The main difference between Fate Condensed and the other versions of Fate lies in their approach to character abilities and mechanics. In Fate Accelerated, you'll find a simplified approach with six broad "approaches" that encompass a wide range of actions. On the other hand, Fate Core offers a more detailed system with 18 specific "skills" that cover a variety of actions and abilities.

In terms of rules, both Fate Accelerated and Fate Core provide a solid foundation for gameplay. The core mechanics and concepts remain consistent across all versions of Fate. However, Fate Core delves deeper into the mechanics, providing more examples and guidelines for various situations.

Fate Condensed, as the name suggests, is a condensed version of Fate Core. It takes the essential elements of Fate Core and presents them in a more concise and streamlined manner. This makes it easier to pick up and play, especially for newcomers or those seeking a quicker, more accessible experience. While some of the additional examples and details found in the larger books may not be included in Fate Condensed, the fundamental rules and mechanics remain intact.

Ultimately, the choice between Fate Condensed, Fate Accelerated, and Fate Core depends on your preferences and playstyle. If you prefer a simplified and streamlined approach, Fate Condensed or Fate Accelerated might be the way to go. If you desire a more detailed and comprehensive system, Fate Core offers a broader range of options. Regardless of which version you choose, all of them capture the essence of Fate and provide a flexible framework for collaborative storytelling.

I completely understand and agree with the points you've raised. It's true that in some groups, players can feel uncertain about specific spells or actions, but overall, they seem to grasp the objective and how to pursue it.

In my personal experience, the most challenging aspect of running a Fate game is getting a firm grasp on the system itself. However, I'm glad to hear that despite my own learning curve, all of my players have a fantastic time and genuinely enjoy the game. Some have even expressed a preference for Fate over D&D due to its streamlined mechanics, which eliminate the overwhelming complexity of action order and simulation.

Sure thing. Lets say we've got a player who is playing a priest. They have a character aspect: "Priest with six guns. On a mission from God." One of the foundational things about Fate is that a character is more likely to succeed to more involved that character's fiction is in whatever they are attempting to do, but the book doesn't do a good job laying this out to the reader. The players look at their sheets. They see a number of listed actions and approaches. Feeling a little lost, they say "Can I attack in a flashy way?" I think we can both agree that this kind of classic "Mother may I" just isn't interesting during play. We want our players to embrace the fiction and act in accordance with established aspects. But the above is fine, right? It's just the players feeling a little lost and generally being new, right?

I'd be ok with the above if that's where it ended for me. However, during play, I often felt like players would want to involve aspects (as they should). So they'll ask things like: "I would like to try to shoot the chandelier that's swinging on the ceiling down, hitting General Holtz and his men. I'm a priest with six guns. Do you think that this is ok? Oh, and I know it's swinging because Otto just used it to swing from one balcony to another, so could I use the Swinging aspect here somehow? Maybe God could come into picture here somehow." And now you've got to have a full conversation about the act of shooting down a chandelier whereas in other systems you could have just called for an attack roll against object AC with a harness value based on metal or something.

This is kinda what I mean by asking permission. There is a need to have a constant, evolving conversation about the fiction to make sure everyone understands what is happening. When there's uncertainty, the players default to asking clarifying questions and mostly ask permission to do things. I have personally found the need to constantly update this conversation to be a little annoying.