Debate: is it better to learn rules by reading or by playing? My group got it wrong for years

I used to be the guy who insisted everyone read the rulebook cover to cover before touching a new game. Then last month we cracked open Dune Imperium and my friend just started setting up while I was on page 3. I got annoyed but let it slide. Three hours later we had a blast figuring things out as we went and nobody felt stuck. So which way actually works better? Has anyone else had a moment where their whole approach to learning games flipped on its head?

2 comments

2 Comments

viola_butler28d ago

Wait, you're telling me you had a twenty minute argument about a rule that was literally printed on the back of the box? That is insane. I've done some dumb stuff in game nights but that might take the cake. I can just picture everyone flipping through pages while the answer is sitting right there in plain sight. Honestly though, that kind of sums up how most of my groups gaming goes too.

wesley_fox9228d ago

Funny how reading the rules for hours never seems to stop you from missing something important anyway. My group once argued for twenty minutes about a rule that was literally printed on the back of the box because nobody actually looked past page one. At this point I'm pretty sure playing wrong is just part of the experience for most of us.

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