I thought I would get my concern out to others. I have recently gotten into SL and ASL, and have been toying with the idea of highlighting my RBs for quicker reference. I was wondering if this was a good idea and if many of you have done it as well?
Some people are into it and some people are not. I highlighted two different rulebooks, partially to make certain passages stick out, but also to force me really to read the rules and not skim them.
One thing I discovered--things that you highlight at the start are not necessarily the things you want highlighted when you are more experienced....
Personally, I highlight. Numerous times during a game I have referenced The Tome and have saved time by catching the highlighted rule. Do what is necessary to make yourself a more effective player.
Highlighting works to filter important stuff from fluff and filler. The RB does not have a significant amount of fluff or filler; it is not written as prose.
If you need reminders, you should check out the various "cheat" cards that players have developed. Those cards take the place of inking up a rule book only to realize later that the highlight distracted you from a caveat to the rule.
I didn't highlight any of the rules in mine, but I did go through and highlight in yellow the main section headers (8. DEFENSIVE FIRE PRINCIPLES), and I highlighted in green everything in the next tier (8.1 FIRST FIRE, 8.2 RESIDUAL FIREPOWER, 8.3 SUBSEQUENT FIRST FIRE).
It helps when you're browsing for a rule. It would be nice if there was a type design heirarchy in the ASL rulebook.
I never highlight. Feels like writing in a book. I also refrain because highlighting draws the eye, maybe away from something else it also needs to read. I find it distracting, too. Text of the same color facilitates the reading thereof, for me anyway.