From: Ground Zero Games <jon@g...>
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 22:49:28 +0100
Subject: [OFFICIAL] FMA testing...
Hi all, First, thanks for the great way that the FMA draft stuff has been received. Right form first in-house testing we believed we had a system that would really work well, and the comments and feedback so far seem to be bearing this out. BUT, can I just make one request...... The first and most important job in testing FMA to get it to a publishable stage is to make sure that the CORE RULES are solid, simple and adapatable. I know that as soon as something like this starts being discussed on the list everyone has a load of ideas, and this is good (and will be very useful for the optional stuff later on), but one or two of the threads seem to be losing sight of the aim of the testing - to prove that the basic system runs smoothly, is easily understandable and is FUN. Adding more rules is easy - it is knowing which ones to LEAVE OUT that is the hardest bit, but also one of the most vital. Rather than trying to add complexity and variables at this stage, the object should be to refine the basics to the simplest possible form of the game - THEN we can add all the bolt-on goodies. Can we try to keep this on track for a while - once the core rules are fixed then we can start laying on the chrome...... Hoping you all take this in the spirit it is meant! Thanks,