How many rules are too many rules?

[@Artmesa]

Have you guys read the full rulebook for any of the One Page Rules games? I think it's the best example of a terse yet complete explanation of a ruleset.

[@RuleofCarnage]

I do remember reading over one of their rulesets, I wondered at the time how much of the learning weight they actually put on GW's games in a way.

[@grimskald]

Check out the A Song of Ice and Fire rulebook. It is a miniatures mass battle game that manages to keep the rules down to a boardgame sized book. As discussed, this is aided by the additional cards and components making the game much more digestible.

[@MrLigonater]

I think there is also a difference in how dense rules feel versus what the actual word count or number of rules is. I think when a game that has one or two mechanics, and then uses that same mechanic to resolve as much as possible, I am much more accepting of lengthy rules that just discuss how to apply that basic mechanic in different situations. As opposed to games that have completely different processes and mechanics for everything, where it feels very tedious to engage with those bits. I think the former has the benefit of allowing players to choose how much they want out of a game at any given time, and each time you add additional depth it is an incremental step. For example if you take Battletech, you can play and enjoy the game with its simple mechanics with just Mechs on a simple landscape. You can choose to adopt more complexity with different atmospheric conditions or unit types as you need it and when you want it. So even though Battletech total warfare is a ponderous tome, playing the game doesn’t have to feel that way. So I almost thing the answer to the question how many rules are needed, comes down to what level of involvement does a player need at a given time. So keeping the “basic rules” section terse and approachable is a good design goal, then from that point the “advanced/optional” rules chapter or expansion books should simply avoid straying too far from the original mechanic. It’s like adding “salt a d pepper to taste” at that point instead of creating a whole side dish or second course.

[@MrSkullhead1]

An overabundance of rules is the opposite of generosity. It shows a disregard for the player's time by adding yet another time-consuming step before they can actually play the game.

[@ktizoid]

One page is perfect. It’s not so much about minimizing content, it’s more about having everything in view at once. Board games achieve this with the board and components. Anything more than one page should be limited to “fluff” and unit descriptions, weapons, abilities, etc.

[@RuleofCarnage]

I don't know, I think one page is possibly a bit too tight. I do think that a one page summary is possible, with more pages for fuller explanation of rules.

[@sirguy6678]

Good video! I Looking forward to a “rule book” grading system- when is a rule book considered “a brochure, a book, or a tome?”

[@shauncarew6488]

Love your work

[@MansMan42069]

There's definitely that "premium" feel when it comes to having a big hefty hardback for a core rulebook. And personally as a consumer, I do like to dig in and just read rules before even playing a game, especially since I tend to "play" games in my head. Bonus if the book also includes fluff and unit profiles.

[@RuleofCarnage]

To a degree, at the same time, the heftier the book is, the more disappointed I am when it contains nothing new or interesting.

[@gav-gf7cr]

I dislike the boardgame habit of putting a large part of the rules on cards instead of in the rulebook. It makes it difficult to get & keep an overview. I want to be able to flip back & forth and look things up in an index. A good rulebook should contain the (or at least a) fully playable version of the game.

[@RuleofCarnage]

Its tricky when looking at the rulebook can take people out of the immersion of the game moreso than reading a card or component.

[@gav-gf7cr]

@@RuleofCarnage I'm not against cards as play aids during the game, but there should also be an overview somewhere. Like the Flagstone rules, which both list the gambits and include them separately as (cut out) cards.

[@madluper]

First.

[@akuper7297]

😂