I have a the best circle of critics. Honest, but relatively gentle. Well, gentle aside from my 5 year old daughter. Brutally honest! But, as I'm typing this, she's cycling through reactions ranging from excitement when she "wins" to despair when she "loses". Her reactions are actually the most fun for me to witness. 

Anyway: what is your circle of critics like? How invaluable are they to you? I know for myself, my circle of critics are absolutely necessary. I live in my head and get obsessed with abstract ideas. I'm convinced my games would be utterly indigestible by anyone but myself if it weren't for my friends and family being honest with me.