What NCV variants would you consider "beginner-friendly"?

I'm currently looking to gather some information to see what various groups of people think (e.g., people hearing about variants for the first time, variant creators, long-time players) about this! We all love our variants with fairy pieces and interesting game-rule combinations, but it might differ for others  

I'll go first and give a few reasons for my picks,

Most beginner friendly:

• Rookmate (same position as regular chess, objective is easy to understand with strategy able to be learned on the fly for new players)
• Minihouse (small board, no fairy pieces, crazyhouse is one of the most popular gamerules already)
• Cross Derby (only 2 types of pieces with no fairies, easy objective of attacking a smothered king)

Least beginner-friendly:

• Thermopylae (lots of fairy pieces, objective is impossible to understand without reading description of the game)
• Emperor's Tomb (Giveaway + bare piece, xiangqi horse and dragon bishop)
• The X of Tricks (every single piece is a fairy, early promotion if not defended, aggressive attacks)

Note that this is just subjective, an actual beginner might think differently from me and that these variants are all still fun! (after all, we wouldn't have many variants if we just simplified all of them)

I disagree with thermopylae. I think that the objective for red is very clear.

You’re forgetting about Green

I know. I feel like you forgot about red

I find that caught in a snag is very easy to play if you know how the pieces work.

And war for throne has very simple pieces without messy attacks. Although throne war mini's small space and very limited material make it more tricky to plan farther ahead.

i know

yep ur right thermopylae is least beginner friendly :]

ok

yep

Elimination Chess is also quite beginner-unfriendly, as it is another Giveaway+Bare Piece variant

yep :]

How did I win emprors tomb first try even though I was a noob back then? (joke)

I'd say Grasshopper Arena, Racing Kings, Infiltration Danger, Trapped Queens, Stone Gravitation, and Tag Team are all beginner-friendly.

Should've taken the knight on move 6.

I've only played Villager's Chess once, and all I can say is, that's fair.

Villager's Chess II is harder.

Yes, definently.

Chaturaji is medium, because, although it's quite easy to avoid the trap where Green loses his king, sacking kings (which is a major aspect of the game) can be hard for beginers

1.d3 e6 f3

2.Bf4 and Be7+, --> Green loses his king

Want to know what's easier than Chaturaji? Chaturaji Alt Teams.

A bit off topic here, but what's the hardest variant?

I think Warp Speed, but that's only because I suck at chess.