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Shoutout to the rulebook that hid a key rule on page 17
I spent 45 minutes trying to figure out why my engine couldn't produce enough energy in Terraforming Mars, only to find the rule about heat conversion buried in a tiny footnote. My friend argues that this sort of hidden mechanic adds replay value and discovery, but I think it just wastes time. Which side do you fall on for games with poorly organized rulebooks?
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robert6591mo ago
The friend's claim about "discovery" feels like a cope honestly. Idk, hiding a rule that changes how a whole phase of the game works isn't replay value, it's just bad editing. Does your friend think games like Spirit Island or Gloomhaven have worse replay value because their rulebooks actually explain core systems clearly? Maybe the "discovery" they like is just the relief of finally finding the answer after getting frustrated. I'd rather spend that 45 minutes actually playing the game again, not hunting down a footnote like it's a secret.
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gibson.morgan1mo ago
You know what @robert659, I actually used to be on the friend's side about this but you totally changed my mind. "The relief of finally finding the answer after getting frustrated" really got me because that's exactly what it felt like, not real discovery at all. Makes way more sense to just have the rules out there so you can actually enjoy the game instead of hunting for them.
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