Adventure, teamwork, and imagination

StoryQuest is a beginner-friendly tabletop roleplaying experience for kids. Players create a character, explore a world they helped build, solve problems together, and shape the story through their choices.

It's easy to learn and exciting to play. No prior roleplaying experience needed - just curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to work together.

Why parents love it
- StoryQuest gives kids a chance to practice communication, cooperation, improv, flexible thinking, and confidence in a setting that feels playful and low-pressure.- There's ample room for imagination, humor, and surprises.- Tabletop roleplaying games are especially powerful because kids are not just watching a story - they are helping create it.

Why kids love it
- Kids get to make bold choices and see the story change because of them.- StoryQuest rewards creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.- It is easy to learn, but never feels dull.- There's enough structure to be successful while maintaining meaningful consequences when rolls don't go the way you want.

How it works
In StoryQuest, each player creates a character with four simple traits: Strong, Fast, Smart, and Social. When something challenging happens in the story, the player describes what they want to do, chooses the trait that best fits the moment, rolls a 20-sided die, and adds their bonus(es) to see what happens.In StoryQuest, the story comes before the rules: players are encouraged to think creatively, describe their actions, and interact with the world as if they are really there.

FAQ

What is StoryQuest?
StoryQuest is a tabletop roleplaying game designed to be simple, accessible, and story-driven. Players imagine a character, describe what they want to do, roll dice when the outcome is uncertain, and work together to overcome challenges.

Is StoryQuest the same as Dungeons & Dragons?
StoryQuest is inspired by the same collaborative spirit that makes tabletop roleplaying games so engaging, but it uses its own lighter, fiction-first system. The goal is to make it easier for kids and beginners to jump in and start playing without getting overwhelmed by complicated rules and mechanics.

What does “fiction-first” mean?
It means the story comes first. Always. Instead of starting with a list of rules and mechanics and then flavoring the story to match the outcome, players begin by describing what their character is doing (and their motivation for doing it) in the scene and then a mechanic is chosen to fit the fiction.

What kinds of stories do you create?
At the start of camp I will work with the players to imagine and create a world we would like to play in. (Note: for camps held at Pudding Art Studio we also work together to draw elements of the world we want to explore)We may tell stories in one particular genre (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Modern, Victorian) or perhaps a mix. One player may choose to be a wizard but another player may choose to be a cat and another a ninja or a robot... or a cat-robot wizard-ninja!

What skills does StoryQuest help develop?
StoryQuest encourages teamwork, communication, creative problem-solving, perspective, compassion, and confidence. Games like these give kids a chance to practice social and emotional skills naturally through play.

Do kids need experience to play?
Not at all. StoryQuest is designed for beginners, and new players are guided through the process step by step. No need to know roleplaying rules ahead of time.

Does my child need to be able to read and write proficiently?
No. We will review the character sheet together at the start of camp and any writing will be supported by others at the table as needed.Is each camp week the same?
Nope! If your kiddo enjoys one week and comes a later week it will be a whole new story!

How do characters work?
Each character uses four simple traits: Strong, Fast, Smart, and Social. During character creation, players assign a +2, +1, +1, and 0 among those four traits to shape the kind of hero they want to play.When a player attempts something challenging, they choose the trait that fits the action, roll a 20-sided die (called a d20), add their trait bonus and any modifiers, and compare the result to the difficulty set by the Game Master.

What is Stress?
Stress is a simple way to track pressure, setbacks, effort, and damage during the adventure. Players may gain Stress when they fail an action, get hurt, or choose to push themselves to help an ally.When a player helps an ally, they can take Stress to give that ally Advantage, which means rolling two d20s and keeping the higher result! If the Stress track fills up, the character gains a -1 Modifier and then clears the Stress bar.

What are Modifiers?
Modifiers represent lasting effects from the story. A character might gain a bonus from a magical blessing, suffer a penalty from an injury, or carry another ongoing change based on what happened during the adventure. This helps the story leave a mark on the character in a simple and memorable way.

Is it competitive?
No. StoryQuest is cooperative. The players work together to solve problems, face challenges, and build a memorable shared story.

Is there combat?
There can be danger and conflict, but the game is not only about fighting. Players can solve problems through bravery, clever ideas, diplomacy, teamwork, exploration, and roleplaying. There may be scenes that play out like combat but StoryQuest's mechanics are not created to highlight combat tactical play.

What ages is StoryQuest for?
StoryQuest works well for anyone of any age! (Note: an event / camp may have a specific age range)

What does a session feel like?
A session usually includes storytelling, character interaction, decision-making, dice rolling, problem-solving, and moments of humor, suspense, and teamwork. You can think of it as a shared adventure story where the players help decide what happens next.What is your experience working with neurodivergent children?
Having worked for years in an elementary school after-care program, volunteered in my children’s classrooms, and parented two neurodivergent children, I understand that each child is unique and may need different kinds of support. My camps are designed to be flexible and welcoming, with options for headphones for children who are sensitive to sound or fidgets during play. Because StoryQuest is imaginative and story-driven, kids can engage with the game in the way that feels most comfortable for them while taking breaks as needed. There is no one right way to play.

ABOUT ME

Hi, I’m Aaron Madzik (pronounced "magic"), the creator of StoryQuest.I’ve been playing Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop roleplaying games for 35 years, starting when I was in 5th grade running games for my friends. Over the years I’ve explored many different RPG systems, including Traveller, Daggerheart, Blades in the Dark, and Call of Cthulhu, but what I’ve always loved most is the shared storytelling, creativity, and improvisation that happens around the table.Teaching has been a major part of my life. After college I worked for Apple Computer as a Presenter and Business Specialist, where I taught everyone from beginners to pros, business clients, photographers, students, and filmmakers. In 2003 I began working as an independent computer consultant and in 2011 I founded my own business, Partners in Computing, where I work with all ages on their computers and devices.I also have years of experience working with kids and families. At 18 and 19 I worked as a camp counselor for a music camp. From 2009 to 2012 I served as Program Leader for Creswell Clubhouse, an Elementary School after-school and summer camp program, and later became President of the Board for several years. I’m also a parent of two kids, ages 9 and 13, and I’ve led them through many roleplaying adventures of their own. I also coach kids Soccer through Kidsports and volunteer for Rose Children's Theatre (RCT). My most recent Background check with RCT was completed April 2026.StoryQuest brings together a lot of the things I care about most: teaching, creativity, imagination, collaboration, and helping people feel comfortable learning something new. My goal is to create a welcoming space where kids can build confidence, solve problems together, and have a genuinely great time.Outside of work and roleplaying, I enjoy spending time with my family and a wide range of outdoor and indoor hobbies including writing music, playing piano, rock climbing, kung fu, disc golf, hiking and backpacking. I also enjoy video games like Minecraft, Baldur’s Gate, and absolutely love cooperative board games like Forbidden Desert.