[MunkieSuthorn]

Wow, I am taken back by the passion that everyone in this thread has shown regarding their thoughts about how a new player should approach the game. On any other forum that I have encountered this conversation would have degraded in a poke-in-the-eye-fest.

Going back to my original questions and the responses given you all have given what seems like feasible and well supported methods to get my feet wet and my mind to understand this detailed and in-depth game.

Just to summarize the answers to my questions:

Recommended Races:
ME Ulm – Allows new player to focus on game mechanics
MA Man – Massing Longbows allows for flexibility with pretender design
MA Ashod – Strong Race allows for a lot of leeway
EA Niefelheim – Strong Race allows for a lot of leeway, this race seems to have the most support
EA Abysia – Opposite number of Niefelheim, strong but fire based
Mictlans after understanding the game a bit
EA Ermor for experimenting with communions
EA Tien Chi for teaching basics

Game Configurations:
Easy Research
Few Random Events
Turn Up Independents to Prevent Swarm

Multiple Installs:
Might Experience Issues with MP Games
Run from a Thumb drive

Again, Wow! A diverse set of races but it seems the majority feel that the EA Niefelheim lend to a powerful army that allows a new player to pretty much be able to make mistakes without getting killed for them. I definitely take in to account the thought that a powerful race such as this also might lend to boredom in that there might not be a challenge. The thought that which theme will appeal to me will lend to a lasting appeal of the game in general makes sense. It seems everyone’s thoughts are well backed up, and they all seem to make sense.

I am going to keep this thread up while I create and play my next game and I will definitely give feedback from my experience so I might help others in the same boat as me.

Thanks again for taking the time to craft your responses, they are very appreciated and I will try and utilize them all in some manner.

Kindly,
Munkie!