Today’s blogpost is all about my flailing to refine and streamline my design docs into a coherent rulebook. I read enough of the d**** things you’d think I would know how to compile and order one. I understand the basics and where I went wrong, and have roadmap, but compared to design development is long and grindy.
Would really love if other folks have input on what makes a rulebook good? what have people done to make their projects easy to get? Which books are your favorite examples? What are your biggest hurdles?
For me I intellectually understand what needs to be there, but actually getting the writing clean and succinct to read is a challenge. I see a lot of DiY books for of background art and such trying to emulate a AAA book but they don’t have the text and order of content hammered out 1st, I didn’t want to move to layouts until my text was set, but maybe that’s a mistake? Curious to see what people think.
I would grab a rubber ducky and begin explaining your game to it as if it were a person. This will help you learn where to start, what order you should explain things in, and what you are missing. Have pretend conversations where you are explaining your game and its rules. Ask yourself clarifying questions and decide how you would explain it to someone. Once you figure out the best way to explain it, that is how you should format your book.
I am a teacher and this is how I write lesson plans. I have a little rubber duck on my desk that I talk my lesson out to and it really helps me figure out how to format a lesson.
I got a lot of comments (including people arguing a ton and being asshats in the comments, because reddit) but blank page/rubber duck method was very practically useful for getting me unstuck. Thanks for the good practical technique.