Ghostwind, and all the other d20 MR reviewers - despite the guff you've been getting, I've found your reviews generally helpful (when I read them). There have been a few times when your reviews have been the only ones available for a recent product I was interested in, and in those cases, I always received enough information to make my purchasing decision.
And really, what more can you ask for from a review than that?
However ....
D20 MR has done 185 reviews so far.
117 of them have been 4's.
33 of them have been 3's
32 of them have been 5's
3 of them were 2's
After reading d20 MR's reviewing standards, I feel fairly safe in saying this is due to a compressed and inflated scoring scheme that actually centers around the 4 point mark. From d20 MR's standards page (which is full of very useful advice, but did NOT have a readily apparent link from the most recent Airships review) :
Scoring (as it applies to the d20 Magazine Rack)
Open Game Content: The scoring on this is a little subjective but use this as a guide...
*5.0 - The entire contents except for graphic elements are ogc.
*4.5-4.0 - Most of the contents except for an occasional section of single chapter are ogc.
*3.5-3.75 - Only the game mechanics themselves are ogc. Spell names, monster names, class names, etc. are closed.
*<3.0 - There is very little game mechanics present (less than 5% of the book).
*0.0 - No open content (Wizards of the Coast, Kenzer, Arthaus, and other licensed settings from Wotc).
d20 Compliance:
*5.0 - Everything follows proper game mechanics including skill points, feats, game balance and other actual rule functions.
*4.0 - There are a few minor errors (less than 10) or only one major error.
*3.0 - A significant number of minor errors or few major errors exist.
*<3.0 - The book has serious game mechanics and rules issues.
Originality:
-This is a judgment call. Most scores will fall into the 4.0-5.0 category unless it is something that has been done time and time again (such as a new version of a Star Trek game).
Playability:
*5.0 - Useable by everyone, player and GM.
*4.0 - Primarily either player or GM, but still somewhat useable by the other.
*3.0 - Either player only or GM only. Or devoted solely to one particular class or race.
*<3.0 - Very restrictive as to who can gain the most use from it.
Value for the dollar:
-Again, a judgment call.
*5.0 - Good value for all.
*4.0 - Reasonable investment but better if on sale.
*3.0 - Only purchase at full price if you truly want or need it, otherwise discount sales only.
*<3.0 - You have to really want this book, because it's overpriced for what it offers.
I think a better system might be:
<table>
<tr>
<th>Category\Rating</th>
<th>0.0</th>
<th>1.0</th>
<th>2.0</th>
<th>3.0</th>
<th>4.0</th>
<th>5.0</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OGC</td>
<td>No open content (Wizards of the Coast, Kenzer, Arthaus, and other licensed settings from Wotc).</td>
<td>There is very little game mechanics present (less than 25% of the book).</td>
<td>Large portions of the book, especially the most innovative and/or useful parts, are NOT OGC.</td>
<td>Only the game mechanics themselves are ogc. Spell names, monster names, class names, etc. are closed. (This is currently the deFacto standard in the industry.)</td>
<td>Most of the contents except for an occasional section of single chapter are ogc.</td>
<td>The entire contents except for graphic elements are ogc.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>d20 Compliance</td>
<td>Is not a d20 product.</td>
<td>Is for an ancestor of the d20 gaming system (1st or 2nd Edition ADnD).</td>
<td>The book has serious game mechanics and rules issues that actually interfere with game play.</td>
<td>The book has serious game mechanics and rules issues, but these do not interfere with gameplay, or are easily compensated for.</td>
<td>There are a few minor errors (less than 10) or only one major error.</td>
<td>Everything follows proper game mechanics including skill points, feats, game balance and other actual rule functions.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Originality</td>
<td>Not applicable</td>
<td>An unupdated reprint of a previously issued product.</td>
<td>An updated version of a previously issued product. E.g. A 3e revision of the Basic DnD module B1</td>
<td>A new product that uses all the standard tropes and cliches of the genre in an unimaginative manner</td>
<td>A new product that uses some of the standard tropes and cliches of the genre in an imaginative manner</td>
<td>A new product that uses few, if any, of the standard tropes and cliches of the genre.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Playability</td>
<td>Not applicable</td>
<td>The product is extremely setting-specific, or is otherwise very difficult to incorporate into a game. It requires extensive adapation before use.</td>
<td>The product is setting-specific, or is otherwise difficult to incorporate into a game. It may require extensive adapation before use.</td>
<td>The product can be incorporated into any game with a reasonable amount of preparation.</td>
<td>The product can be incorporated into any game with a minimum of preparation. Most "drop-in" adventures will fall here.</td>
<td>The product can be incorporated seamlessly into any game with no preparation at all.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Value for the Dollar</td>
<td>Not applicable</td>
<td>You have to really want this book, because it's overpriced for what it offers.</td>
<td>Only purchase at full price if you truly want or need it, otherwise discount sales only.</td>
<td>Reasonable investment but better if on sale.</td>
<td>Good value for all.</td>
<td>Well-worth the price.</td>
</tr>
</table>
