I think the point I was trying to make with the newbies was more of a organization (or lack thereof) point. It's hard to compare Cults of Prax to Thunder Rebels. There's lot of great detail in both but Cults was certainly more approachable and easier to get into. I'm very glad they've dropped the small paperback format though.
As far as the simulationist part I probably overplayed that bit. (I'm a rules sort of simulationist rather than a setting one anyway). I've bought or am in the process of ordering all the offical Issaries stuff and I do like it and the detail. Again it's the way it's organized that's more off putting. (We've been down that road before though).
I really want to clarify that I'm certainly not opposed to greater detail but rather as Julian pointed out the way it's been organised so far in HW product.
I like his suggestion for keywords first plus I'd like to put in a plea for the continued use of indexes AND a page devoted to collecting any rule changes or clarifications given in a volume. This would be VERY, VERY useful.
What would be great would be a two or four page overview of a culture to put them in a player's context. Are people familiar with CultureGrams?
http://www.culturegrams.com/demo/world/world_Bulgaria.html
The print product has four pages devoted to a country for a quick overview of a lot of the aspects of a culture. (Yes, they can be a bit superficial but it's a a start). These things are aimed at travelers and others to give you a feel for a culture.
Given something like that, the keywords, the sort of write ups like the homeland ones being used in ILH and the cults and you've got enough detail for a good start, especially for busy 40 year olds who don't have the time to read Thunder Rebels. You really need discrete bits you can photocopy and hand to your players so they can get into a culture. I'm the one who reads all the stuff in my campaigns I don't expect any of players to and doubt I could get them to if I did.
Oliver
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