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YOUTH STORY TABLES

Youth Story Tables (ages 11-18)

Creative Problem-Solving Games for Creative Kids

Youth Story Tables are game-based storytelling activities meant to engage the creativity of teens and tweens, while also fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging. All games are set in a wholly original, fantastical world ripe for adventure!

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Our story system, which we've run for the last six years, has taken notes from other popular role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, to create a system specially geared toward younger players. Gameplay is simple to learn and provides opportunities for social, moral, and intellectual lessons that  support the growth and development of the youthful mind.

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(Online and In-Person Games)

My son absolutely LOVES it. It's the main thing of the week he always looks forward to. Thank you very much! You are doing an amazing job!

Anya, Mother of 

Danil

Thank You for creating Isles of Mist.

It's so fun!

 Lucas

Benefits of Tabletop Roleplaying Games

Tabletop roleplaying games offer a myriad of benefits to a growing mind,

as is well documented through multiple scholarly studies, including including Blackmon, Wayne D. (1994), Hughes, John (1988), Hawkes-Robinson, William (2008), and Taylor, G. R. (2019),

to name a few.

Entertainment

Children always benefit from  lightly-structured play! Children need room to explore.

Social/Emotional

Build social skills and emotional resilience through roleplaying out complex situations.

Problem Solving

Find creative solutions using discussion, teamwork, logic, and imagination.

Literacy

Practice reading and handwriting while building a character. Practice statistics and addition through dice rolls.

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Isles of Mist

Role-playing Game System

Set out into the world of "Isles of Mist" an unique and easy to learn role-playing game system developed by Story Tables founder, Ashton MacSaylor. Experience a world of magic, wonder, and mystery where the world is new even to those who live there. 
 

Chart a path through the Great Forest, past trees as large as skyscrapers. Fly through the mists over The Lost Lake where air pirates wait in the darkness. Save the people of the once great city of Laisa from bondage. There are so many adventures to explore!

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Build your character and play to become a legend!

Frequently asked questions

How do you play the game?

1. Create your character 2. Let your Story Guide lead you to adventure 3. Describe your actions and roleplay your character 4. Roll to see if you succeed 5. Complete your mission 6. Level up and win rewards All table sessions are essentially storytelling games that use a hand of cards as a chance-based method of determining success or failure in the story. The better your character's skills are, and the better the die roll, the better the chances of success. The Story Guide is your lead storyteller who describes to you what your character sees and roleplays all the other, non-player, characters in the world. You can interact with these other characters and your surroundings just as you would in a rpg video game, but through speaking and improvising. Using a human Story Guide instead of a computer script allows for infinitely varied actions, outcomes, and possibilities.



What is "Isles of Mist"

"Isles of Mist" is the role-playing game system designed by Story Table's co-founder and educator Ashton MacSaylor. It is a world of floating islands, magical mists, impressive creatures, and complex social dynamics. If you're lucky enough, you might catch a ride on a grand but, rare, legendary airship. Pick your character caste, choose your abilities, background, skills, magic, and equipment. Then venture forth into a land barely known even to those who live there.



Who are the Story Guides?

Story Guides take you through a unique story built in the Isles of Mist world. They help the player build a character and guide him or her through different encounters, while roleplaying a multitude of characters, both friends and foes. Current permanent Story Guides
- Ashton MacSaylor: is a high school game design teacher at Oak Grove School, with a master's degree in education. Ashton has published the interactive fiction novel "The Good, the Bad, and the Undead." - Callie MacSaylor: Callie is an artist, and game master, with a background in video game and children's show development.

- Sam Tillis: is a professional teacher, tutor, theatre maker, and game master hailing from (and currently located in) the San Francisco Bay Area. He has run a D&D game from first to twentieth level, founded a sci-fi/fantasy theatre company, and watched every episode of Star Trek ever made—no, the Animated Series doesn't count; yes, he's done it anyway.



Where can I join Youth Story Tables?

Semester after school programs start Sept 2021. Currently we offer online and in person games. You can see the online offerings if you click "join." Games of Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): Games for kids 12-18 at Games of Berkeley Game Store. Sign up by clicking "join" under Youth Tables. Fridays 4pm-6pm. Starts Sept 24th. Must have proof of vaccination in order to play. Story Guide: Sam

Affliate School Programs: Rock Tree Sky Learning Center (Ojai, CA): Available to all Rock Tree Sky students 11-18. Mondays and Tuesdays 10am-12pm. Meet us on campus at time of event to sign up! Starts Sept 20th. Story Guides: Callie and Ashton. Oak Grove School (Ojai, CA): Open to all local children! Sign up on Oak Grove website. Wednesdays 2:20pm-4:30pm. Starts Sept 22nd. Story Guide: Ashton. Matilija middle school (Ojai, CA): Available to all Matilija students. Contact the front office to sign up! Wednesdays 2pm-4pm. Starts Sept 22nd. Story Guide: Callie.



How can I book a private event?

Story Tables is available for private events such as birthdays, bar mitzvahs, team sport celebrations, or after school events. If you would like a unique, one time, story table session simply email us at info@storytables.com. Sessions can hold up to 7 players and last 3-6 hours. Choose from a variety of pre-built characters! Suggest a theme, genre, or plot you'd like to play, and we'll craft a story experience built around YOU!