Episode 018 - How Arbitrary Are Board Game Rules?

Cardboard Philosophy

Board game rules are all made up! It’s true! I read about that in a rule book once.

But how arbitrary are those made up rules? Are some rules more inherently intuitive and less arbitrarily than others? What makes those other rules feel arbitrary?

This is certainly sounds like a weird philosophical question the CP boys would tackle… and would you believe it? This week they do!

Join Robert, Steve and Evan as we get into the nitty gritty of what feel arbitrary in rules!

Want to ask a question or give us your two cents? Hit us up by email or join our BGG guild!

Cites and Sources

Botswana - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/398/wildlife-safari

Byzantium - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19348/byzantium

Darkest dungeon - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/317321/darkest-dungeon-board-game

Dark souls - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/197831/dark-souls-board-game

Dead Reckoning - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/276182/dead-reckoning

Food Chain Magnate - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175914/food-chain-magnate

GoldenEye BOOK –

The Great Zimbabwe - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111341/great-zimbabwe

Horizon zero dawn - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/260410/horizon-zero-dawn-board-game

Joraku - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/180901/joraku

Kanban - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/284378/kanban-ev

Long Shot - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40237/long-shot

Long Shot: The Dice Game - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/295374/long-shot-dice-game

On Mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267/mars

Pax Pamir - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/256960/pax-pamir-second-edition

Rheinlander - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/111/rheinlander

Samurai - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3/samurai

Sea Salt & Paper - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/367220/sea-salt-paper

Taj Mahal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475/taj-mahal

Taverns of Tiefenthal - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/269207/taverns-tiefenthal

Terraforming mars - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars

Through the Desert - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/503/through-desert

Tigres & Euphrates - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42/tigris-euphrates

Yellow & Yangtze - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/244114/yellow-yangtze