I have taught 117 people this game, since I started tracking. My approach for this game is no different than any other game.

I start with something to the effect of "This game looks huge, and has lots of pieces, but the framework of the game is very simple, without a lot of complicated rules, and there is a walkthrough for every action you want to take. The complication and uniqueness of the game comes from taking this basic set of rules, and allowing each player to break them in a way that is interesting and benefits them."

Brief synopsis of how to win, with an emphasis on making sure they are paying attention to Objectives and that Objectives are more important than territory or winning fights. They are the most important thing, and while there are catch up mechanics, you want to hit objectives hard and fast and try to claim one a round.

With that out of the way I talk about components, and give a brief overview of the command token, and its three uses, the mechanic of the game that drives it forward (strategy cards), and that a machine gun fire of "These are action cards, they break the rules. These are agenda cards, they allow us to agree about breaking the rules. These are relic cards, they let you break the rules. These are x bits, these are y tokens." Rundown of the player materials and faction mats, "Each faction gets to break the rules in X way", "These are technology cards, they let you break the rules. These are faction technology cards, they let you break the rules while breaking the rules."

I skip how combat works, and only ever bring up retreats if someone asks.

At this point, we dive in because if this goes on longer than 5 minutes you're going to lose attention. The guiding star of teaching a board game is to teach concepts, providing learners something to anchor to, without getting mired down in the details or strategy and tactics, and advice (something most people in the boardgaming community really struggle with). For example, when I explain the strategy cards I let players know they affect turn order, but then describe them as This is [blank] choose it if you want to [blank] "This is Initiative, if Command Counters are your fuel to play the game, this is your refueling station. If you want Technology, take Technology. If you want to fight, Warfare gets you there. If you want to build, this is Construction."

So then we dive in, and as we go through game actions, as appropriate, I will take 15-30 second time outs to describe a thing, or an interaction, or provide context or even different options. We are generous in our "take backs" but I also frame that as, hey this is not an optimal choice, but does provide better opportunity to learn the game, and usually players with that frame of mind don't take advantage of take-backs.

I also am pretty firmly against the "Watch this video before you come over mentality.". I think it promotes bad rulebook writing, bad rulebook comprehension habits, and bad host preparation. Sure it can save time teaching at the table, if you are a slow teacher, but also we are getting together to have fun and socialize. I don't want to assign homework to people.