Comment by wavemode
9 hours ago
Really lovely designed website.
Though I get the sense that, typically the easiest way to learn how to play a game, is to walk through actually playing the game. Listing out a bunch of facts about how the game works is mostly just confusing for a newcomer - the brain doesn't retain that kind of information well.
The example of this I often give is Magic: The Gathering. Very easy to learn how to play just by playing it with someone who knows. Very difficult to learn how to play if you start with a reference guide on how casting and the stack and priority and resolution works.
Related: Every Board Game Rulebook is Awful (100 page PDF)
https://boardgametextbook.com/EBGRIA.pdf
Overview here: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/13453/blogpost/164134/every-b...
Interesting... However, ironically, EBGRIA is awful too, in its own way. The typography is rudimentary.
Any time someone starts explaining a new game to me I stop them and tell them to just start the game and walk me through it as we play. If I’m teaching someone a card game we’ll play open hand until they get it then start over. It’s kind of like a physical activity like riding a bike, you just gotta do it, not read about it.