+ FAQ +
Q: My child has zero experience. Is that a problem?
A: NO! We will start at ground level and build them up.
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Q: Can younger kids play?
A: Absolutely! While we recommend students be at least 3rd grade, advanced 2nd graders are welcome at your discretion. If they have interest in playing, everything else can be taught!
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Q: What is “role-playing”?
A: Role-playing is the act of setting yourself aside while adopting and acting out the role of someone else, often a fictional character in a hypothetical scenario. It involves exploring a situation from another person’s perspective. In the real world, we call this empathy.
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Q: Is it violent?
A: There are fantasy themed battles akin to Harry Potter. “Enemies” tend to be monsters and not humans. “Combat” is not the only way to solve a problem. Characters are rewarded, and therefore encouraged, to approach situations with cleverness over forcefulness. All "battles" take place in your imagination.
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Q: What else will you be doing?
A: The program is fully immersive and includes supplemental activities like drawing your character and your party, creating a party name, logo and flag, writing backstories and reading them out loud. Also built-in are features like mini games, mental puzzles and various creative outlets.
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Q: Will there be homework?
A: Nope!
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Q: How big are the groups?
A: Each group or “party” consists of 5 players + 1 Quest Master (instructor).
Groups are co-ed.
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Q: I want my child to be with siblings but they're in different grades.
A: That's actually two questions. First: pairing. We are absolutely open to pairing friends and siblings together. Just send us an email and we'll prioritize those partnerships. Second: different grades. Tables consist of 3rd - 6th graders. Developmental studies have shown that when children are placed in small groups of mixed-age ranges, the younger group is required to "step up" while the older group naturally transition into "mentor" positions. This becomes mutually developmentally beneficial to both parties. In short: yes, friends and siblings can be paired regardless of grade.​
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Q: Can I sign my child up for more than one class a week?
A: Yes, definitely. They would be in a secondary and separate group with different players on a different adventure but this is not at all unusual. For example, you could sign them up for Group A who meets on TUES and also group B who meets on THURS. Totally up to you! Each "group" meets once a week on their designated day for a total of 6 weeks. At the end of 6 weeks, you may sign up again for a brand new quest. The program runs year-round.
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Q: If my child misses a session, do I have to pay?
A: Completely understand shifting plans. Much like little league baseball, your child will be imperative to the success of the team, the unfolding of the story and the quality of the overall campaign. The registration covers the full cycle of 6 sessions regardless of player presence.
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Q: Am I charged for school holidays when they can’t play?
A: No. If school holidays land on the day of your student’s campaign, you will not be charged. Barring national emergencies, most blackout dates are known in advance and the schedule is designed to avoid them. A refund will occur in the event of unexpected community emergencies.
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Q: I want my child to be in an “only” boys or “only” girls group. Can I do that?
A: We can do anything we want if the resources are present. Email us and we'll see if we can figure it out! You thinking about having a mean girl-gang of orcs save the day?​​​
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Q: Will there be snacks provided?
A: Your child is welcome to bring snacks but they will not be provided.
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Q: What happens if I’m late to pickup?
A: We will NEVER leave your child unattended. The QMs are paid employees. The club ends at 5:15pm which means their shift ends at 5:15pm. Parents arriving late for pick-up will be charged $10 per 15-minute increment to accommodate their time. At 5:16, there is a $10 charge. At 5:31, there is a second $10 charge, etc. This must be paid prior to your child attending their next session. If you call and let us know you will be late, that is the same as being late :)
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Q: What happens if the QM can’t make it?
A: Emergencies do occur. In the event that the QM falls ill, we have backups from our program standing by. Your child’s safety is our first priority so we will ensure they are supervised at all times. If the QM is unable to make it and the game does not occur, even though your child is present for the full time, you will receive a full refund for that session.
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Q: Will the QMs have background checks done?
A: Absolutely. We want both you and your child to have a premium experience with qualified people. An extensive background check will be run on all candidates to ensure they aren't on any "creepy lists". We use the same third party service which Boy Scouts of America utilizes.
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Q: What happens if my child doesn’t like it? Can I get a refund?
A: Our QMs are paid for their services in advance and we book them out for 6 weeks according to how many students join in the initial phase. A refund will not be possible without putting the health of the program at risk.
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Q: What happens if my child falls in love with Dungeons & Dragons?
A: You will have a well-rounded, kind human filled with empathy, curiosity and intelligence who will be prepared to take on challenges in the real world.​​​
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Q: Do you run any campaigns for non-English speakers?
A: We also offer courses led by instructors fluent in Armenian, Korean & Spanish.
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Q: Is this the same game they are playing in Stranger Things?
A: YES!
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Q: But how does the game actually work?
A: Imagine the QM as the narrator of a story. For this exercise, let’s imagine a Harry Potter scenario. The “players” are all characters in this story; Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna Lovegood.
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Narrator/QM: “You’re all sitting in Snape’s class when suddenly someone screams out that there is a troll destroying the bathroom on the second floor.” Snape tells everyone to hold tight while he rushes out of the room, sealing the door with a magic charm.
The characters then get to decide what to do - sit tight or go check it out. If they want to check it out, they need to figure out how to escape the room. Can they overcome Snape’s magic spell on the door? Can they crawl out the window? Can Harry summon his broom? The players may have certain items, spells, or knowledge which inform their decisions. Once a decision is made, dice is rolled to see which events succeed and which fail.
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Q: Is there a board or pieces or cards?
A: The short answer is “no”. The long answer is “yes”.
Like all stories, D&D takes place within The Theater of the Mind. It’s imagination.
However, the game can be built out with certain resources, making it more visual. A QM may have a white board wherein they draw a map or outline of the room you are currently in. Players may have figurines to show placement of their characters on that map. You may have notecards to represent your spells or items.
These things are not needed but they enrich the experience and can make it more engaging.
At its most basic, D&D is collaborative storytelling. Everything beyond that is supplementary.
At its most complex, it is a game of teamwork, creative thinking, problem solving, statistical challenges, mind-bending puzzles, mazes, combat, negotiation, role-playing, friendship and emotional resilience.
You don’t always get what you want. Make a plan. Try your best. The dice decide your fate.
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Q: I’m not at La Crescenta Elementary. Do you do this at other schools?
A: Absolutely! Reach out and we can discuss next steps. Contact info is at the bottom of this page.
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Q: Is there a D&D age appropriate movie I could watch?
A: YES! The 2023 film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves stars Chris Pine (the bard and charming thief), Michelle Rodriguez (the barbarian), Justice Smith (the sorcerer) and Hugh Grant (rogue and con artist).​
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Synopsis: The film follows charming thief Edgin (Chris Pine), and his band of misfit adventurers as they embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic. Along the way, they face deadly foes, magical traps, and unexpected twists. The film blends action, humor, and fantasy, bringing the spirit of the beloved tabletop game to life on the big screen. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to D&D, this adventure promises thrills and laughs for everyone.
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Q: I have more questions. Can I connect with someone on your team?I?
A: Please do! We love to meet new people. Reach out and we can do a phone call, zoom call or coffee. Here is the contact info for our Program Coordinator:
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Johnny Brookbank
818.445.3534 (call or text!)
