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Kids on Brooms is a tabletop experience that allows players to go to magic school and explore the tropes of the Harry Potter universe.
For decades, Harry Potter fans have longed for a way to experience the Wizarding World for themselves, wanting to do things like attend a magic school and fly around on brooms. The recent Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, has reignited that interest for many Potter-heads, and while the upcoming game Hogwarts Legacy may eventually deliver that, there’s another way for fas to try their hands at being a wizard: the Kids on Brooms tabletop RPG.
Using the Kids on Bikes system created by Jonathan Gilmour & Doug Levandowski, Kids on Brooms was also created by Spenser Starke, who is also known for another beginner-friendly game, Icarus. During the game, players can attend class, explore the mysterious school grounds, fight monsters and (of course) fly on brooms. Kids on Brooms‘ laidback structure can be less intimidating than other games like Dungeons & Dragons, making it perfect for those who have never played a TTRPG before while still being just as flexible in terms of storytelling.
In Kids on Brooms, two to six players attend a Hogwarts-like school where they must take classes, encounter new mysterious creatures, deal with unknown threats on campus and even duel other wizards. The game includes a system for grades and creating in-game connections with other characters. It’s also incredibly inclusive in terms of character creations, featuring options to make characters who are explicitly creating neurodivergent, disabled and LGBTQIA+, which makes it clear that all players are welcome to join in on the magic.
Like other TTRPGs, Kids on Brooms uses a full set of seven dice, but each of assigned to a specific trait. These include Flight, Fight, Brains, Brawn, Charm and Grit. For example, a character who is particularly talented with Flight will roll a d20 to make a Flight check, but those who are terrible at it will use a d4. One of the most intriguing aspects of the game is its flexibility. While the suggested rule for the setting is that players are kids are going to a magic school, the name, date, place and style is completely up to the Game Master.
Another great part of the book is the section “Setting Boundaries.” Determining everyone’s comfort levels with any difficult subject matter that might come up during the game is crucial for ensuring everyone feels welcome at the table. For instance, while some players might want to tackle themes like oppression and discrimination, others may prefer to engage in a pure escapist fantasy. While many campaigns start with session zero, Kids on Brooms does a great job of emphasizing the importance of communication and the kinds of safety measures GMs can use.
For those who want to see what Kids on Brooms looks like in action, the playshow Dimension 20 did an adventure called Misfits & Magic. The cast did an incredible job of showcasing their own takes on magic school students and tropes, such as the daring athlete, charismatic slacker and haunted survivor, which (outside of simply being entertaining) provides a helpful look at how the game operates in practice.
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