Rules questions for Matrix

["Kisa Griffin" <kisa_griffin@...>]

First off I would like to say that this games looks interesting.  
Second I have to say that I agree with previous comments that 
the rules are confusing.  I want to play it more but I would like to 
be playing it properly and to do so I am in need of some 
clarifications.  Hopefully Mr, Barret himelf will step forward to 
address these questions.  If not, perhaps Phillip Lerche, the 
master of soitary confinement, will say a few words as he clearly 
figured it out well enough to play it and give it the honorary 
mention of best theme.

I will preface these questions by saying that if I did not feel that 
the game had potential I would not be bothering you with thes 
questions.  I am not just trying to pick on your wording, I am trying 
to understand your intent so that I can play.   And I fully admit that 
this may be one of those rare (Ron could vouch for this part) 
instances where I just don't grock game rules after reading them 
a few times and trying a practice game between each reading.  

Here are the items that I feel need clarified to start with.  These 
may address everything for me depending on the answers.  
There are a few bits that depend on which why the answers fall 
whether they are still conffusing or not.

1. There are two definition of the word contiguous that could 
apply in each instance that it is used in the rules.  They are: 

     1. Sharing an edge or boundary; touching.
     3. a. Connecting without a break: the 48 contiguous states.
                             -The American Heritage Dictionary 3rd Ed.  

  The confusion is in sections Basic Game - Making a run - (1) & 
(2). Which of these applies to each occurance of this word?





2. When chosing where the initial pawn and tile are placed we 
are assuming an invisible grid on the tabletop.  Is this correct?





3.    In Basic Game - Making a run - (2) you address how to add 
to the matrix if you want to move in a direction that has no ice or 
an occupied data fort.  What if you wish to go in a direction that 
contains a tile where one of the ice breakers has previously 
broken ice and the poer-up token is gone? Does the ice break 
move in freely or does it have to break the ice again?

4. Can an Ice breaker exit and re-enter the matrix?   Does it have 
to deal with ice on the way out or does it just pop out and come 
back in another way?  Could it in fact come in to the matrix in a 
very different area of the table thus creating two sections of the 
matrix which are, at that time, not connected?  If it can pop out 
and re-enter this would allow you to enter right next to a data fort, 
is this the intent?

5.  What are the values of the Null and Ace on the dice?  I played 
using the default of 1 and 0.  If that is that case it seems to make 
the game pretty random and very hard because you will have to 
have a minimum of one coin of a color on hand to get into a data 
fort as they have a value of 6 and you can roll at best a 5 (+1 for 
being the same color.



I look forward to the answers to these questions so that I may 
accurately play the basic game and move on to the advanced.

Thank you very much,

Kisa Griffin