Rules reference
The reference block is the rules text players read while they play. It is
purely descriptive: a summary, a list of named rules, and a list of
objectives. None of it has any mechanical effect — taybl does not score,
check legality, or enforce a win. On taybl, resolving a rule means a human
reads this text and moves things by hand, exactly as they would at a real
table. The reference is how players know what to do.
Because nothing here is executed, write it for people, not for a parser. Clear, concise prose beats clever structure. A good reference is the single most valuable thing you can add after the table looks right — it is what turns an arrangement of components into a game someone can actually play.
What goes in the block
| Field | What it is | Shown as |
|---|---|---|
summary | A one- or two-line overview of the whole game | The blurb at the top of the rules sidebar |
rules[] | Named sections — each a name and a text body | Collapsible entries in the rules sidebar, and tooltips |
objectives[] | How a player wins — a description, plus an optional ranking | A “how to win” list in the sidebar |
An objective’s ranking is an advisory hint only — highest, lowest, or
first — describing how the winning total is compared. taybl never totals
anything or declares a winner; the ranking just helps a reader understand the
goal at a glance.
How to edit in the Studio
Open your game → Settings tab → Rules sub-tab. There you can:
- Edit the Summary — the one-line overview.
- Add rule to create a named section, then fill in its name and text. Add as many as the game needs; break long rules into a few digestible sections.
- Add objective for each way to win, with an optional ranking.
Changes save with the rest of the definition and appear in the rules sidebar the next time the table loads — including in Preview, so you can read them back the way a player will.
A note on enforcement
If you find yourself wishing the rules text could stop an illegal move, that
instinct belongs elsewhere. Use a zone’s accepts list
to limit what drops where, or visibility to hide
contents. The reference block only ever describes — it never restricts.
Related
- What taybl is — why players resolve every rule manually
- Zones overview — where “enforcement” actually lives
- Procedures (legacy) — and why you should not author one
- Publishing