Hello

Welcome to the forum.

Not to be too humorous about it, but here is my advice: Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest some more. Playtest some more. Playtest some more. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. Playtest. And when you are done playtesting... Playtest some more.

Humor aside, here is some generic advice:

* Make board games because you enjoy it, not to become the next billionaire.
* You will make mistakes along the way. Realize that they are mistakes. Embrace them. Remember them. They will make your next games better.
* Never throw away an idea. Ever. Even if it is "bad" idea. Write it down until it is clear enough so that you will remember it six months from now without any guesswork.
* Your first prototype should be just that - A prototype. Made with materials like construction paper, graph paper, random low-cost items lying around the apartment or house.
* Have I mentioned the importance of copious amounts of playtesting yet?
* Your friends like you. Your parents like you. Your co-workers like you. Your neighbors like you. While you should value their playtest advice, keep in mind that they are your friends, parents, co-workers and neighbors. Temper their advice with playtest advice from people who have no idea who you are and have no incentive to be nice.
* Be persistent in getting feedback.
* Be prepared to revise your game... Many, many, many times. Never be "married" to a rule, a name, a theme, the size of the board, the look of the pieces, etc. Until the game is wonderful and perfect in every conceivable way, be prepared to change anything.
* Your instructions will never be clear enough. Make them clearer. Make them obvious. Make them clearly obvious and obviously clear. Then, go back and make them even clearer and obviouser. Keep doing that.

That should get you started. Good luck and good gaming.