Reply To: Is BoW biased in its reviews?

[osbad 4279xp 1]

One of the problems with reviewing games and model kits is that so much is subjective.  For instance, in terms of models you have a range from the likes of for the sake of argument, Reaper Bones at one extreme to Forgeworld resin at the other.  Now which is “better” or “worse”. Forgeworld resin is sharper and easier to paint but costs many times as much for a model.  Which is better? Depends on the criterion, for instance, Reaper Bones are much more durable and tough than Forgeworld resin, so does that make them “better”?  Maybe if I’m a DM carting them about!  So much is objective though, but there is also an intangible element – whether the model has heart – does the sculpt grab you?  There are many Forgeworld models that I may feel are a bit uninspiring, but someone else may drool over. Neither of us is wrong.

I do feel that BoW are good at commenting when something doesn’t really grab them – I recall a comment by @warzan the other week about some new models in shown in a weekender that he thought were somewhat “soft” in detail.

I have absolute confidence that when the BoW guys say they like something they do actually like it.  Mostly they are giving their initial impressions in unboxings and lets-plays which is not an in-depth review format. But in the weekenders and XLBS shows occasionally topics come up that indicate when the guys have a less thankfully enthusiastic opinion of something.  Clearly, they have to be careful about slander, but when something has “gone off the boil” for them it is usually clear.  Perhaps this is a little nuanced to pass outside of UK culture – which has an unusually refined sense of sarcasm?  Forgive me if I am spreading a stereotype, but sometimes German culture takes things said a little more literally than is intended by UK folks.  Also, you have to remember us British folks are unfailingly polite and hate to be thought of as rude, so criticism is often presented as “faint praise” rather than outright criticism.  That also is easy to miss to someone not familiar with the culture.

In the end I think all that BoW can and should do is present the contents and their initial opinions of them as straight forwardly as possible and present them to us,and leave it up to us to decide whether we are interested in the product or not.  after several years of watching BoW I have got a feeling about who’s opinions are closest to mine and whose are further away – for instance, I am I think closest to Lloyd’s views – which are I feel primarily about atmosphere and tone, whereas Justin’s tend to be more about crunch and mechanics, so if Lloyd likes a game and Justin is less enamoured, then maybe I would like it, but if it were the other way around, I would probably enjoy it less.