Simplification?
While in theory
this may work, it's really difficult to say whether this is part of
the solution or not. In my own experience, I felt certain editions of
certain RPG's (without naming any names) were bogged down by
excessive rules that resulted in gameplay that was often slowed to a
crawl. Yet the “correction” to this problem that was offered in
the very next edition of that game simplified the gameplay so much
that it was compared to World of Warcraft or other video games—and
the players hated that. What is needed is a good balance. One of my
own litmus tests is if my pre-teen daughter can play it easily and
stay engaged. While she could handle the aforementioned RPG, she
often got bored when it came time to look up the rules and factor
everything in. I remember times in my own game sessions with friends
where, as a player, I found myself reading books while waiting on
other players to figure out overly lengthy and complex rules. As a
GM, I had to constantly scramble to reference all the rules, which
often slowed the game and story. Though Solar Echoes may initially
appear to be “crunchy” (rules heavy), we've really managed to
streamline the rules and simplify the calculations necessary for
determining the failure or success of an action. Ultimately, the goal
is to keep the game moving, because the more interruptions the game
suffers from rules hunting and lengthy calculations, the more
challenging it is for a player to keep his “suspension of
disbelief” engaged.
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