Wraith said:JP, I think it's different for you because you're blessed (as the Midwest is, mostly) with a lack of the massive high/low level divide that exists out East thanks to the nigh-immortality of longterm characters. APL 10 would rock my socks off.
That said, I would rather tell a brand new player to stay home than throw them as an NPC into a EC-style fight like the ones at the National with just the Newbie briefing and a rough grasp of the rules. They'd have more fun and be more likely to come back.
I'm not picking on Wraith here. But, this train of thought comes up ALL the time.
Is there anything more than anecdotal evidence that showing that player retention rates are higher in places other than CT, NH, HQ, NJ and Catskills? I hear talk of the INSANE EC fights scaring away new players, but I don't ever see data backing it up. In fact, my own personal experience contradicts the idea completely.
I'm sort of new on the National scale here... if there is data I am missing I would love to have it.
With all that said, a simpler rules system that is more easily grasped by new players would be amazing and it sounds like there is a fair amount of support for it. The question then becomes HOW do we simplify the rules.
Adding numerical values to incants was one suggestion.
Any others rules suggestions specifically designed to SIMPLIFY the rules set?