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I forget where I heard this mentioned, but I'm on and off again writing rules for a game that I'm doing the art for, and while reading around about what people want to see in rules writing, two things came up:

Use some more technical writing.

Use more flowcharts, diagrams, or charts to illustrate points.

What are your thoughts on this? If you saw a big flow chart as one of the first things you saw when perusing the rules for a new game, would be more or less interested? Do you think it could be helpful?

Whilst I'm not sure I would be drawn to it because of the Flow Chart, or particularly more interested in it, but I think it would certainly come in handy, and I would have to appreciate that at the time. Diagrams are brilliant, and the Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook makes excellent use of them.

I think a flow chart would be good to act as a summary for players to make quick references to during the games.

I don't think people want to see flow charts in rules.

What they mostly want are simple, clearly explained rules. This can be aided by a flow chart or diagram and may be easier to do that in words.

Simplicity partly depends on the amount of detail and options. It also depends on the cleverness of the rule mechanisms to abstract and depict the action.

The shooting rules in 40K are often though of as being simple, however taken all together, when you include LoS, cover, ranges in buildings, shooting at or from vehicles, and special rules like Melta, they are surprisingly complex. These rules would be helped by being laid out as a flow chart.

Hi all.
I agree that straight forward rules that are well defined are preferable .However if a resolution is quite complicated , has several interactions than a flow chart could help.

Eg, straight forward... the chance to hit a target is based on its Stealth value. The attacking player has to roll over this value to hit the target.
The Stealth value and the to hit roll are modified by situational conditions.

Modifiers.
Add 1 to the Stealth value if,
The attacker is over 36" away,
The target is in cover,
The target is using stalth equipment.

Add 1 to the to hit roll if,
The target is less than 12" away,
The attacker is stationary,
The attacker is using targeting equipment.

This is a SINGLE resolution method for ALL elements in the game .

Complicated resolution, that may need a flow chart....
Is the attacker a basic infantry model? Y/N
Is the attacker a vehicle?Y/N
Is the attacker a M/C?Y/N
Has the attacker any special rules for shooting?Y/N
Hasd the attackers weapon any special rules ?Y/N
Has the defender any special rules ?Y/N
etc.

TTFN