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A friend called my game night teaching style 'overwhelming' last month
I was explaining the rules for a new game, Terraforming Mars, to a group of three people. My friend Mark, who is usually quiet, pulled me aside after and said, "You gave us every single rule and strategy tip up front. It felt like a lecture, not a fun night." I realized I was trying to prevent any confusion, but I was just causing it. Now I only explain the core goal and the basic turn structure, letting people learn the rest as we play. Has anyone else had to change how they teach a complex game?
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noah_palmer421mo agoMost Upvoted
Honestly, the best way is to give just enough rules to start the first round. People's eyes glaze over if you explain every card type before they've even touched their money. Let the tricky stuff come up naturally during play.
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riverwhite1mo ago
My first time teaching Monopoly I spent twenty minutes on the rules before someone landed on Free Parking. We all forgot how money worked by then. Now I just hand out the cash and say "buy stuff, we'll figure it out.
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