Re: Learning a new game

From: kschroe2@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU (Kurt Schroeder)

Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1990 21:03:16 +0000

In article <1402@electro.UUCP> carlo@electro.UUCP (Carlo Sgro) writes:

^ I'm going to embark on learning Third Reich with a friend of
^ mine.  The rules are, in a word, intimidating.  What methods
^ have people used to learn a game with rules such as Third Reich
^ or Squad Leader, etc.?

How to learn a complicated new game (my method):

Begin by laying out all components on a large table.  Make sure
that all components listed in the rules (usually near the
beginning) are in the game.  If not, write back to the company
immediately.

The first thing you should read are the victory conditions.
Keep these in the back of your mind as you read the rest of the
rules.  How will each rule that you read affect the attainment
of the victory conditions by either side?  For example, if
one side needs to reach a certain objective by a certain time,
figure out how many turns it would take them to move there if
there were no opposition.  If they only have 3 turns to spare in
a fifteen turn game, obviously all their efforts must be focused
on speed in movement, and they must move around, rather than fight
their way through, any obstacles.

As you punch out the units, read the stacking rules, the
reinforcement rules (briefly), and any other rules having to do
with the units themselves.  Then read the rules on movement,
zones of control and the such, and move some units around on the
board briefly.  Then read supply rules, followed by combat
rules.  Run a few sample attacks at a variety of odds.

During all this, concentrate not on the details, but on the
overall flow of reinforcement, movement, supply and combat.  The
details will be learned later.

If the sequence of play operated differently from the standard
reinforcement-move-combat-exploitation one, read the rules in
that order.  Add naval and air systems one system at a time, if
necessary.

After you are comfortable with the overall feel of the game
(again, not necessarily the details), play a game, solitaire or
with real opponents, with the understanding that you will only
play the first two or three turns.  If you are playing solitaire,
don't even worry about trying to be objective and giving both
sides a fair chance at winning.  If the game board is
physically large, only play using one portion (perhaps the
historically most important) of the game board.  For example, to
learn DNO/Unentschieden (Ooops, I mean FITE/Scorched
Earth--showing my age there!), I played the area between the
Pripet and the Baltic for the first three game turns.  Of
course, some large games have shorter scenarios which are
designed in part for this learning process.  This will help you
learn the nuts and bolts of the game, although even in games
which are only moderately complicated you should expect to have
several rules questions per turn.

Then, prepare to set up the full game and play a full campaign
game or shorter scenario.

The last thing you should read (and I can't stress this enough)
are the victory conditions.  Although I play games for the
enjoyment and Kameradschaft, if you want to win the game or at
least make a good, historical attempt at doing so, read and
re-read the victory conditions, probably every turn before your
movement phase, until you are thoroughly familiar with them.
They should guide your actions, since all your efforts should be
focussed, directly or indirectly, on the victory conditions.  If
the players feel that they are unrealistic, feel free to change
them.

Last bit of gratuitous general advice about rules:  Don't be a
rules lawyer.  Interpret the rules in a spirit of fairness and
adherence to historical limitations placed on the opposing
sides.  This will ensure that you gaming partners will want to
continue what can be an enjoyable avocation.

Good luck.

Kurt Schroeder
kschroe2@ub.d.umn.edu

References

Learning a new game
carlo@electro.UUCP (Carlo Sgro)
Fri, 23 Feb 1990 18:37:19 +0000

Referenced By

Learning a new game
carlo@electro.UUCP (Carlo Sgro)
Fri, 23 Feb 1990 18:37:19 +0000