 | The return of White Dwarf as a monthly publication has been hotly anticipated when the news broke that the hobby magazine was going to return to it's earlier form, but in a much more expanded way. The weekly White Dwarf wasn't perfect, but it did have some moments in the sun, the Imperial Knights launch issues stood out as being really excellent, but yes, it didn't always deliver. As a marketing move, we have already commented on here how losing the weekly publication means less foot traffic through the doors of Games Workshop stores - the amount of left over stock in the Deathwatch releases last Sunday was probably testament to that being correct. Time will tell, but this new format is very different! This is more like a console gamer magazine in format and there is a lot going on - it's busy and certainly great value! As we take you through this issue, please be aware that not every page has been photographed, but you will get a very good idea of what you will be seeing in the first issue on shelves this coming Friday |
So without further ado, here is the first issue of White Dwarf Monthly, delivered to some subscribers today.
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More After The Jump
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More After The Jump
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As you can see from the table of contents, this issue is large with content ranging from all across the different Warhammer worlds and even platforms, with gaming also included.
Planet Warhammer is the first section and encapsulates the Latest News, New Releases and In Store Now.
Here we get a bit of a look at Gorechosen, Kill Team,. the re-released Void Shield Generator (will it be from the original factory which had some quality issues the first time it was released?), Battlefleet Gothic Armada gets a bit of a write up for the new Space Marine ships that have just become available for that game, as well as Total War: Warhammer, Eternal Crusade, Freeblade and Man O War just to round out a few of the current non-tabletop games out there.
We also get a preview of the new Kharn The Betrayer model and the beginning of the Chaos Space Marine revamp with Traitor's Hate.
There's other little tidbits in here too, and the news that this issue was actually put together in May, so a fair bit of lead time there!
Here we get a bit of a look at Gorechosen, Kill Team,. the re-released Void Shield Generator (will it be from the original factory which had some quality issues the first time it was released?), Battlefleet Gothic Armada gets a bit of a write up for the new Space Marine ships that have just become available for that game, as well as Total War: Warhammer, Eternal Crusade, Freeblade and Man O War just to round out a few of the current non-tabletop games out there.
We also get a preview of the new Kharn The Betrayer model and the beginning of the Chaos Space Marine revamp with Traitor's Hate.
There's other little tidbits in here too, and the news that this issue was actually put together in May, so a fair bit of lead time there!
We round out Planet Warhammer with a few pages o the Deathwatch releases from the past few weeks and this massive double-page spread borrowed straight from the pages of Warhammer Visions..
The letters page this week is a nice introduction to how they want to run it and a few sample letters form people during the transition. A real letters page has to be an improvement on the last incarnation.
Does anyone else remember reading the letters page in the back of the Marvel Comics of the 80s? I loved GI Joe comics - they had some awesome letters with some great ideas and responses from the creators.
Here's hoping this is something similar.
Does anyone else remember reading the letters page in the back of the Marvel Comics of the 80s? I loved GI Joe comics - they had some awesome letters with some great ideas and responses from the creators.
Here's hoping this is something similar.
The ubiquitous 'Eavy Metal! This retains the format of the previous White Dwarf, and like some of the previous pages thrusts creators into the limelight more. This can only be positive.
Tale of Four Gamers is a bit of a throwback and something they had tooled with a bit in the previous incarnation also. The basic premise is that four gamers are tasked with starting a new army from scratch and we get to go with them on this journey over a specified time - in this case six months.
Really happy to see the awesome James Karch among this group.
Really happy to see the awesome James Karch among this group.
Hall of Fame has a very worthy entrant this month - Nagash. There has been a spotlight on Nagash before so I'm not entirely sure this isn't older content redone. Still cool.
A carry-over from Warhammer Visions, Army of the Month is an amazing Eldar force by Gavin Beardsmore. This is a beautifully executed army with some amazing models in it, so well done and thankfully also very well photographed. Something that was distracting about Warhammer Visions was the often poor photography or effects and lighting that obscured models - but this is really beautiful photography!
This is the followed by a short article on the Biel-Tan Eldar, just tying it all together!
This is the followed by a short article on the Biel-Tan Eldar, just tying it all together!
One of the things promised on the cover of this issue were new rules for Gorechosen, rules for fielding Kill Team Exis in Deathwatch Overkill, a new map for Space Hulk, alternate forces for the six scenarios in Betrayal At Calth, how to include Terminators in Lost Patrol, how to use Chaos Demons in Assassinorum Execution Force, using the Slaughterpriest Warhammer Quest Silver Tower, using the White Dwarf model Age of $igmar and last but certainly not least, the Corvus Blackstar in Stormcloud Attack.
This is a tonne of information!! A real boon to players. Great content...
This is a tonne of information!! A real boon to players. Great content...
Golden Demon: Horus Heresy has some lovely models to show off with little bits of info on each entry!
Illuminations: Deathwatch has some amazing pages form the new Codex. Very inspirational!
Over the years, White Dwarf has tried MANY different formats for their battle reports - from top down drawings to full narrative to this which is a bit of a fusion. It's actually quite clear what is going on which makes a nice change from some of the previous formats.
Imperial Knights are awesome and this section The Ultimate Guide To... shows some really nice shots and a good write up on the big machines of war!
October 1996 - Warhammer introduces Lizardmen and the Bretonnians - here's a look back!
Now this could be an amazing section, Battleground will take a look at some amazing battleboards from around the world, and this one is The Ruins of Dras'Shel from Warhammer World. Really looking forward to seeing more in this section!
From the pages of Warhammer Visions comes Blanchitsu, work by or influenced by John Blanche one of the architects of the darkness that is Warhammer and Warhammer 40k.
With the release of a new version of Kill Team, here are a few of the Kill Teams doing the rounds at GW HQ. The Skitarii one by Duncan Rhodes is just awesome
Sprues and Glue was always a cool section, showing off kitbashing ideas for miniatures from across the range - today it is Tau from Kill Team and Deathwatch miniatures from across that range.
Paint Splatter is back and this time more expanded. Some of the tips this month: the free Slaughterpriest miniature and the White Dwarf miniature as well as an introduction into the Citadel Painting System.
Designers Notes are always fantastic - and this one on the Deathwatch is especially good. This isn't a simple double page spread either - we really get into their heads!
A big splash page for the upcoming limited Shrike novel from Black Library
Warhammer Visions also provides this Reader's Models - Amy Snuggs gets a few models in there too. Not bad for a relative new comer - well done Amy!
Verdict
This is a very promising start - and considering they have been working on this since May, this is very schmick indeed. I am curious to see how this progresses as the months go by.
Definitely worth picking up and having a look at. There's so much to read and the majority of the photography is brilliant!
Definitely worth picking up and having a look at. There's so much to read and the majority of the photography is brilliant!
Next month - the Man himself, Jes Goodwin and a 12 page comic!
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