Agh! Explaining Universalis!

Here's the series of events that I use to introduce the game. I developed this method from playing it with lots of people, and needing to get people conversant fast. Turns out that it's one of the best teaching methods that I 've seen for Universalis.

First, be the GM. Until it makes sense to let the reins loose. That is, control all flow until the players get it. This includes using social means to stop play and explain things when neccessary.

Here's the sequence:

1. Do not say Universalis is "x minus y" or "this with some of that". These are never really accurate, and only serve to give people preconceptions that will confuse them later. If they are "experienced gamers", the first thing to say is that Universalis is not an RPG. That's just so that they drop their normal RPG expectations (not to mention being true in a way). A little Zen mind trick.

2. Explain what Universalis is, in short. It's a means to tell a story collaboratively with some rules to tell who gets to say what, when.

3. Tell them that all the participants get coins, and there is only one rule, really. The rule is that one coin allows you to state one thing. That is, you can make one thing, or have one thing happen. Anything.

4. Say that there are other rules, that are based on this one rule, but that they will come up in play, and that they'll be described when they become appropriate.

5. Explain that the game usually begins by deciding what sort of elements the story will be about. Then dive right in. Explain that at any point the players can cease adding things, and "normal" play can start.

6. During the setup phase, look for a person who disagrees with something that somebody else says, or wait for some really odball statement to be made. Stop play, and inform everybody that they can Challenge. Explain this rule, and resume play. At this point people's eyes get bigger and they say, "Ahh!". They are starting to get it. I also explain interruptions at this point.

7. When the setup is complete, stop play and explain the scene rules. Resume play with bidding for scene control, and guide the high bidder through the elments of creating a scene.

8. Play out the scene. After the first introduction of an interesting Component, explain Traits and how they are added. Explain other rules as they become necessary (for example ending a scene, and refreshment when it occurs), but do not explain Complications, yet.

9. Wait for a bit of play to pass, and possibly until the next scene or two later (depending on scene length), until the players have most everything else down. Then and only then introduce Complications (along with the witty phrase, "Thought there were no dice in this game, didn't you?).

Basically, the best way to learn is to just play.

Give the players a little as possible to absorb at a time, and let then get used to each part before moving to the next. Using this tutorial method I get most players fully conversant with all the rules they need to play in about 20 minutes or less. At that point, I'll be explaining some nuance of the design, and some player will say, "I get it; now shut up and let us play." That's when I know it's time to relinquish the "GM" role, and let play proceed naturally. At that point the teacher just serves a a reference, and is otherwise an equal participant.

BTW, for speed, I have to admit that when I come to a particular rule detail, and I cannot remember it exactly, I just make up something that sounds good. It's better to just keep play flowing than to stop and look up a rule. If the players don't like it, then can change it. And hopefully they'll have read the rules by their next play, and then be doing it right, anyhow. :-)

Mike