Rules in games- stickler or not?

[Otto the Orange]

So, was playing "Clue" with some kids last night....man the game has changed quite a bit since I was a kid....anyways, one of the kids was trying to tell me that I "had" to leave a room once I was in it and made an accusation and it was my turn again, I was like why?  that's dumb, why can't I stay in the room, I still have more detectiving to do in here.....they were like it's a rule (even though they didn't point it out in the rule book.  So I was just like OK whatever, and I rolled a 4 - so I left the room 2 spaces and went right back in the same room...the kids were in shick for some reason, but couldn't counter my logic, so I got to do what I wanted and followed their "rules"

my wife said I should of just not made a big deal about it.  I said, phefff, show 'em when they are young how the world works.

are you stickler for rules in games?  do you enforce the rules, or look the other way?  are there exceptions for kids?

[zibazinski]

There are no exceptions for kids and when they are learning the game, rules should be strictly followed so they learn the rules. That being said, I play bunco and for those that know bunco, it's really an excuse to have a girls night out so it isn't taken too seriously. The other night we were playing and we were supposed to be rolling for sixes. Our entire table rolled for fives again and counted them. After we all did it, we realized it, laughed, and said dont say anything to anyone else! We didn't! So sue us!

[Deleted]

As written? No way. Some games are written all wrong. Apples to apples comes to mind.

to agreed upon rules among adults? Generally, although I can be flexible depending on the setting.

with kids, adapt. I like scrabble, which assumes different end points fr different ability levels...

[Otto the Orange]

rules are especially important when playing spades.....you can shot if you don't have the rules straight at the start of the game and don't follow said rules :-)

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2013 6:09:20 GMT -5 Otto the Orange said:

are you stickler for rules in games?  do you enforce the rules, or look the other way?  are there exceptions for kids?

Depends on what kind of game you were playing with your kid. But most of times rules need it to be followed so kids can able to learn what's right, what's wrong. In that way, they become a rule following adult.

[Deleted]

Wow. You guys shouldn't play Fluxx...

[alabamagal]

I think rules should be followed. If you aren't following the rules of the game as written, then you need to agree to the rules up front.

When I was growing up playing Monopoly there were several alternate rules that we used. That is how I was taught. But they were different from the rules in the book. That is fine as long as all agree.

[Deleted]

There are no exceptions for kids and when they are learning the game, rules should be strictly followed so they learn the rules. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Board games got banned in our house.  I insisted on playing by the rulebook and my brother would want to make it up as he went.  This often resulted in screaming matches and board pieces flying everywhere.

We still don't do well playing board games together.

[thyme4change]

My husband is a lawyer (and a weenie) so he reads the rules, and for the most part we follow them.  I have found that Monopoly is so much more fun when you follow the actual rules, rather than all the BS "Free Parking" rules that have been made up along the way.  The game moves a lot faster, and you can use strategy to actually win. So, we make sure when you sell the houses back, you only get 50%, and you have to pay the interest to unmortgage your property, etc.  After that discovery, we generally play by the book in our family. 

[milee]

Depends on the age of the kid and the setting.

Our kids are a little over 4 years apart, so sometimes we're playing games that are appropriate for the older one but too advanced for the younger one.  We'll adapt some things so that we can all play.

Also, there are certain times when the bonding and family time is more important than the structure, so we'll make up some family rules for fun.  Like in Scrabble, we have a rule that you are allowed to make up a word as long as you can give it a definition that all the other players think makes sense and agree to.  That one results in some very funny joke words and family times where we're all laughing.

[Regis]

Apr 16, 2013 13:38:45 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

My husband is a lawyer (and a weenie) so he reads the rules, and for the most part we follow them.  

And does he send you an invoice for his time spent in reading the rules and preparing a summary for all of you?  

[thyme4change]

Yes, and then I bill him for laundry, meals and cleaning services.  He is way ahead.