The success of a game depends to a large extent on the way its rules are presented. Here are few thoughts about the presentation of printed rules:

Keep a consistent point of view. Write your rules as a set of instructions to the player. Don’t confuse the reader by shifting from instructions to the player to instructions to the facilitator.

Give instructions, not descriptions. Don’t describe what is going to happen during each step of the game. Tell the players what they should do during the step.

Present the rules in a chronological order. Start at the beginning of the game (briefing) and end with post-game activities (debriefing).

Break the rules into small, consistent steps. Make sure each rule deals with a single activity or decision. Stick to the same level of detail in presenting different rules.

Begin each rule with a summary sentence. Print this sentence in bold letters. Later, when facilitators want to quickly refresh their memory, they can scan this bold sentence instead of reading the entire paragraph.

Use examples to clarify complex rules. One picture is worth 10,000 words—and so is a clear example. Print your examples in italics for ease of reference.

Don’t clutter up the rules with too many variations. Present a lean set of rules to explain the play of the game. Use a Variations section to present instructions on how to adjust the basic game to suit local constraints and needs.