Players May Act Freely, While Rules Remain Fixed Entities
The English language, much like the intricate rules of wargames, can sometimes be confusing. A small change in wording or order can lead to misinterpretation, a problem that game designer Jarvis Johnson encountered during the development of the original Gaslands. To address this issue, the rulebook for Gaslands is being revised for the new Gaslands: Refuelled edition.
Johnson admitted his mistake in treating players like computers, assuming they would remember rules as they flipped back and forth through the rulebook. Recognising the need for improvement, he has taken steps to ensure that rules are repeated in places that invoke them, enhancing usability for players.
One such rule is the "Touching an Obstacle" rule, which was placed at the end of the collisions section in the first version of Gaslands. However, it should have been placed at the start of the movement step for better usability. To rectify this, duplicate copies of the rule have been placed in different parts of the Gaslands: Refuelled rulebook to ensure they are in the right places for understanding other rules.
The "Final Position" rules in Gaslands make great "functions" and can be invoked with a two-word phase, demonstrating the potential for reusable rules or functions in wargames. Another example of a reusable rule is the "Fire" rule.
Game designers balance the use of functions in wargame rules to reduce redundancy with the need for rule repetition to improve usability. They aim to implement core mechanics and functions concisely while repeating key rules contextually where players need reminders during gameplay.
Clear and consistent core mechanics are defined precisely once, often using function-like modular rules or sections to avoid unnecessary repetition. Essential or frequently used rules are restated or summarised in relevant sections or examples in the rulebook and on player aids, improving usability by reducing the need to search through the entire rulebook repeatedly.
A well-structured rulebook with a logical flow, intuitive layout, indexing, and concise explanations allows players to quickly find needed information. Playtesting feedback is also crucial in identifying which rules must be highlighted repeatedly for player comprehension and which can stay succinct.
The rule about starting an activation touching an obstruction is crucial for a player's experience in Gaslands and should be easily accessible. The writer of the Gaslands: Refuelled rulebook has made a conscious effort to treat rules as functions, never repeating themselves, and instead making reference to the name of the rule.
In Gaslands: Refuelled, some rules are happy to be repeated, while others can be expressed as functions to save space. A slightly different wording of the rule about starting an activation touching an obstruction may require an FAQ clarification.
The writer is happy to have learned the importance of functional rules writing for increased readability and reduced word count. They will keep the lesson of repeating rules for usability in mind while assembling the final text of A Billion Suns.
In summary, designers achieve an effective balance by defining core rules succinctly and then providing well-placed, clear reminders and summaries to aid human players' usability, supported by a carefully organised rulebook design and iterative refinement through playtesting. This ensures reduced redundancy in the technical core while preserving necessary repetition for learning and ease of play.
- Game designers, inspired by the reusable functions in wargames, aim to strike a balance between reducing redundancy and improving usability by defining core rules concisely and repeating key rules contextually where needed, much like the precise, modular rules in games like Gaslands: Refuelled.
- To improve the usability of smart-home devices, gadgets, and technology, the designers of these products can take a cue from the rulebook revamp for Gaslands and ensure that essential rules are restated or summarized in relevant sections or examples, reducing the need for repetitive searching for that one crucial piece of information.
