For your board game design to be successful, you’ll need to write an exceptional rule book. Here, we explain how to do just that.
Designing a board game is an exciting endeavor, but one of the most challenging tasks for game designers is writing a clear and concise rule book. A well-crafted rule book is essential for a successful game, as it guides players through the mechanics and ensures a balanced and enjoyable experience. In this post, we’ll explore the key elements and strategies to show you how to write a board game rule book.
Understanding the structure
Before diving into the details of rule book writing, it’s important to understand the general structure that most rule books follow. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, a well-structured rule book typically includes the following sections:
1. Introduction and theme
Start your rule book with an engaging introduction that sets the scene and captures the sense and atmosphere of your game’s theme. This section should summarize the game’s setting and storyline, creating anticipation and excitement for players. It’s all about context, atmosphere, and stating the challenge the players will enjoy. If your game were a novel, this would be the publisher’s blurb on the back cover, designed to let you know what the book’s about while exciting you to read.
2. Objectives and goals
The primary function of any rule book is to explain the goals and objectives of the game clearly in relation to the theme. Players should have an unequivocal understanding of what they need to achieve and how they will interact with each other during gameplay. This section sets the foundation for the gameplay and helps players grasp the overall purpose of the game so they have a good foundation as they dive into the complexities of decision-making.
3. Components and Setup
List and describe the game components, making sure that players can identify and set up the elements with ease. Often, in this section, you’ll want to include illustrations and diagrams. Make instructions on how to arrange the components and any preparatory steps required before starting the game as simple as possible. Including color-coding, bullet points, flowcharts, and images can enhance the clarity of this section.
4. Gameplay mechanics
This section describes and explains the core mechanics of the game, showing how the game progresses and what actions players can take on their turns. It is crucial to provide a detailed and step-by-step breakdown of a typical turn, including any special actions or turns. Use examples and illustrations to illustrate complex concepts and ensure players grasp the mechanics effectively.
5. Endgame and scoring
You’ll need to give precise details of the conditions that trigger the end of the game and provide instructions on how to determine the winner — the “win condition”. Explain any scoring systems or tiebreaker rules that may apply. Make sure that players have a thorough understanding of how the game concludes and how they can achieve victory. It’s vital the rules determining the win condition are crystal clear and beyond dispute.
6. Additional resources
It’s often a good idea to include an appendix or a glossary section — especially with more complex strategy games — where you can provide extra information that may not be necessary for gameplay but can enhance players’ understanding of the game. This can include detailed explanations of specific terms, breakdowns of card types, or frequently asked questions (FAQs) gathered during playtesting.
Tips for writing clear and balanced rules
Once you’ve explored, arranged, and established the ideal structure for your rule book, you’ll need to tackle the actual writing process. Writing clear and balanced rules that effectively communicate the intricacies of your game may be harder than you think. But the key to success is in adopting the right approach and accepting that — like game design itself — writing a good board game rule book is an iterative process. So, get the first draft done, then come back to it to refine, edit, and rewrite as necessary. To get you started in the right direction, here are our top tips:
1. Playtest extensively
No amount of planning or theory can replace the importance of playtesting. Playtest your game repeatedly to make sure that the rules work as you intended and to identify any areas that may need clarification or change. Note players’ feedback and use it to refine your rule book.
2. Balance challenge and difficulty
You need to give serious thought to the level of challenge you want your game to have and make sure that your rules support that intended difficulty without making the game impossible to win. Strike a balance between providing enough constraints to create engaging gameplay and avoiding unnecessary complexity that may overwhelm or frustrate players.
3. Determine the luck-skill balance
Every game falls somewhere on the luck-skill spectrum. A die roll, for example, is always a luck move; but choosing when to roll the dice and how many or which dice to use could be a skill call. Decide where each element of your game lies along this spectrum and make sure that your rules create with that balance. When writing your rules, communicate the role of luck and skill in the game, so that players to understand the factors that contribute to success.
4. Avoid false choices
When presenting players with choices, make sure they are meaningful and have significant pros and cons. Avoid overwhelming players with a multitude of obvious decisions, as this can diminish the excitement and engagement of the game. Each choice should have a tangible impact on gameplay.
5. Highlight important keywords and concepts
When you’re writing your rules, it can really help to emphasize relevant keywords and concepts throughout the rule book. For example, capitalize keywords or phrases, use bold or italics to draw attention to them, and use specific terminology consistently to avoid confusion. This will help players grasp key concepts and rules more effectively and also help them find the information they need quickly and easily.
6. Be consistent
Consistency is vital in rule book writing. Use the same phrasing and capitalization when referring to specific elements, characters, components, or concepts throughout your rule book. This helps guarantee clarity and avoids confusion caused by inconsistent terminology.
7. Incorporate visual aids
During the process of writing, start to think about layout and how you’ll take advantage of visual aids, such as diagrams, illustrations, and icons, to reinforce the players’ understanding of complex concepts. Use images to clarify setup instructions, demonstrate gameplay examples, and illustrate the role of different components. Visual aids can significantly improve the overall readability and comprehension of the rule book.
8. Get external feedback
Involve others in the review process of your rule book. Ask friends, fellow designers, or professional editors to read and provide feedback on the clarity and effectiveness of your rules. External perspectives can help identify areas that may need further clarification or improvement. And if you’re designing a professional level game to sell or for a Kickstarter campaign, then we recommend that once your rule book is as good as you can get it, you pay a professional editor and proof reader to read it and make any needed corrections before you print it.
The challenge of “quick-start” guides and reference materials
One of the biggest challenges you may encounter in rule book writing is catering to both new players and experienced players wanting either more detailed instructions or quick access to reference materials. Balancing the need for a quick-start guide and a comprehensive reference can be tricky.
Consider creating a separate quick-start guide that provides a streamlined introduction and walkthrough of the game for new players. This guide can focus on the essential rules and provide a step-by-step example of a representative session. By separating the quick-start guide from the comprehensive rule book, you can cater to the different needs of players at various stages of familiarity with the game.
When you’re writing the rule book, prioritize the presentation of information based on its relevance to players at different stages of gameplay. Clearly show which sections are essential for new players and which sections are more advanced or relevant to experienced players. Use formatting techniques, such as bolding or indenting, to highlight important sections and make it easier for players to skim through the rule book for specific information.
Writing a board game rule book
Writing an exceptional board game rule book requires careful planning, extensive playtesting, and effective communication. By following a well-structured framework, incorporating visual aids, and balancing the needs of new and experienced players, you can create a rule book that not only guides players through the mechanics of the game but also enhances their overall gaming experience. Remember, clarity and consistency are key, and continuous refinement based on player feedback will ensure that your rule book is a valuable asset to your game.
Talk to us!
At QinPrinting, we offer a comprehensive board game printing and manufacturing service, including all components, rule books, and boxing. You can find out more here, and when you’re ready to print your rule book, we can offer you the best pricing, highest quality, and quickest turnaround-time on any type or style of custom game instructions. We guarantee the most professional service, and the highest quality product you can imagine. So, let’s talk.
