Is Pulp Alley suitable for ten year olds?

[Archie]

Hi,

So I'm still in the throes of returning to the gaming hobby. My youngest son and I are both big fans of the 'classic' Doc Savage movie and having asked on here and been directed to Mulch figures I strongly suspect that said son will be receiving some Doc 'Thompson' figures for Christmas.

That's the background ... my question is this ... are the Pulp Alley rules simple enough for a ten year old to play and enjoy?

It looks like the rules of choice for pulp fans but I don't know it at all.

At $10 the rules aren't that costly to sample but if it's totally out of the question then I'd rather some kind soul tells me and I'll save my hard earned cash.

Currently our wargaming is with very straight forward home brew rules although we are also in a three year long DnD campaign that everyone enjoys. And yes I know if he can cope with 4th edition DnD he can cope with nuclear physics but it's a different gaming experience when wargaming and I want something simple (as does he)!

I look forward to everyone's views.

[Wolf Girl]

Speaking from first hand experience, I started playing when I was around 11. We've also had several younger kids play that must have been around 9 or 10. The basic mechanics of the game are really fairly simple. Of course there's room for strategy and tactics but all any kid really wants to do is shoot stuff.

[Diplomatist]

I think he shouldn't have any problem and it's a great game for you to play together.

And Mila's the expert...

[The Hooded Claw]

My ten year old daughter love it!

Read about our fun here - http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2013/09/pulp-alley-aar-rescue-of-captain-journey.html

-Eli

[FramFramson]

PA has always seemed like a very very kid-friendly tabletop game to me.

[The Hooded Claw]

I feel the system is one of those rare gems that plays to younger and mature gamers without compromise.

-Eli

[magokiron]

I second everyone´s opinion that PULP ALLEY can be learned, grasped and used by young gamers quite easily.

AND as David frequently points out there is a FREE starting ruleset, if you want to check the basic mechanics to see if it's for you:

http://wwww.wargamevault.com/product/116275/Pulp-Alley---Quick-Start-PDF?affiliate_id=368817

The free rules aren't complete, but once you read them, I'm sure you'll want the "Complete" set. And USD$10.00 is a VERY reasonable price for such excellent set of rules.

Hope that helps.

[blacksoilbill]

I'd echo the above recommendations - my 7 year old loves the game. The rules are built around a straightforward core mechanic and the thinking is in how to best deploy your resources, not in sorting through the rules. And kids have a mind for heroic adventure, so they know what to do!

You probably will have to help them to remember things - characters all have unique skills, and you have a hand of cards to influence play. But hey, I forget those things half the time and I still have fun!

Bil.

[pistolpete]

they are not suitable for 10year olds if you want to win against them.  my 11yr old beats me to a pulp <pun intended> every time we play.

[Archie]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone and I enjoyed the hooded claws blog about the game with his daughter. I think I will review the free rule extracy and then hopefully go straight to a hardcopy of yhe rules as a gift for Christmas for my son...along with the Doc Savage figures I need to order!

[pistolpete]

i looked at the free version and i couldn't wait to order my copy.  christmas? who can wait that long!  surely a gift for guy fawkes day is in order. 

while i had to wait for payday to order my figs, my kids and i used lego figs/terrain - totally enjoyable.  highlight was getting stuck in tar pit and took off the legs - very dramatic looking scene.

[Argonor]

...along with the Doc Savage figures I need to order!

I think Bob Murch does some in his great Pulp Figures range?

[pistolpete]

Bob Murch does some in his great Pulp Figures range

those are on MY christmas list.

[Archie]

i looked at the free version and i couldn't wait to order my copy.  christmas? who can wait that long!  surely a gift for guy fawkes day is in order.  

while i had to wait for payday to order my figs, my kids and i used lego figs/terrain - totally enjoyable.  highlight was getting stuck in tar pit and took off the legs - very dramatic looking scene.

That's hilarious!

And yes it's the Murch figures I am getting him. Just as soon as I get around to ordering them!

And yes Guy Fawkes is a thought ... we will see!

[d phipps]

We've had really good feedback from younger players. Overall, they've said that the rules are easier to learn and make more sense than other skirmish games they had played.

A huge THANKS for all the support and kind comments from everyone on this thread.  

My daughter and I still play several games every week, so it is important that Pulp Alley is very playable and also very challenging.

In designing the game, we tried very hard to eliminate the time-wasters that slow a scenario down. But Pulp Alley isn't dumbed-down to the point that players simply alternate moving one model at a time, like they were playing Checkers. Instead, the turn sequence and combat is very dynamic, fluid, and offers players far more control and tactical options.


I believe Eli summed it up well when he said...

I feel the system is one of those rare gems that plays to younger and mature gamers without compromise.

HAVE FUN