This is referencing a rule. I'm not sure I'm arguing against a clear reference, I like those. But I've certainly been at a table where we open the box, the host hasn't read the rules and frankly doesn't want to. I would hope you'd be excited about the board game, enjoy the book that comes with it, and then invite your friends over to play :-)

I've been that friend who was invited over to play with hosts that were really good and knew all the obscure rules. Not very fun when you discover your strategy fails because of some rule you didn't know of that they waited until you were committed to point it out.

> Not very fun when you discover your strategy fails because of some rule you didn't know of that they waited until you were committed to point it out.

At least half the time you get this feeling, they pointed it out with the rest of the rules and you just didn't notice.

Sometimes that is true, but often it is "oh, I forgot to tell you about that obscure rule". It always feels malicious when it happens to you though.

> Sometimes that is true, but often it is "oh, I forgot to tell you about that obscure rule".

Yes, that's also true. But it's still very common that the rule that trips you up was covered beforehand.

The fundamental problem here is that, at the time you're having the rules explained, you're not in a position to know what is or isn't important.

Realistically with anything more than the most basic of games I feel as if it's reasonable to expect that the first 1-2 games are just practice because as you say, there will definitely be something that you've missed.