Rules Writers Write Rules, Right? Or Have I Gone Mad?

[Capn Darwin]

@Cyrano - Thanks for the clarification. That makes no sense. You should not waffle as a designer. Rules should be clear and concise. If the rule(s) is possibly confusing or unclear use an example. You need to be careful when using words like may, should, could or any term that renders a concrete rule ambiguous. Every designer knows that exact meaning of the rule they have written (or they should), but very few review or edit rules with the mindset of a new player who has never played a game before. This goes to Barthheart's point of fresh eyes. If you can do "fresh eyes" pass it over to someone who can. End the end, house rules fix the bugs.  O0

[mirth]

I don't mind house ruling things at all. Problem I find is that is tough to get consensus within a group of gamers as to what the house rule should be. That's why it's important that the 'official' rules be well written and unambiguous. Otherwise, it leads to a lot of time spent bickering over what a rule means and if it's 'broken' how it should be fixed.

Gamers love to argue. Rules clarity helps to minimize the bickering.

[Bison]

Gamers love to argue. Rules clarity helps to minimize the bickering.

I demand support for this assertion, sir!

[mirth]

Gamers love to argue. Rules clarity helps to minimize the bickering.

I demand support for this assertion, sir!

Stuff it.

[Bison]

Duel at dawn down by the river!  Pick your second, sir.

[mirth]

I choose Bill Murray, of course.

[Bison]

Ghostbusters Bill Murray or Caddy Shack Bill Murray?

[mirth]

Stripes Bill Murray

[Barthheart]

Caddy Shack!

[Bison]

I pick Grosse Pointe Blank John Cusack.

[mirth]

Okay. Bill and I will both skip the duel and be hanging out with John Candy at the bar with the mud-wrestling chicks.

[Bison]

Can I come too?

[mirth]

Sure.

[Cyrano]

Uncle Hulka will referee...

[mirth]

The Big Toe