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Warning: Stop teaching new players house rules before the real rules
I ran a game of Catan at a meetup last night and two guys kept trying to trade with a 2:1 ratio because that's how their friend taught them. It threw off the whole game balance until I pulled out the official rulebook. Has anyone else had to fix bad habits from other people's teaching methods?
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emma_ramirez1d agoMost Upvoted
Oh man, the 2:1 thing is a CLASSIC bad house rule. I had a group that insisted you could trade resources on ANY turn, not just your own, because that's how their buddy taught them. Had to pull out the rulebook mid-game too and it got awkward.
Best thing I've found is to be upfront before you even start. Just say "hey everyone, I play by the official rules, no house rules here unless we all agree first." That way if someone tries to pull a 2:1 trade or trade on your turn you can just point to that conversation and it doesn't feel personal.
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logan_schmidt22h ago
Worst I ever saw was someone who thought the robber moved every turn. Total chaos.
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