I just returned from Parent/Teacher Conferences. My sons are in 9th and 8th grade and here in Minnesota that means High School and Middle School. It was interesting to me how each conference was organized. The High School conferences were held in the teachers rooms, while the Middle School had everyone in a couple large rooms (gym and cafeteria). You do a lot of waiting at events like this, so I started thinking about gaming.

The easiest game idea is the quest. How many campaigns are some variation of “collect the pieces of the magic weapon of doom before the bad guys”. My quest was to visit all the teachers for each son and collect up opinions on their academic progress. Along the way I struggled with mazes (complicated school hallways), traps (school parking lots), and evil NPCs (OK, really just other parents trying to get done and go home).

Conferences are also an excellent chance for the Skill Challenge. You need to make 5 successful Wisdom (Insight) checks to determine the actual progress of your petition to the King (visit all the teachers where your child needs help). Dexterity (Stealth) check to not be caught by the talkative courtier on your way to an important meeting (escape from the chatty booster club president looking for volunteers).

And when you literally need a map to make your way from one class to another, It’s a dungeon.

Have you found any gaming ideas at your kids school(s)?