"What font size for rules?" Topic

I'm digging out some old rules printouts I did years ago to use as drafts to (manually) re-enter into a new word processing format (Lotus WordPro to LibreOffice. The latter, newer computer can't use the 3.5" disks from the former, which doesn't have USB… ;-)
The font size is currently 10 point, which to my old eyes is seeming too small now, so I'm going to 'large print' (LOL), probably 12 point.

So, what's the common (or easy to read) font size in rule books out there these days? And/or do you have a preference?
Thanks in advance for any input! ;-)

Usually, a good rule of thumb is to take your target audience's average age and divide it by two.

so, 30 pt? :)

If you like, you can still find USB 3.5 drives.

An old printer showed me a Victorian book in 8 point type that was quite easy to read, because it was pressed ink from solid type. 600 dpi fonts are always going to be harder to read because, even if you can't "see" the white spaces in the letters and on the edges, they are simply harder for the brain to process. In addition, some font styles are more legible, regardless of the font size.

10 at a minimum.

12 would be better in some cases, though as mentioned above, font size has a huge impact on readability.

12 point.

10 point is the most common, but i see no reason why 12 point would not be acceptable.

You can also print rules on A3 paper and scale up? That's an easy way to stay 10 point and for folks with eyesight issues can simply print on A3.

Depends on the font typeface. Different faces have different levels of readability at different sizes.
Also, long blocks of text are more easily read when using a serif font (like Times) than a san-serif font like Helvetica— which is why most books are published with serif fonts.

These days a lot of books will actually name the typeface (the correct term) and font size used in the book, either inside the book or on the inside back flap of the jacket cover. So find a book that you find easy to read, and base your font and size choice on that.

12 point minimum

My preference is 12 point arial or Times new Roman.
As stated above, 12 point is visually very different in different fonts.

If the matter is important, pick up a few rule sets and see what they have done?

Good luck with those 3.5"

martin

Another factor to consider is leading – the space between the lines. Having slightly moore leading may make the text easier to read.

Something else which affetcs legiibility is line length. The more characters in a line the harder it is to read, so breaking up the layout into more columns also has an effect.

I usually use 11 pt Calibri--which is the default on my version of Word--without difficulty. But you don't want "common." You want easy to read. Print one page in what you hope is suitable, and adjust from there.
Agree that Helvetica or equivalent helps, and I just this winter picked up a 3.5" diskette reader I could plug into a USB port to salvage a bunch of my old documents--quick, easy and cost around $30. USD

Don't do the qrs in 8 pts so as to clainm it is on only two pages.

I would say that the normal is 12 pitch Times New Roman, although Calibri is starting to become trendier and more common.
Also look at going 14 pitch with either. It actually is easier on the eyes and doesn't look like block text.

+1000 JCFrog!

I do mine in 10 point Arial. I find sans serif fonts easier to read.

Cal1bri 11 in documents I am currently writing and that seems fine. I have used Times new Roman 12 but I like Cal1bri 11 better to be honest.

All points about legibility/ease on the eyes varying with the font itself in addition to size are spot on.

When choosing a font for my publications, I try to choose one appropriate to the "period" of the subject matter, though Century works very well for many of TVAG's publications.

However, I also appreciate that my readers are likely to be older, so I work in at least 12-point and frequently in 14-point and, once, even larger!

Also, portions of rules like Introductions, Designer's Notes, Bibliographies, etc, which will not be referred to as often as the rules proper can afford to be in 12- with the latter in the larger, more immediately accessible fonts.

Yeah, Big Fonts Matter!

TVAG

TVAG, I may be having trouble with your sentence structure. Surely the rules themselves should be in the largest font used, and the intro, designer's notes and biblio might be in something smaller?

Anyway, unless Zephyr wants to publish, his concern should be what he and his regular opponents find comfortable--and there's no real problem about printing out 12 point for Joe and 14 point for Sam if Sam needs it.

Repaint, so far I have not needed rules in 35 pt. (I do keep a few armies in 54mm and Size Humongous dice, just in case.)

12pt arial, 14pt on charts

Print a page off in different fonts and sizes, see which you prefer.

General rule is seriffed if lots of text, sans if not – juast stay consistent.

Thanks all! I'm trying 12 pt for now, re-editing/updating a test page, which I'll print out to see how it looks. I'm revising a set of my WIP sci-fi skirmish rules, simplifying it (more) to speed up play (always a good thing… ;-)

As others have mentioned there are many things other than size of the text that can help or hinder readability.

Things like sentence length and paragraph size, widths of columns of text, use of sub-heads, colour of text and any background screen.

I'm not sure what the current state of play is for the serif v sans serif war among typographers. And sometimes in some places it is a war.

When last I checked in it appears that neither was inherently more readable than the other. It seems that which you more commonly read you found more readable.

Mr Hussar has it right – if the final thing is to be a hard copy, print some pages out and see what looks best.

Regards

David F Brown

12 point Times New Roman. You need a seriffed font for blocks of text, the serif helps lead the eye. I suggest line spacing of 1.15 to 1.5.

From drafting technical reports I have learned that 12pt in a sans serif font works well. The firm I worked for used Tahoma as their standard font. The other choice is Times New Roman. Because this is a serif font it is supposed to be easier to read in smaller font sizes but even then I would probably stick with 12pt. I would not go below 10pt for body text in any circumstances.

The lowest I go is 11 point italics for examples of play. It sets it apart from the rules proper (and saves a teeny bit of space. ;-) I've had to resist the urge to cram everything onto a page, so the larger font size actually forces expansion to more pages (not really a bad thing, just need to adjust layouts, etc.) The rewrite is also allowing me to clarify & make corrections for better rules as I go. Some day I may even finish it… ;-)