"Online PDF Quick-start for larger games ( example) " Topic

I'm not the first fellow who has done this. To speed up the game and give folks a preview of the game I have created a PDF Quick Start for my game for Nashcon. It will later be uploaded to the Nashcon site and internally linked in the PEL. The "wave of the future?"

link

takes a moment to load.. the net is choppy today.

Interesting idea.

That's a good idea, lets the players know the score before they get there and you don't waste time explaining everything.

Good idea but I can't my gamers to read a chart much less a 12 page intro.

I would totally appreciate it – I always read the scenario/rules etc.

The idea is that if there is enough effort in quickstart, folks may think there is some effort put into the game. Even one or two semi-experienced player significantly enhances the game. Goes into my working theory of how folks decide to play game A instead of game B – it has to involve more thought than which tie you are going to wear -- or not. But that is for another topic.

Great idea! This really depends on formatting and writing quality to draw the players in.

There's some poor formatting in this handout, and there's some abysmal formatting. It really chops up the flow, makes it harder to follow, and makes it very frustrating to go back and looking for something.

1. Don't cram things onto a page just because there's a sliver of room. This isn't print, where you're limited by page count. Even in print, pros spend a inordinate amount of time thinking about how to fit elements on the page.

2. Use headings, emphasized with good typography, to orient the reader to the material and to lend "color" to the page.

3. Use run-in headings and bullet-points to call out the most important bits of information.

4. The proper penalty for using underlining is having your hand chopped off. The PC is not a typewriter (the title of a charming and funny book that everyone should read).

5. The tables in the last two page are dizzying.

Tom, this is an excellent idea. I think your idea of pre-information for shows is just the sort of thing gamers like. So i doff my hat to you for a great idea! It would make the show more fun if you can browse at games in a leisurely manner before the show. Would be nice if conventions asked for more detail about the games at the show.

martin

Thanks. The formatting on the download is a function of the place where I had to post it. Not the best site. I will redo this as suggested in future quickstarts things do look better as native PDF.

+1 Extra Crispy.

I can never get participants to read anything. Some typical comments before I gave the whole process up included – What scenario? Did you send it to me? I was going to read it but I ran out of time/forgot.

The last time someone did read the scenario they got it completely backasswards.

Great idea that has rarely been successful for me.

My experience is consistent with Big Red's. Good luck to you, though.