Clarence,
I was interested in the comment leader in your blog about forum/blog comments on R2E. Some feedback appears to suggest R2E is complicated.
I have no doubt that your perception of the feedback is correct but it also struck me as deeply ironic.
One of the main spurs to getting the rules done was the relative complexity and sluggishness of GdB for bigger games. That is where it all began.
R2E as a book is large because of the explanations, examples and pictures. Strip that out and I think it is possibly similar in size or perhaps slightly thinner than its contemporaries.
The real test is actually PLAYING games. If players make it past the pictures and the explanations and set something up on the table it all clicks into place pretty neatly.. I know that you know this.. I thought it might be useful just to let everyone else know
I haven't trawled around too much for reviews etc. I was somewhat fazed by the TMP affaire and have decided to give that particular arena a reasonable wide berth.
I have read Bill Gilchrist's review on Angus Konstam's site.. interesting. Bill is a bit of a rules addict but to my knowledge he's never played the game and has just had a read through. Angus has half played half a game (when he's not reading the Scotsman or at the bar) and tends to be somewhat offhand in his comments but that is his style, agent provocateur I believe may be the mot juste.
The problem with reviews in general is that if you are somewhat insecure the comments can be taken personally, if you respond to criticism, it looks defensive, if you ignore it and don't get involved it looks like lack of ownership and disinterest.. none are particularly attractive options.
That is why I feel the best way to get people comfortable with the rules is to get them playing and not talking..
Wargamers do however like to talk
I am in the process of trying to organise the first R2E weekender and if that flies then I'll do more and trawl them round the country. In addition, the scenarios appearing soon in mags should also give people an idea of the application of the rules in smaller scale scenarios.
Get the troops and the dice out is my advice!!
