How (not) to Write a Rulebook
How (not) to Write a Rulebook
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’ve never done anything like what you are working on, but I’ll throw out my 2c in case it’s helpful. If I were approaching this problem, I’d be whiteboarding it in order to get a sense for how things should be organized and linked.
First I’d list out the categories, topics, and key concepts I want to capture. I’d put each item on a post it note so you can move it around the whiteboard. I’d then try grouping and linking them, and use a notation method that shows me if the links are sequential (a leads to b) or just related. Or should just be cross referenced.
You may not get an order of things you find is “perfect” from this (or maybe you will!), but at the very least, doing this kind of exercise should really help you understand how your info fits together.
It can also help to have a buddy who likes doing this kind of nerdy stuff to do the whiteboarding with. I always find the interaction and need to explain your thought processes to each other during this kind of work is very helpful.
Solid advice, thanks.
Also thanks!
use a notation method that shows me if the links are sequential (a leads to b) or just related. Or should just be cross referenced.
What do you mean by this? Can you please give an example with notation?
Let’s see… an easy example is hierarchy - you have Beasts and you have Flying Beasts. So I would draw an arrow from Beasts to Flying Beasts. The arrow shows that A leads to B.
You may also have two items that are directly related and might end up being listed sequentially, but one does not inherently lead to the other. Those I might link with a double ended arrow (or no arrows, just a line).
Meanwhile you have Flight as a general topic. Your Flying Beasts section should cross reference flight. So I would have a dotted line from one to the other.
Keep in mind, this schema is just a rough method I use generally when whiteboarding. If parts of the schema aren’t helpful or overcomplicated, then adjust to meet your need.
As any long-suffering Shadowrun or World of Darkness player can attest, formatting is paramount, and both series completely neglect that aspect.
My absolute gold standard for formatting and reference is the Mothership RPG, which both cleanly fits into my head, as well as the book being easy to reference and to flip through due to each heading being organised by page, and each page organised by topic.
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.