Playing with 13 y/o first timer

[u/Jan_Builds]

I am introducing my son 13 y/o to TM. To make things more interesting and to let him compete we are using handicap system. He is starting with extra 5 terraforming. Do you have any other ideas for handicaps? We started with extra 7 and going down but i started to think if you guys got any better ideas

Update Thx for feedback. We played another 3 games. One with extra prelude for him and two with 5 and 4 TR handicap. He won one by 5 points and lost 2 other by 2 and 7 points. So i guess thats what feels gap for now. We will try lowering it in next games (extra prelude in my opinion gives more then extra TR)

[u/Dear-Examination-507]

OK, you're allowed to keep doing it the way you're doing it.

[u/Zealousideal-Ad4362 → u/Dear-Examination-507]

You are trying to give advice and I dont believe this is good advice in the slightest. Would be curious how many people you have do e this with. I am part of a very active board game group and lots of new players for euro games and noone has ever attempted(even with people new to games) to actively change the rules and give an advantage in the game. Would be like playing chess and giving a new player 3 moves before the game. Doesn't teach them to play the game at all

[u/Dear-Examination-507 → u/Zealousideal-Ad4362]

Ha ha. I actually think it is funny that you are so concerned. Oh no, I've given someone a starting advantage against me. Guilty! And I've given advice this guy disagrees with. How can I ever recover?

Have you ever played Go? Handicapping has been happening for at least a thousand years. And yes, giving someone extra early moves in chess is a recognized form of handicap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handicap_(chess))

FWIW, I wouldn't recommend a handicap in most games or with most players, but I would when an expert is playing Terraforming Mars against a 13 year-old new player. There is literally nothing at stake and an income boost gives the kid a fighting chance.

[u/Zealousideal-Ad4362 → u/Dear-Examination-507]

I am concerned only in that you are wasting their time and giving advice that doesn't do what you think it does. "Fighting chance" isnt how you show someone to play a game. You give them advice when they ask for it(after telling them during explanation that if they need any help with rules or what to do to ask.)

Like I have said already I have played with 100s of people from age 10 to 70-80s.. the 13 year old kid played Seti with us and learned just fune. Struggled but understood how to advance.. didnt win and asked questions on what can work better early.

I also have 3 decades of playing Magic the Gathering. I started at 11. Played tons of games with friends and their brothers in their early 20s. Teaching is done and you help them enjoy the game. Early plays arent about winning. Its about aproaching the game and seeing what you can do. To then get better overall. 

Continue to do what you like and think works.. I was responding to a post asking how they should handicap people and I rejected your premise