I'd very much appreciate your candid criticism - preferably to
this list,
just got around to read your new site (stomping on the free in G34 isn't as
easy as I expected).
*) I agree with ditching the killing hobbit stuff. We rarely meet hobbits
(normally they just wander past), and we are trying to get people to play
the movie, not stomp on hobbits (guess who must have been cheering when the
stormtroopers killed the ewoks in the last star wars movie).
*) nice battle. Just about everyone was there. Not sure what game it was.
Looks like 1650 (since in 2950 you are hard pressed to afford a single 2000
strong army), but the names are not normal for 1650. Methinks creative
editing 
*) nice idea of showing different aspects of the turn (a map - ouch for the
free, a PC - more sobs for the free, and a character report - can you reduce
murazor's picture ?).
*) the sample turn says 'an internal error occurred'. I can press return and
see NG get stomped on, so I think its the graphics on page 1 that caused the
error. Maybe check into that ? I would perfer that you showed a turnsheet
from your company, and not GSI, but thats me
*) I don't think you stressed the three versions of the game. Its only when
I got to the review that I found out about them. 1650 is when the hobbit
blade that killed the WK in the movie was made, 2950 is the book, and 1000
is in the future when men ruled (JR Tolkien started writing a sequel to LoRT
set in this time period, but he rejected it). And I disagree with flagship
in saying that beginners should start in 1650. The slow start of 2950 allows
beginners to do nothing on the first few turns. They can still be alive when
their allies start giving (we hope) good advice.
*) I'm impressed with the startup sheet. However ... under races I would
list 'neutrals'. Hint that neutrals join either free or dark depending on
whoever offers the better bribe. And I will bet the greedy beginners will
take them up. IMO, a beginner playing a neutral in 2950 is best for them -
and us actually :).
*) and isn't that TWO military listings under style of game ? Maybe also
allow them to start in the back (rangers or BS), or in the front (NG or WK)
- but you will need to word that differently.
*) when I was young (many, many years ago), some PBM games had 'special
actions' that cost a bit more. Since everyone wanted the extra benefits of
the special actions, we all paid the extra money. I would stress there there
are no hidden costs or extra charges that favour those with large bank
accounts.
*) doesn't look like gandalf to me 
Actually I would prefer a picture of
Tolkien
*) Maybe more sample turns, ie
- a startup for a free (rangers ? as everyone would like Aragorn II after
seeing the movie)
- a startup for a dark (WK of course as he is the big baddie)
- a startup for Saruman (as he had a major part in the movie).
- the DS winning the game (hopefully stomping on the rangers capital)
- the free winning the game (burning places in mordor would look good)
*) the lack of links to other middle earth sites is a good option. Its less
confusing to people.
*) using bree 5 (as against the most recent one) is also a good choice.
However I think people are not that stupid to not know how to use a mouse (I
actually left clicked to open it right away, not clicked twice as you said.
One problem - its takes a fair while to load.
Another thing I'm thinking of. We want to link what happened to the movie
(ents joining the free for a battle or two, saurman joining the dark - but
being able to join the free if he decided to, the players in the movie, big
battles, etc, etc), to what people could do in the game.
last question. My site to the movie said that arwen gets a better showing
than in the book (leading lady and all that nonsense). Anyone guesses on how
they will arrange that ? I can only assume more love scenes, like walking
hand-in-hand in lorien and all that SNAG stuff
thanks
m