Re: Learning a new game

From: bakerj@mothra.UUCP (Jon Baker)

Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1990 16:14:15 +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.?

The rules for 3R and ASL are a world apart.  3R rules fit nicely into one
small booklet; ASL rules require a separate bookcase.  I found the 3R rules
to be fairly simple and straightforward.  There aren't a lot of nitpicky
details to worry about, like bagpipers or what your 9-1 leader ate for
breakfast.
Read through the rules once, not in detail but getting a general flavour
for the game.  Then, read through the rules a second time in detail.
Set-up and begin playing the game.  You'll quickly find that you have no
idea what you're doing, and will have to consult the rules frequently.  The
first time through, you'll spend more time consulting the rules than playing
the game.  Muddle your way through it.
After playing the game once, go back and read through the rules again.
Since you now have an idea of how the game is played, you'll pick up on a
lot of the smaller rules that you may not have noticed before.  You'll
realize that you played the game entirely wrong; but, then, that's how
you learn - from mistakes.
Good luck.
JB

References

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