Is it a boardgame? Is it a story? I know what I want �

Can I get it???

OK. I roleplay with kids most of the time, 10 year olds. The past three years I�ve generally run fairly non-violent adventure RPGs of my own devising, low on numbers high on improv. And fairly simple plots.

Now and then I hit a low patch where a group does not get it, I don�t explain it, I let my guard down or I get sick of the same boyish fantasy �killalldamutha�s in da room� type response.

I�ve recently done some experimentation with drama points (or plot points � I am soo daring!) and last year with a fully pregenerated set-up and character list, like watching a movie, but with handouts, fantastic Egyptian props and so on �

I�m trying to come up with a new game. Partly to overcome some of the usual childish problems that occur when would-be teenagers come up against �what do you want to do?� mechanics, and partly to get myself motivated and back on the horse. I know what I want, but I�m having trouble assembling the parts. I �ve got writer�s block. I wonder if anyone here on the Forge can give me that kick or flash of inspiration that can help me gel everything together??

This is what I�m envisaging:

1) Pre-generated set-up. I play with new groups of children regularly. The learning curve is steep. I will use rules light mechanics (no problem there), and a pregenerated setting, situation and suite of starting characters. A bit like a movie. Coming with each setting is a detailed location. These resources I can produce lavishly using web art, fancy effects and stationary, laminating machines and so on! This means they are all re-useable. A bit like a boardgame. Imagine children in ancient Rome. Explorers on Mars. Greek heroes. etc.

2) Scenarios that write themselves. There are several reasons for this. I am lazy. Yes. But also a crisply written scenario does not survive contact, I have to play in 40-45 minute sessions once a week, and I often ditch huge chunks to get to the exciting bits, or the kids (being kids) head off into the sunset and I get improvising fast! We always have fun, I can improvise, but I like a guideline to assist me. Nothing too deep. And nothing that empowers the PCs too much. RPGing is alien to many 10 year old boys who I find out act out scenes or characters from the latest 18 rated movie they�ve seen and try to outcool each other with badassedness and bodycount, or treat a game like Quake or Doom. Kill stuff, take stuff, flex those pex. I can curb these power fantasies with some adroit preamble and selective set-up (no weapons for example, and no social encounters, or making the PCs powerless such as little kids or animals).

I am envisaging a random plot list, with several tables to build an opening. I have such a list that gives me 20 or 30 plots for an �outcast/guerilla/Robin Hood/Rebel Alliance versus big bad authority� campaign. But that�s all! Ideally the plot will progress with turning points in the game initiated with cards or maybe special dice rolls or draws from stones � I don�t know. This is where I�m getting stuck. I can�t rely on the player�s imaginations (for the reasons I just mentioned). These plot cards or turning points need to inspire ME! What do they tell me? And how are they initiated? Can they be genre free so I can use them with any of my pregenerated setting packs?

Note: I have Universalis and Everway. I�ve found the cards In Everway useful for fantasy games, but I cannot take the tarot-like Fate cards into school for fear of someone seeing the connection and going over the top, getting my little RPG club banned forvever!

Any ideas, anyone?