prompter: In a gateway boardgame (like Azul or Splendor) how many resources there could be without being overwhelming for the players? What else can I do to make it simple to learn?

assistant: The number of resources in a gateway board game should ideally be limited to no more than 5-6 different types. This helps to keep the game simple and easy to understand for new players. Having too many resources can make it overwhelming and confusing for players to keep track of, especially if they have different properties or interactions with each other.

In addition to limiting the number of resources, there are several other things you can do to make a gateway board game simple to learn:

1. Streamline the rules: Keep the rules simple and straightforward, and avoid adding unnecessary complexity. Try to make the rules easy to understand by using clear and concise language, and provide examples or illustrations to help players understand how to play.

2. Provide clear objectives: Make sure that players understand what they are trying to achieve in the game. Provide clear goals and objectives that are easy to understand, and make sure that players have a clear idea of how to win.

3. Use intuitive game mechanics: Use game mechanics that are easy to understand and intuitive. Avoid overly complex mechanics that require a lot of explanation, and focus on mechanics that are easy to pick up but offer depth and strategy.

4. Provide reference materials: Provide players with reference materials that they can refer to during the game, such as a summary of the rules, a reference sheet for the different resources or actions, or a quick-start guide to get players up to speed quickly.

5. Playtest and iterate: Playtest the game with a variety of players to see where they struggle and where they excel. Use this feedback to refine the rules and mechanics, and make adjustments to improve the game's flow and balance.

By following these tips, you can create a gateway board game that is simple to learn, but still offers depth and strategy for more experienced players.

prompter: Thanks! can you give me more examples of good board games to take inspiration from?

assistant: Certainly! Here's a list of some popular gateway board games that you can take inspiration from:

1. Ticket to Ride: Players collect cards of various train car types and claim railway routes on a map in this game. The goal is to connect cities and complete specific routes to score points.

2. Carcassonne: This is a tile-placement game where players take turns placing tiles to build a medieval landscape. Players score points by strategically placing their followers (called "meeples") on cities, roads, and other features.

3. Pandemic: This is a cooperative game where players work together to stop the spread of diseases across the globe. Each player takes on a specific role, and the team must coordinate their actions to find cures for the conditions and save the world.

4. King of Tokyo: Players control monsters vying for control of Tokyo by rolling dice, earning victory points, and attacking other players. The game is easy to learn and offers a good balance between luck and strategy.

5. Dominion: A deck-building game where players start with a small deck of cards and gradually acquire more powerful cards to add to their deck. The game has a simple set of rules but offers a lot of depth and replayability due to the variety of cards available.

6. 7 Wonders: Players lead one of the seven great cities of the ancient world, and the goal is to develop their city through three ages. The game uses card drafting and set collection mechanics and is easy to learn but offers strategic depth.

7. Catan: Players build settlements, cities, and roads and collect resources to expand their civilization on the island of Catan. The game uses trading, resource management, and area control mechanics, making it a great gateway game.

8. Forbidden Island: Another cooperative game where players work together to collect treasures from a sinking island. Players must use their unique abilities and plan their moves carefully to escape the island before it's too late.

9. Sushi Go!: This is a fast-paced card drafting game where players pass around hands of sushi-themed cards, trying to collect sets to score points. It's simple to learn, plays quickly, and has a charming theme.

10. Codenames: A team-based word game in which players try to guess the secret identities of their team's agents by giving and interpreting one-word clues. The game is simple to learn but requires clever thinking and communication.

These games offer a variety of mechanics, themes, and styles that you can draw inspiration from when designing your gateway board game. Remember to focus on simplicity, accessibility, and depth of strategy to make your game enjoyable for new and experienced players.

assistant: Sure!

- [Pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_(board_game)): a 2-4 player cooperative board game based on the premise that four diseases have broken out in the world, each threatening to wipe out a region

- [Catan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catan): Players take on the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. Players gain victory points as their settlements grow; the first to reach a set number of victory points, typically 10, wins

- [Ticket to Ride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_to_Ride_(board_game)): a railway-themed German-style board game

- [Carcassonne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_(board_game)): a tile-based board game where players build out a medieval-themed landscape in order to acquire the most resources

- [Gloomhaven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloomhaven): a cooperative campaign-based dungeon crawl game including a narrative campaign, 95 unique playable scenarios, and 17 playable classes

- [Codenames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codenames_(board_game)): a party game where two teams compete by each having a "spymaster" give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board, and the other players on the team attempt to guess their team's words while avoiding the words of the other team

- [Dungeons and Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons): a classic, role-playing game where one player (the "dungeon master") creates the rules and dictates scenarios to the others. Try playing with an LLM as the dungeon master!

And see [NYT Wirecutter's 11 Best Board Games (2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/board-games-we-love/)

prompter: What is an optimal number of players for a board game?

assistant: When it comes to gateway board games like Azul or Splendor, I think it's best to keep the number of resources limited to around 4-6 different types. That way, it doesn't get too complicated or overwhelming for players.

To make it easy to learn, I'd suggest having clear and concise instructions, maybe with some illustrations or examples to help explain things. It could also be helpful to have a tutorial or practice round so everyone can get the hang of it before jumping into a full game.

And of course, playtesting is super important to see what works and what doesn't. Getting feedback from other players can help you make the game even better! Hope that helps!

prompter: Give me a template for a game of this type's manual, with generic sections usually present in a such a board game's manual.