We have another case of Super Smash Brothers teaching us things about rulebooks! Last time it was an issue of clarity, this time it is a case of technicality.
For those of you who are not as video game savvy, that creepy hand you saw above you was Master Hand, a character from the Kirby series and a boss in the game Super Smash Brothers Melee. Through a glitch, you can actually play as him in a normal match. Most tournaments explicitly ban this. However, MLG Anaheim 2014's rules for Melee were broad enough that someone could have used the glitch.
In the world of board games, many times we have "Rulebook Lawyers" who try to take something that wasn't written perfectly and use it to their advantage. Let's see how it would work for their rule: "Players who use a glitch that prevents gameplay from continuing as normal will forfeit the game (example: freeze glitch)."
Using this glitch would still allow the game to continue, and it doesn't stop the game mid match in some way like the only example indicates. It has been known to freeze the game AFTER the match, but it doesn't stop the match itself during play.
No one actually tried to do this during the tournament fortunately, but what would have happened if they had? Matches would have had to be stalled while a large debate ensued. People would just want to play the game, not witness pointless arguing.
The same foes for your board game. You don't want people to have to stop mid game just to complain and argue about a technicality in the rules. Write an air tight rulebook, and make sure there aren't any hidden little technicalities so this won't happen. Until next time: Every Game Deserves A Good Rulebook.
For those of you who are not as video game savvy, that creepy hand you saw above you was Master Hand, a character from the Kirby series and a boss in the game Super Smash Brothers Melee. Through a glitch, you can actually play as him in a normal match. Most tournaments explicitly ban this. However, MLG Anaheim 2014's rules for Melee were broad enough that someone could have used the glitch.
In the world of board games, many times we have "Rulebook Lawyers" who try to take something that wasn't written perfectly and use it to their advantage. Let's see how it would work for their rule: "Players who use a glitch that prevents gameplay from continuing as normal will forfeit the game (example: freeze glitch)."
Using this glitch would still allow the game to continue, and it doesn't stop the game mid match in some way like the only example indicates. It has been known to freeze the game AFTER the match, but it doesn't stop the match itself during play.
No one actually tried to do this during the tournament fortunately, but what would have happened if they had? Matches would have had to be stalled while a large debate ensued. People would just want to play the game, not witness pointless arguing.
The same foes for your board game. You don't want people to have to stop mid game just to complain and argue about a technicality in the rules. Write an air tight rulebook, and make sure there aren't any hidden little technicalities so this won't happen. Until next time: Every Game Deserves A Good Rulebook.