I have played a convention game with David E., the rules writer; done a couple of solo run throughs at home; played a convention game not run by David; GM'ed at game on the Olympia; ran a two player game at home; and GM'ed a game at NJCon. So, my experience is limited.
Personally I like the game, but I can see how many people would not.
As you are commanding an army that is made up of "forces" (corps), where each force made up of "formations" (divisions/brigades), it is different than many of the games where your focus is on managing the battalions that make up maybe a few divisions. For example, one player in a game couldn't understand why his force couldn't cross the valley to attack the enemy. It was because his force had reached its initial objective (set by the player) and its formations had therefore automatically converted to Defend orders; he needed to give his force a new objective so he could attack in the direction he wanted to.
It is definitely a game that you have to be thinking ahead about your force objectives, formation orders and when and where your formations start deploying. Command and control is important.
As a formation has to move towards its force objective as fast as the slowest unit in the formation, it effectively uses simultaneous movement.
Combat is somewhat abstracted compared to lower-level rule sets, with an "artillery & skirmish" phase, and a "combat" phase, where the outcomes are primarily fatigue and "assessments" at the formation level. I like that formations (based upon their type and current order) can automatically convert their orders at different times during the turn sequence, which can have immediate effects on movement or combat.
When fatigue meets defined levels formations retreat or break. Formations can be recovered, but they are never good for too much more combat after that.
There are different characteristics for skirmish doctrines, a formation's tactical characteristic, types of units and commanders abilities that add some chrome.
With its QRS' for various ground scales, the game can be played in many figure scales.
Just my 2 cents – YMMV
John Hollier
