An analysis of gender-inclusive language and imagery in top-ranked board game rulebooks:

http://analoggamestudies.org/2020/12/an-analysis-of-gender-inclusive-language-and-imagery-in-top-ranked-board-game-rulebooks/

How to write a rulebook, section by section:

https://medium.com/@tim.chuon/how-to-write-a-good-board-game-rulebook-5e66cd9f7e40

Tips for using clearer language when writing rules:

https://twitter.com/DanielSolis/status/1322903733060206592

A thorough rulebook editing style guide:

https://cur.by/styleguide

A thorough but succinct overview of what rulebooks should achieve, and how to write one effectively:

https://www.universityxp.com/blog/2020/10/1/what-makes-a-good-rule-book

Gamers share their favorite elements for improving rulebooks:

https://twitter.com/Boardgame_girl1/status/1305488932734410752

Suggested software for creating rulebooks—a BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2479752/rules-booklet

Julio Nazario and Jason Slingerland discuss rules documents (audio):

http://www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/episode-418-julio-explains-the-rules/

Pointers for communicating your board game’s rules effectively (video)

“Though it might not be required, writing a good rulebook can give you a leg up in not only getting your game published, but getting it published right. If you can’t communicate how your game is played to the publisher, they can’t communicate it to the world.”

— Emma Larkins

When are gameplay examples needed in a rulebook? A BoardGameGeek designers forum discussion:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2403357/examples-board-games-instructions

“Examine your games from every possible angle and edit the rules repeatedly. You want the end result to be as polished and flawless as possible. The time spent doing it can turn a ‘meh’ average game into one with staying power and longer lifespan.”

— Frank DiLorenzo

In-depth discussion of several mechanics (audio):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/48513/2973043

“If your game has rounds, sometimes you can move some of the game setup procedure to round preparation procedures instead. This often prevents exceptions where a given rule applies to all rounds *except the first.*”

— Dustin Schwartz

“The better your rulebook, the less people will need it. (And vice-versa) ”

— Peter C. Hayward

“If you have trouble writing a rule, it may be best to remove it from your game.”

— Jesse Catron

“There’s one tip for rules writing I want to impart on every designer, young and old:

🔥 Stop interrupting yourself. 🔥

Parenthesis? Make it the next sentence.

Clauses and commas? Break them into separate sentences.

Forward page-ref? Move that content earlier.”

— Daniel Solis

Rules are bad: Why you should generally try to have fewer rules in your game:

http://www.phantasiogames.net/2019/10/rules-are-bad.html

“Don’t forget a card key in your rulebook. Telling me to shuffle something doesn’t help if I can’t figure out what that something is!”

— Brittanie Boe

“If players consistently forget to implement a rule, get rid of it, even if it’s super thematic. ”

— Shannon McDowell