Remember when we had to read rulebooks cover to cover?

Honestly, back in 2005 when I first got into the hobby with my group in Austin, we'd spend a whole evening just reading the rulebook for something like Twilight Imperium before even touching the pieces. Now I just watch a 20 minute how-to-play video on YouTube and we're setting up in 10 minutes. The videos explain things way better than the written stuff ever did, especially for complex games. Anyone else skip the book and go straight to the video guides now?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_miller1018d ago

Videos beat written manuals every time for games with a ton of moving parts. For Gloomhaven, I tried reading the rulebook three times and still messed up monster AI on the first two scenarios. One 15 minute video walkthrough and I had it down. What I do now is skim the rulebook for reference stuff like setup and turn order, then watch a video for the actual strategy and flow. Saves hours of frustration and you actually learn the game right the first time.

jessica_robinson2318d ago

The Monster Hunter World rulebook made me quit the game for a month. Couldn't figure out weapon trees or how to track monsters at all. Watched a 20 minute beginner guide by Arekkz Gaming and suddenly everything clicked. Now I do what you said - glance at the manual for button layouts, YouTube for the real meat.

averymartin18d ago

Jeez, yeah. It feels like every part of life is going that way now. I remember trying to assemble a grill a few years back and spending an hour staring at a diagram that might as well have been in another language. Then I pulled up a 5 minute video on my phone and had it done before my burger patties even thawed. The written instructions just assume you already know what a "flange" is or whatever, but a video just shows you.