TIL my usual approach to teaching new players is totally backwards

For years I'd just hand someone like 5 tribes of the 7 Wonders cards and explain everything at once. Last week my buddy Joe's eyes just glazed over after 2 minutes. So I tried something different - I only gave him the first age cards and explained as we played. We finished the whole game in 45 minutes and he actually got the strategy by the end. Has anyone else figured out that less info upfront is the way to go?

2 comments

2 Comments

white.grant21d ago

That bit about info overload scaring people off really hit home for me. I used to be the guy who'd explain every rule and possible strategy before the first turn, thinking I was being helpful. But after reading this I realize I was just making the game feel like a lecture instead of something fun to figure out together.

benb2121d ago

Bro I did the exact same thing with my friend Dave and Catan like two years ago. I pulled out the full rulebook and started reading it to him and he literally fell asleep on my couch after like 10 minutes. Turns out explaining every single building and development card before we even placed a settlement is not the move. Now I just give people the basic setup and say "ok you roll these dice and get resources, figure out the rest as we go." They pick it up way faster and actually have fun instead of wanting to die. My dumb brain just assumed info overload was helpful when really it just scares people off.