What you’ll do

You’ll take messy, half-finished, or overly dense rulebooks and turn them into clear, teachable documents that help new players get to “first fun” with minimal friction.

• Review rules, player aids, and setup sheets for clarity, structure, and completeness.
• Restructure rulebooks into logical sections (overview → components → setup → turn structure → edge cases).
• Rewrite confusing passages into plain, precise language without dumbing down the design.
• Design smooth “teach flow” so a group can learn from the rules or a quick-start, not just a live teacher.
• Standardize terminology, references, and icon calls so everything matches across the game.
• Flag edge cases, contradictions, and missing information for the designer to resolve.
• Suggest diagrams, examples, and player aids that would make complex steps easier to grasp.
• Leave clear comments and change notes so designers understand why edits were made.

What you bring

• Experience editing rulebooks, manuals, or other instructional content (tabletop, RPG, digital, or comparable).
• Strong command of written English and an eye for structure, not just typos.
• Comfort working in Google Docs or similar with tracked changes and comments.
• Familiarity with modern tabletop games and the typical sections of a rulebook.
• Ability to balance designer intent with player needs: you know when to push for clarity.
• Reliable communication and the ability to hit agreed timelines.

Nice to have

• Prior experience specifically with board game rulebooks (published or in late-stage prototype).
• Familiarity with accessibility basics (readability, visual hierarchy, color contrast, cognitive load).
• Experience creating player aids, quick-starts, or “first game” walkthroughs.
• Comfort working alongside systems/balance folks and playtest reports.
• Light layout skills (InDesign, Affinity, or similar) or the ability to mark up simple layout suggestions.

Compensation

• Freelance, remote role.
• Per-project or hourly, depending on the scope and format of the rulebook.
• Please include your preferred rate range and your approximate monthly capacity.

How to apply

Submit the following via the application form:

• 1–2 samples of instructional writing or editing work (rulebooks, manuals, tutorials, etc.).
  • If you have a “before and after” example, even better.
• A short note (150–250 words) on your approach to making complex rules teachable for new players.
• Your time zone, typical availability, and the formats you’re comfortable working in (Google Docs, PDF markups, etc.).

If you haven’t edited a published game yet, focus on your instructional writing/editing experience and your familiarity with modern tabletop games.