For Soth, I'm using in the System in a Can criteria developed by Filip Luszczyk.

• Games need to be instantly playable. Assuming that everyone had read the document, the group should be able to sit down and start playing after no more than 10 minutes of preparation (i.e. under optimal circumstances no one should have to spend more than 10 minutes creating a character, scenario, setting or what have you).
• Games can be no more than 4 A4 or Letter pages long. Margins should have at least 15 mm. Also, no microscopic fonts – the main text should be at least 10p in size. These constraints require relative brevity, but still give you plenty enough space to play with, and ensure readability of the document.

• These four pages need to contain everything that is required to play the game, including character sheet and the like. Inclusion of widely accessible gaming props like dice, cards or microwave ovens is not required, of course.

• You can also assume that the reader is familiar with the basic gaming vocabulary (including jargon terms specific to specific types of games), and you don't have to explain concepts featured by any published games that in detail.

I'm also adopting a publish-fast approach. I'll be writing the game in 24 hours, publish this alpha .pdf and playtest within a week. Then I'll start a playtest thread at the forge, and ask for feedback. Specifically, I'll be asking people for their fundamental issue / problem / concern (if any) with the game, and for two solutions / suggestions. Then I want to implement those ideas in a 24 hour rewrite, playtest again, and publish the game for free.

The intention is to break through my procrastination and fear of publishing through writing an extremely short game, in controlled bursts, to achievable deadlines.

I want rules that have a board game like clarity and simplicity.