When I look back on some of the better gaming experiences I've had, they have either been planned and executed extremely ably by the game organiser, or they have been with rules that I know well.
The later category has for me been a mix of board and miniatures games: Diplomacy, Warhammer 3rd Edition, Commands & Colors: Ancients, Lost Battles, Pax Romana, Modern Spearhead, A Victory Lost, and Undaunted Normandy are some of the rules I either do or did know well.
Obviously, easy familiarity with rules allows a greater appreciation of the tactical or strategic situation and a deeper understanding of possible options in pursuit of the overall goals. Basically, when you know what you are doing you stop looking up rules and just look at the game. Yay.
My goal this summer is to get to that point with the GMT-produced solo board game Fields of Fire. It has been looking at me reproachfully for about 18 months. The rulebook is a fairly intense read, but I know that once I have it down it will be a rewarding game and one I can come back to many times.
We'll see how we get on.
