“...he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.”
-Thomas Jefferson
I recently taught several people how to play, and ran a few tests. I thought this worked well:
In the first game,
To start playing, I only explained how to place leaders, tiles, and earn points. I didn't include exceptions, such as the black leader, but I explained the blue tiles. I explained that the game is more about establishing the rules and getting a feel for strategy, nothing too competitive.
After a couple of rounds, I explained how the scoring system works for the lowest value and how to obtain treasures with the green leader.
After another round, I explained how the kingdoms don't “belong” to anyone, it's just a matter of having your leader dominating that color in the kingdom while you're there.
After a few more rounds, I explained how internal conflict works, with a practical example happening on the board.
After a few more, I explained how external conflict works, with a practical example happening at the table.
After that, I began to explain why I made each move, so that the players could grasp strategic and tactical concepts.
You have to be patient and keep explaining, because this part about conflicts and which color helps in which conflict, etc., takes time for people to assimilate.
In the second game,
I explained about the black leader, monuments and catastrophes, and exceptions to scoring (e.g., reuniting kingdoms), which for a beginner would be an additional layer of complexity, as an exception to the rules. I also began to explain how I use these functions tactically or strategically.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
-Thomas Jefferson
I recently taught several people how to play, and ran a few tests. I thought this worked well:
In the first game,
To start playing, I only explained how to place leaders, tiles, and earn points. I didn't include exceptions, such as the black leader, but I explained the blue tiles. I explained that the game is more about establishing the rules and getting a feel for strategy, nothing too competitive.
After a couple of rounds, I explained how the scoring system works for the lowest value and how to obtain treasures with the green leader.
After another round, I explained how the kingdoms don't “belong” to anyone, it's just a matter of having your leader dominating that color in the kingdom while you're there.
After a few more rounds, I explained how internal conflict works, with a practical example happening on the board.
After a few more, I explained how external conflict works, with a practical example happening at the table.
After that, I began to explain why I made each move, so that the players could grasp strategic and tactical concepts.
You have to be patient and keep explaining, because this part about conflicts and which color helps in which conflict, etc., takes time for people to assimilate.
In the second game,
I explained about the black leader, monuments and catastrophes, and exceptions to scoring (e.g., reuniting kingdoms), which for a beginner would be an additional layer of complexity, as an exception to the rules. I also began to explain how I use these functions tactically or strategically.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)