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Listen "Abletop - Episode 1 - Rulebooks & Learning a Boardgame"
Episode Synopsis
00:00 - Intro
01:48 - Online Rulebooks & FAQs
07:20 - How Rules are Written & Reference Cards
15:19 - How to Play Videos & Objective Context
20:12 - Learning, Teaching & Co-op Games
23:18 - How to Play Video Availability
26:19 - Player Strategy Guides
32:35 - Learning Asymmetric Games
44:22 - Game Phases & Changes
48:15 - Closing Thoughts
53:00 - Outro
Abletop Episode 1 Quick Points:
🖥️ Provide digital versions of rules that also work with a screen reader.
📼 Provide a how to play video, freely available, to allow different ways of learning.
🤔 Provide online FAQs for your game and have a link to them on your box or rulebook.
📃Provide an index in larger rulebooks, and bolden key pages for the entry.
🧝 Avoiding writing rules ‘in universe’, try to use common terms and clear language.
🗝️ Highlight keywords to help them stand out in rules and on components.
📑 Provide glossaries of game terms, especially any unique to your game.
📔 Provide reference cards or incorporate references onto player boards.
💭 Consider the information layout of your rulebook, is information laid out in a logical way for a new player?
🏆 Provide context for the game goal; what is the end goal, and provide that near the start of the rulebook and consider reminders on player boards.
🎮 Provide sample turns and guided tutorials for more complex games and remember to include the context of why, not just what.
♟️ Provide example strategies or character builds in more complex games.
🖐️ Encourage open-handed first plays in your rules for competitive games.
🏈 Discourage quarter-backing play in your rules for cooperative games.
🌖 Provide help for when rules change such as reference cards or warnings on a round tracker that a change is coming up.
🎛️ Provide game variants and accommodations in your rulebook that help alleviate accessibility barriers.
🔓 Encourage players to bend rules when something is inaccessible!
01:48 - Online Rulebooks & FAQs
07:20 - How Rules are Written & Reference Cards
15:19 - How to Play Videos & Objective Context
20:12 - Learning, Teaching & Co-op Games
23:18 - How to Play Video Availability
26:19 - Player Strategy Guides
32:35 - Learning Asymmetric Games
44:22 - Game Phases & Changes
48:15 - Closing Thoughts
53:00 - Outro
Abletop Episode 1 Quick Points:
🖥️ Provide digital versions of rules that also work with a screen reader.
📼 Provide a how to play video, freely available, to allow different ways of learning.
🤔 Provide online FAQs for your game and have a link to them on your box or rulebook.
📃Provide an index in larger rulebooks, and bolden key pages for the entry.
🧝 Avoiding writing rules ‘in universe’, try to use common terms and clear language.
🗝️ Highlight keywords to help them stand out in rules and on components.
📑 Provide glossaries of game terms, especially any unique to your game.
📔 Provide reference cards or incorporate references onto player boards.
💭 Consider the information layout of your rulebook, is information laid out in a logical way for a new player?
🏆 Provide context for the game goal; what is the end goal, and provide that near the start of the rulebook and consider reminders on player boards.
🎮 Provide sample turns and guided tutorials for more complex games and remember to include the context of why, not just what.
♟️ Provide example strategies or character builds in more complex games.
🖐️ Encourage open-handed first plays in your rules for competitive games.
🏈 Discourage quarter-backing play in your rules for cooperative games.
🌖 Provide help for when rules change such as reference cards or warnings on a round tracker that a change is coming up.
🎛️ Provide game variants and accommodations in your rulebook that help alleviate accessibility barriers.
🔓 Encourage players to bend rules when something is inaccessible!
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