Lore At-a-Glance

Waterdeep, City of Splendors

The Children’s Race takes place at the Field of Triumph located in Waterdeep along the Sword Coast. Any fantasy town or city would work just as well, though.

Celebrity Status

Children who win the race become minor celebrities. For the following year, the parents are compensated when the children attend public events, such as parades, parties, or festivals. The child’s name is recorded in the Hall of Heroes!

The nobility in Waterdeep will stop at nothing to ensure their child wins the race! This D&D mini game can really ignite your players' creativity!

Nobility Bragging Point

The noble families of Waterdeep all vie to ensure their child’s team will win. This includes casting helpful spells on their children from the stands, or even harmful ones on the opposing children’s teams.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Additional Backstory/Setup

In Waterdeep, the Field of Triumph is a large, outdoor colosseum for holding public speeches and events. If you’re not in Waterdeep, any large space would work for this race.

During the spring, summer, and autumn, the Field of Triumph holds a series of events every week. One of these weekly events is horse racing. In an effort to showcase compassion, a charity was founded by Waterdhavian citizens called Horses with Hope. This charity has a large farm just outside of the Waterdeep city gates, where retired race horses can supposedly live in peace until the end of their days.

Purpose and Details of The Children’s Race

The Children’s Race takes place once a year in my version of Waterdeep to kick off the Field of Triumph event season. The race is highly promoted and receives donations in the form of team sponsorships and straightforward cash grabs. A large portion of the funds go to a charity each year. The charity is selected by the largest donor, and this year, the charity being supported is Horses with Hope.

Horses with Hope is a corrupt organization ran by a vile woman named Victoria DeBurbonc. She appears kind and compassionate up front but any digging into her business practices (or literally digging at her farm, as my players did) show that she has a dark side. My players hate her.

Player Props

I made supporter ribbons for my players, who were supporting Todd-Robbin in the race. My players were not just financial supporters. They disguised the halfling in their party to look like a child and run as Todd-Robbin’s race partner. Todd-Robbin’s original partner ditched him for a different team only days before the race.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!
Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Race Mechanics

This sounds great, Malice! But how do I ACTUALLY run the race?

It’s easy! Check out the details and mechanics below. You’ll find they’re very similar to running standard combat, which makes it easy to incorporate without much additional instruction for your players.

Overview

The Children’s Race is composed of four teams. Each team must have two children, for a total of eight very lucky participants.

There is a track set up in the Field of Triumph, which includes several obstacle courses and ends in a dangerous maze. Whichever team, in part or whole, reaches the trophy at the center of the maze first, wins.

The child or children who reach the center of the maze for the first place prize have their names recorded in the Hall of Heroes and become minor celebrities. For the next year, they are requested to attend local events, parades, and parties. The parents are compensated for these appearances, and it is a major popularity boost for the family. It is a highly coveted award amongst nobility.

There is no magical interference allowed from the crowd during the race, though it is common for parents and enthusiastic supporters to get around this.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Race Outline

Orchestra Intro

I love using the Civilization 6 soundtrack for events like this. It’s so regal and important sounding. Here’s a link to a YouTube playlist that uses a great song order. I usually stop before track five, because America’s song is a bit too “banjo” for an event like this, in my opinion.

Speech from the Open Lord

In my timeline, Laeral Silverhand is the Open Lord of Waterdeep. Any political leader would work, though. Here’s a short speech if you’d like to use it:

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests and honored citizens of Waterdeep, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Children’s Race, an event that has become a beloved tradition in our fair city.

For years, this race has been a thrilling and exciting spectacle, showcasing the bravery, determination, and skill of our youngest citizens. It is a celebration of our city’s youth and the spirit of competition, as well as an opportunity to bring our community together in a spirit of camaraderie and good cheer.

Today, we will witness four teams of two children each as they compete against one another in a challenging and dangerous obstacle course. These young athletes have been training for weeks and months, honing their skills and preparing themselves for this moment. They have shown remarkable dedication and perseverance, and we are all proud of them.

We are also grateful to the noble families of Waterdeep who have generously supported this event, providing funding and resources to make it possible. Their commitment to our community is an inspiration to us all, and we thank them for their contributions.

So let us all come together today to cheer on these young athletes, to encourage them to do their best, and to celebrate the spirit of competition and sportsmanship that makes events like this so special. Let us show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication, and let us all have a great time at this year’s Children’s Race!

:cheering:

A Few Words from Last Year’s Winner

After this speech, last year’s Children’s Race winner approaches the podium or stage. This is a child who wears an eyepatch and uses a cane to walk, because he suffered serious injuries in last year’s race. Here is a short speech by him if you’d like to use it:

Hi everyone, my name is Tommy Talbot, of House Talbot. [Or insert a name of your choosing.] I won the race last year and it was a really unforgettable experience!

Even though I was hurt, participating in the Children’s Race was the best event of my life. I wanted to come here and say hi, and wish all the new racers good luck! This race is awesome and it’s really important to everyone in Waterdeep. I’m really glad you’re here.

As you can see, I did sustain a few injuries in the race last year. It’s all part of the excitement and risk. The tradition, even, my parents say. Hi Mom! But don’t worry–the best clerics in Waterdeep will be ready to treat you at the end of the race, just like I was treated. I’m lucky to be alive! My eye doesn’t work anymore due to a well-aimed Firebolt spell, and my leg was so badly broken I have to use a cane, but I still feel very lucky to have participated.

Since I won last year, I’ve been to lots of really awesome events, parties, and parades in Waterdeep. I even got my name put in the Hall of Heroes! It’s so cool to be part of something that’s been going on for a really long time.

So, to all the kids who are racing today, you’re already legends in my mind! Even if you don’t win, just being part of this race is a big deal. I wish you all the luck in the world and I can’t wait to see what you can do! Let’s go!

:hesitant cheering:

The Children's Race is a hilarious and memorable mini game event for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition.

Course Overview by Race Announcer

At this point, the race announcer will go over the different obstacle courses in the race. These are outlined for you below.

Public Thank You to Largest Financial Donations

The Open Lord resumes their place on the podium or stage, and makes a public thank you to the noble house that donated the most money to the event. They also explain the charity connection to the race, which I outlined above.

In my game, the evil House Cassalanter donated this money for prestige and attention, and the corrupt charity Horses with Hope received the donations.

Line Up Children for the Race!

Have the race announcer line up the children for the race. However your players are involved, make sure to elaborate on any details they’d be interested in hearing more about.

During and After the Race

The race announcer will react appropriately to events as they arise, and provide extreme enthusiasm and excitement for the winner, regardless of the physical state they are in at the event’s finale.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Managing the Race

Suggestions for Managing the Race

There are a few mechanics, rolls, numbers, and other things to keep track of with this race, but it’s no more challenging than a large combat scenario. I suggest you put your players to work! They’ll have a blast helping out with all the rolls. You can keep track of the racers yourself, or you can delegate that task out, too.

Make sure to check out the spreadsheet I provided for you below to help with tracking. If you’re feeling awkward about it, run a few fake rounds before your game session to get comfortable with the mechanics.

Cheating: Or, Where the FUN Lies

NPC parents and friends of the children, as well as your players, will probably want to cast spells on the children to attempt to change the race’s outcome. This is technically not allowed.

There are mages from the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors patrolling the exterior of the race track, but they have a lot to keep track of. If your players are doing something particularly blatant, like, say, casting Fireball on the bale of hay as a child approaches, have a mage roll to see if he spots the player who casted the spell. You can handle the repercussions as you see fit, but a round of Silence may be enough.

In my experience, this has been the part of the event that the players are the most excited about. They get to use their tactical abilities AND their weird utility spells in creative ways to solve a problem.

Handling “Interruptions”

It is likely that the child racers will be interrupted by your players (or your NPCs) as they complete the obstacle course. How you rule this is up to you, but I usually like to do something with flavor for negative impacts, like an added limp and the affected child(ren) are put at the end for the round, or near it.

Any city or town with political corruption is a great place for this D&D homebrew event.
Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!
The head of the Adventurer's Guild! Image by Andrey Kiselev via Dreamstime

Pre-Made NPCs

Don’t forget to incorporate my premade NPCs for your event, if you’d like to make The Children’s Race into a bigger adventure piece. Check out more information on them by clicking The Adventurer’s Guild link button below.

D20 Separator Image for TTRPGs, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, Pathfinder, and other Fantasy TTRPG articles.

More Interesting Children

You may want to roll up some more interesting children for the race. Use different race ability standards, or give them arbitrary bonuses and deficits. If you want to get your players involved, have them create a few kids without telling them what kinds of stats they’ll need. This part can be really fun.

 
Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Managing the Race

The race is composed of five obstacles. Each represents a facet of Waterdhavian life. The race announcer will explain and embellish each of these concepts as much as you see fit. They may discuss the importance of teaching these concepts to our children, and to remind us every year of the tenets Waterdhavians live by. The more over-the-top you make it, the stranger the race seems and the funnier it can be.

If racers perform poorly during the obstacles, they will earn disadvantage rolls for use during the Maze obstacle. These can accumulate during the race, and all must be used in succession at the end, during the Maze.

Each obstacle’s racer rank is determined separately. For each 1st place win a racer receives one advantage roll during The Maze. Each last place earns one disadvantage roll. These are tallied up during the race and used during the final obstacle.

  • Facet of Life: Embrace life within the City of Splendors! The Jewel of the Sword Coast!
    • Representative Obstacle: Starting Sprint
  • Facet of Life: Work Hard for Success
    • Representative Obstacle: Tunnel Through a Hay Bale
  • Facet of Life: Overcome Daily Challenges
    • Representative Obstacle: Mud Pit
  • Facet of Life: Help Others Around You
    • Representative Obstacle: Carry Your Buddy
  • Facet of Life: Find Your Place in the World
    • Representative Obstacle: The Maze

Round One: Starting Sprint

Description

Children race about fifty yards as fast as they can over uneven terrain towards the second obstacle.

Mechanics

Each child rolls a D20 and adds their athletics bonus to the roll. This places them in a racer order, much like how initiative is handled when beginning combat. For example, if two children roll a 2+0 and a 3+1, and a third child rolls a 19+2, it places them in 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place, respectively.

This rolling mechanic is completed three times to dictate who completes the sprint first. It also gives the GM an order for the remaining racers. The last racer earns a disadvantage for the Maze. First place wins an advantage roll.

Critical Success Bonus Results

A natural 20 here gives a double athletics bonus, or a single boost in racer position. Whichever is better.

Critical Fail Injury Results

A natural 1 here results in minor injuries, such as a sprained ankle or skinned knee. They have earned a disadvantage roll in The Maze….

Round Two: Tunnel Through a Hay Bale

Each obstacle is rated separately. First place in this obstacle will earn an advantage die in The Maze. Last place will earn a disadvantage roll.

Description

Children must burrow through a large hay bale. They may not scamper over or around it. This is way more difficult than it sounds. Also, hay is quite flammable….

Mechanics

Similarly to the sprint before, each child must roll a D20 three times to indicate position. This time, add their strength modifier as they claw their way through compacted, hot hay.

Critical Success Bonus Results

A natural 20 here gives a double strength bonus, or a +2. Whichever is better. It also cancels out any disadvantage rolls earned for the next round, regardless of when the 20 is thrown.

Critical Fail Injury Results

A natural 1 here results in minor to moderate injuries, such as a scratched eye and loss of vision, scratched arms or legs, or a sneezing fit which delays the racer. They have earned TWO disadvantage rolls in The Maze…

Round Three: Mud Pit

Description

Children must swim and slog their way through a very deep mud pit. There is a creature in the pit attempting to pull children under. It is mind-controlled by a mage and will not drown the child (assuming nothing happens to the mage). It will simply grab the child, pull them under, and then let go.

Mechanics

Each child must roll a D20 three times to indicate position in this obstacle. Add their Dexterity modifier to avoid the tentacle grab! If a child’s total roll is less than 10, they are pulled under and must add a disadvantage roll to their tally for The Maze.

Critical Success Bonus Results

A natural 20 here on any roll negates the possibility of a tentacle grab for this obstacle. If it occurs on the last roll, it instead grants an advantage roll in The Maze.

Critical Fail Injury Results

A natural 1 here results in choking on mud, slowing the child way down! They have earned 1D4 disadvantage rolls in The Maze…

Round Four: Carry Your Buddy

Description

Children must carry their teammate across a 50 yard span. Any type of carrying is permitted. Racers must indicate how they intend to carry their teammate.

Mechanics

Each child must roll a D20 three times to indicate position in this obstacle. Add their Strength modifier to these rolls.

Critical Success Bonus Results

A natural 20 here gives a double Strength bonus, or +2. Whichever is better. It also grants an advantage roll in The Maze.

Critical Fail Injury Results

A natural 1 here results in minor injuries, such as a sprained ankle or skinned knee for both team members. They have each earned a disadvantage roll in The Maze…

Final Round: The Maze

Description

The children must traverse a maze full of dangers to procure the final trophy and be declared the winner!

Mechanics

Dice rolls for this round work a little differently. The first team to reach five successful saves as they encounter maze events wins. Don’t forget to use all the previously earned advantages and disadvantages. 

Critical Success Bonus Results

A natural 20 here gives advantage on the next roll, or negates one previously earned disadvantage.

Critical Fail Injury Results

A natural 1 here results in a major injury. Roll or select from an injury table. It is permanent damage.

The Maze Roll Chart

Use this chart to guide your players through the final round of The Children’s Maze. Feel free to make a copy of your own by clicking the button below.

Also remember that your players’ characters likely won’t be able to see into the actual maze, so it will be narrated from the point-of-view of their selected team.
Here are a few sample events. Feel free to add your own based on your own interests, your players’ interests, or this crazy roll chart.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!
Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Free Resources

Fantasy race promo poster for a D&D mini game.

Race Promo Poster

If your game is set in Waterdeep, feel free to grab this. This poster is ready to go and you’re welcome to use it!

Everyone loves to play a D&D mini game from time to time! Indulge your players in this 5e optimized adventure!

Cricut Crafting Files

Have access to a Cricut? Here is a link to the participant badges I made for my players.

You'll roll a natural 20 for sure in your first D&D session with proper prep! Enjoy confidence and happy players with a simple outline.

Race Tracking Spreadsheet

Here’s a link to a Google Sheet to help you track your race mechanics, if you’d like to feel extra organized.

Taking the time to plan and execute a tabletop game like Dungeons & Dragons (or any other TTRPG) enriches everyone's lives. Thanks for what you do, GM!

Thanks for visiting!
Did you run The Children’s Race?
I’d love to hear how it went!

Love, Malice. I hope you enjoyed the article! I'm here if you have any questions. Feel free to leave a comment below!
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