How to Teach Ep. 6: Avoid the Doubleteach (Cosmic Encounter)

I find that when somebody else is teaching and I think they've missed important rules, the best thing to do is to just ask for a clarification from the teacher. You don't want to be the person that butts in with "here's what happens if both people play negotiate." But if you think that's important to cover and find that the teacher glossed over it, you can just politely ask "remind me what happens if we both play negotiate?" The teacher should already be prepared to answer questions, and it's easy to frame this as an honest question, like "I remember most of the rules but I actually forgot what happens in this edge case" - this way nobody gets a bruised ego. If somebody interrupts my teach, I agree that letting it happen can be the best option. I like to explicitly mention that board games are best taught by a single voice, but then I like to offer for the interrupting player to take over as that voice. If they oblige, I feel that I've set them up for success because nobody else will interrupt them. If they decline, it feels less like I've shut them down and more like I gave them the choice

It took me a while to get comfortable doing it, but when we've got too many cooks in the kitchen, I will address it directly. "It can very confusing to learn a new game, and even harder if several people are teaching it to you at the same time..." I will usually study and practice a teach, especially with the heavy games. The people who tend to interrupt are usually not the prepared type, and will offer too many details/edge-cases or do it in a confusing way. So if you're honest about why you want to handle it alone, there usually won't be any hurt feelings. That being said, I taught Scythe one time, and one person was 100% in tune with me. Somehow he and I improvised what appeared to be a perfectly choreographed teach. He could tell the direction I was going, and the fidelity I wanted. It was magical. And I don't even like Scythe.

As the old saying goes, "Common sense ain't common." My biggest problem when teaching games to my group is when players decide to have too many side conversations, then decide the rules teach is taking too long and say "let's just start playing", then later say "I didn't know that!" To which I usually reply, "I said it 3 times and told you it was important." The players who were listening proceed to nod their heads in agreement.

way to go - full Zorg!

Great video! It's true that the advice, "Work on being as considerate and mature as possible at all times," might sound boring and obvious, but as I get older (and older, and older) I increasingly find that's just the advice that speaks to so many problems. Great haircut, by the way.

In our group we call this the"over voice" rule

4:35 This was precisely what I was thinking about the whole video 😀 Anyway, take any hair cut you like, and make it pink violet if you want to

Been growing my hair out as well, pushback is unfortunately the natural reaction for a lot of people. Don't let them get to you!

I actually like the hair

I think on Tabletop Simulator this is even more of a challenge if expectations aren't set right. Too many voices over a PC game can be very stressful

I do my best never to override another person's teach. But if they forget something, I'll kindly throw out, "what happens if..." so they can loop it into their teach.

Wow, a BDG reference at the end of this fantastic video?? I think it's time to go jorting.

I don’t have this problem. I’m the only one who ever bothers to read and learn the rules 😅

Ok Shea, which friend just did this to you? Lol

My number 1 rule is teach the game as you play after a brief overview. The first game will always be a learning experience, even if you read the entire rulebook aloud.

Again with the hair dude.

Also, if you’re going to grow out your hair, do it all or nothing!