Starfox
Hero
Is Mouse Guard a simplified version of Burning Wheel? I have tried Mouse Guard, and found it had too many rules. It also encouraged metaplay. In order to get maximum experience from a fight - and this is very strictly given in the rules - you first have to fail a lot only to later catch up and win. Mouse Guard also formalized role-playing situations in a way that I suppose could encourage a group of players who are not into role-playing, but for experienced role-players it felt like a crutch and leash combined.
Overall, the experience was that this is a boardgame trying to emulate a good free-form role-playing session by formalizing it into rules.
Not saying it can't work for the right group, but someone mentioned training wheels and I agree with that sentiment. Once you know how to play, you no longer need the training wheels.
Also, if Mouseguard is a simplified version of Burning Wheel, the original must be really really complex.
On the positive side, it really put a LOT of control into the players hands. There were player resources and player-called scenes that had merit. Only, as I noted above, the best way to use these resources were sometimes to fail.
Overall, the experience was that this is a boardgame trying to emulate a good free-form role-playing session by formalizing it into rules.
Not saying it can't work for the right group, but someone mentioned training wheels and I agree with that sentiment. Once you know how to play, you no longer need the training wheels.
Also, if Mouseguard is a simplified version of Burning Wheel, the original must be really really complex.
On the positive side, it really put a LOT of control into the players hands. There were player resources and player-called scenes that had merit. Only, as I noted above, the best way to use these resources were sometimes to fail.