signing their kids up for.
đ Tip: If you update your Game Template, youâll need to resubmit it for review.