The Resurrection of White Dwarf?

[sverigesson]

This is, in my opinion, one of the most brilliant moves by GW in this new rulebook, from a business standpoint (allies and fortifications being the big ones). I am of course, referring to the mentions of including new fortification rules and unique terrain not in codexes, but in the once hallowed pages of everyone's favorite tree-killer. Now, we all know that White Dwarf has in recent years become a shadow of its former self, but it seems like GW is trying to revitalize it. This also adds increased credence to the rumors that GW may add ally only forces to WD, not to mention any number of other goodies that could start appearing. I never thought WD was worth the cost of admission, but if this speculation is true and GW actually turns the rag around, I may consider a subscription in the near future. Well played, GW... Well played.

[Wildeybeast]

Assuming of course that they do actually do that and that this month's advertising booklet was a one-off return to the bad old days, then it will be a welcome development. They have shown signs of improving it and adding new content in recnet months.

[Chris Copeland]

I've always loved White Dwarf. I came into this hobby in the middle of IVth Edition and have always eagerly waited for each month's copy. I've not seen this "decline" that some of my beardier, longer-playing friends speak of. I like the painting articles. I like Jervis' perpetual positive outlook about good sportsmanship. I dig the previews of upcoming models and the interviews with game designers. I even like the fake battle reports. They are fake, right? Or should we buy their explanation that they run several battles and just publish their favorite one?

At $5.83 an issue I find WD to be a very good deal! Every other hobby/specialist magazine I could point to costs around $10-$12 per issue. I get WD for less than $6 per issue!

I think that giving us new rules to use via WD is brilliant! It should increase sales of WD, increase sales of minis, and increase my enjoyment of this game I love. Of course, that's just continuing something they've already been doing (Spearhead, the Night Spinner, Sisters of Battle all come to mind).

Cope

[eldargal]

It isn't so much a decline as inconsistent quality. This months issue was decent, for example, but most of the 6th edition coverage was all puff. It was saved by lots of pretty pictures, features on studio armies and a few other things (like describibg Jeremy Vetock as an excitable American). The previous month had some good things, and new rules, but the other articles were all a bit flat.

What really irritates me about some of the 'WD i teh suck! crowd, though, is how nothing is ever good enough. On Warseer they all whine about WD never having any content, so an issue with rules for 4 units comes out and on the WD poll most peopel give it 1 out of 10! How the F*** can an issue with rules for four new units be 1 out of 10? 1 out of 10 is an issue with no redeeming qualities AT ALL. ******s.

[Wildeybeast]

They're more staged than fake. They usually play a couple of trial games first to see how it goes, then do a geniune one which gets reported on. That report is somewhat artifical since every turn takes a good hour or so as they take notes of what happens, take photos of the models etc. but they are genuinely competing.

The issue is WD used to have new content in all the time, not to mention free stuff. There was a time when they released mini games like the awesome Brewhouse Bash and used WD to trial the rules for Mordheim before the proper release. They went through a stage a couple of years ago when all that disapperead and it was just interviews with designers, sculpters etc about whatever the latest release is. With the likes of Stormtalon and Terrorgeist rules appearing recently, they have been moving back towards content, but I am very worried by this months issue. It was utter pap. Not only did not have any new stuff, but had nothing at all of any value of significance about the new edition. That was a great opportunity for a round table discussion about the creation process, tatical insights into the new rules etc. Instead we had a useless general info piece, endless pages of employees showing off their armies and bat reps that showcased the money making part of the new rules - allies. It was a terrible waste of what could have been great coverage of the new ed.

Edit: I should add, in light of EG's post, I'm not one of the boo sucks crowd, I am loyal subscriber, I just thought that this months was really poor and when they have set such high standards in the past they should be held to them. And they can also not be let off the hook for the grammatical errors and typos that are in every single issue.

[eldargal]

I like the army showcases though, it is nice to see a whole lot of armies page after page that haven't been painted by the eavy metal team. Agree on the rest of the issue though, a real step back considering that we've had a lot of new rules and good articles lately (WFB Civil War, Ork Flyers, Stormtalon hm and something else I'm forgetting, terrain rules or something?)

[Wildeybeast]

I like the army showcases though, it is nice to see a whole lot of armies page after page that haven't been painted by the eavy metal team. Agree on the rest of the issue though, a real step back considering that we've had a lot of new rules and good articles lately (WFB Civil War, Ork Flyers, Stormtalon hm and something else I'm forgetting, terrain rules or something?)

Each to their own. It doesn't really do anything for me, though I did like the Beastman conversion. I would have appreciated the armies showcase more if it was alongside more substantial content, rather than being in place of it.

Edit: Deathworld terrain rules is probably what you are thinking off.

[isotope99]

The thing that's bugged me more than anything else in the first 6 issues of 2012 has been the decline in the number and quality of the proper battle reports.

Apart from completely new rules, I can get almost everything else online but without trying to bash anyone's efforts, a studio army/terrain battle report properly photographed is almost impossible to duplicate.

This month's issue is the first all year where the battle reports have been any good and most months they have been almost completely absent.

EDIT: I also liked the staff armies but there were just too many pages of them.

[energongoodie]

White Dwarf used to be brilliant. We had new rules,units, additions to games, stories and stuff. I was great. It really, really was. It has not been great for a very long time.
If the rumours of units and fortifications and other bits and bobs making a welcome return to WD are true, then I for one will be very happy to get a subscription again. I think I cancelled my last subscription in 1996. I would love to start another one.

And yes, I do have a short well kept(ish) beard.

[LordGrise]

Hmm. Well, I do not have a beard (although i do maintain a small tuft just below the lower lip, hope that counts-as?) and I have not been playing of this game all that long ( well, technically, I've owned an army for more than ten years, but I've only been 'active' for about as long as I've been on here - it's a long story) But I'm gonna stick my two cents in on the subject of White Dwarf.

I have a look thru it pretty much every time the Minister of Finance endulges me with a trip to my fave independent store (usually in exchange for her visiting one or another of her beloved yarn shops, so it's fairly regular) And I have never bought one. The closest I've ever come was when they did the Sisters so wrong, but since they only had the second half, I didn't buy. If they'd have had both issues, I might have; my wife seems to like them. But other than that? I'm sorry, but there's nothing there for me.

I play the game, and I build the models (with increasingly ambitious mods, lately) But folks, a painter I am not. My hero in the hobby is a feller who posted under the handle Grey Death; he did insane mods, stuff that I want to recreate... and maybe one day I will. Showpiece pix and battle reports? Please. Give me well-written stories (I do those, too) Give me building tips, give me conversion projects, and I'll buy. Give me those, plus (unsanctioned, suggested, unofficialsted, I don't care!) statlines for those conversions on a regular basis and I'll subscribe in a hot San Antonio second. They don't even have to be for the Tau now, since Allies are back in. But endless look how good they look painted pieces... I just shake my head, admire, and move on. I can't recreate them, so I'm not interested.

My two cents. Anyone who feels the need to post about how practice makes perfect, please dont; I can do broad stroke and spray-type painting, but fine-detail stuff makes my hands shake after a very short time.