Whilst I realise I am entering an even more marginal gaming sub-culture, I have decided that I'm a KoW man, with my back firmly turned on WFB. 'Why?', I hear my regular readers, now appalled, alienated and never to return, ask. Well, I'll tell all three of you:
1) It is quicker. My first game, played against someone else new to the game was over in less than two hours. This allows the possibility of massive coalitions facing off in an afternoon - impossible in WFB (certainly 3rd Ed., which is all I've played).
2) The rules and the army lists are free downloads. Free. How far from the Games Workshop ethos.
3) Unit based. While regiments may suffer 'hits', you only remove models when the unit routs - the whole unit. This means that the game is much less faffey - handy for the more clumsy player. It also means that units can be stuck onto their movement trays for ease of movement, and set up takes mere minutes.
4) Friendly. WFB seems a tad competition obsessed. Army lists 'maximised' etc. An Orc and Goblin army, rather than containing lots of Orc mobs, is more likely not to include any 'normal' orcs at all. Mork is appalled. KoW, on the other hand, encourages you to field mixed 'evil' or 'good' army - bring what you've got painted and have a go - like WFB was is my sepia-tinted memories.
5) Massed ranks rather than monstrous cavalry - or whatever super expensive, super powered release White Dwarf is pushing this month. I like big armies of troops - KoW delivers.
6) Magic - whilst KoW might be a bit too simplistic here, I prefer a quick 'zap' rather than all this winds of magic blah blah crap.
7) 'Heroes' not so heroic. Good for rallying those with a mind to rout, not so good for singlehandedly murdering whole units.
And that's all.