Episode 41: Board Game Rulebooks, with Jordan Ault

Play Saves the World

What your Rulebooks Say About You

INTRODUCTIONS

RULEBOOKS ARE … COOL?

• Roundtable vote:
  • intense pre-read
  • Read as you attempt to play
  • Watch YouTube
  • Have someone teach you
  • Dial 1-800-Rules-Lawyer
• do you enjoy Rulebooks as a genre?
• Any special Rulebooks of note?
  • KEVIN: Mage Knight is particularly loathed, even though it’s all in there
  • KEVIN: Frostpunk is a rulesbook work of art
  • DANIEL: Twilight Imperium 4 (steal from Kevin!), Gloomhaven - Jaws of the Lion
• Do you have “house rules” to certain games or alter the rules based on who is playing? Why? Do you feel this takes away from the work of the designer?
  • DANIEL: Telestrations

TEACHING A GAME

• How do you prefer to teach a game?
  • Share everything up front?
  • Unravel the rules as you play?
• Do you find parallels between how you teach or learn games and how you teach and learn in your ministry?
  • DANIEL: Pastor Jewell has the great analogy about how rules in service to the game, and not the other way around. She uses baseball as an analogy.
• Are there any rules that just don’t click for you? Any games you’ve given up on because of the rules? Why?
  • DANIEL: Games where rules change every round.
• When you’re hosting a game night at your faith community, are there rules you’re willing to bend, or rules that you choose to avoid?
• What is your favorite game or type of rules to teach?
  • DANIEL: Worker placement

Scenario: you’re 90 minutes into a complex solo game with clear win conditions. You choose to push your luck and draw a card. You accidentally pick up two. The first card absolutely kills your chance of success; the second is much friendlier. Do you discard the first and go with the friendlier card? Does that make you a horrible person? Asking for a friend.

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