This week, Daniel and Chris get together to discuss one of the most complicated aspects of being a board gamers – the rule session. How do you successfully teach a game to a group of gamers who haven’t previously played? Whether it’s a group of brand new gamers or seasoned veterans who are used to learning in specific ways, there are a number of challenges to this process – something that will determine a lot of how you approach your next gaming session.
Heck, some of us have games on our shelves unplayed for months or even years because of how daunting learning ad teaching a game can be. So this week, in addition to some solo gaming insights from Anthony, and a boat load of interesting news, the guys will talk about how to tackle this age old problem.
Solo Gaming
Anthony isn’t on the full podcast this week but he dials in for a few quick minutes to discuss one of his favorite solo gaming experiences from 2014 – Imperial Settlers – and how it gets the experience right by providing two different important factors when converting traditional competitive games to solo mode. He also talks about how to use a solo gaming experience to engage young gamers, and how flexibility in traditional games can translate to awesome solitaire experiences.
Feature: How to Teach a Board Game
For any gamer who has ever eagerly purchased a hot new game and struggled for months to get it to the table, this is an all too familiar problem. Teaching a game is a time consuming process and depending who you are teaching, can be immensely frustrating. This week we’re going to discuss some of the major challenges that can arise during teaching and how to approach them carefully and objectively (while ensuring new players have as much fun as you did in your first play).
Listen to Episode 71
- Shout it From The Table Top:4:30
- Acquisition Disorder: 20:09
- Solo Gaming: 25:36?
- Feature: How to Teach a Board game: 32:55
Make sure to check out BGA on Twitter (@BGApodcast), Facebook, and BoardGameGeek. We’re also on Patreon so let us know if you think this episode is worth at least $1!
