Hi All,
I think it is important, and helpful, to remember how the 40k/Sigmar/WHFB hobby has changed over the years. It can be surprising to learn just how old some sculpts are (the current Dark Eldar Venom model would be in 6th grade right now if it were a child, and it still holds up! ) and to get the feel of how GW has marketed its products over the years. Thus, I want to start a monthly series diving into some of the old White Dwarfs that are available on the Warhammer Vault. Few publications better display the focus and whims of GW’s leadership better than this one, and the changes it has seen over the years might surprise some players. We will start by looking at the Nov. edition from 2012. These reviews won’t cover everything in the White Dwarf but will give you a taste of the time.
It should be noted that the White Dwarf had just seen a big overhaul in it’s layout and appearance in the preceding months. As GW starts to adopt a sleeker format, they also begin emphasizing pictures of the models over gaming content/illustrations.
New releases. One of the key component’s of this month’s issue is the release of the Chaos War-shrine and other new Chaos WHFB models.
Older players will recall this is for the 7th edition Warriors of Chaos Army Book which also featured the redesign of the Skullcrushers, hellstriders too. Scyla Anfingrimm (3x award winner for the “Wait Who???” model of the year) also makes his appearance.
There is also an add for a variety of “Megaforces” as they were known back then. Aka the Christmas army boxes. There were a number of choices though the Vampire Counts option being the most useful. However the price is yet to be published.
Other new products include the first appearance of Citadel edge paints and the Paint Station+
Forge World isn’t left out and highlights the Magma Dragon and the Incarnate Elemental of Fire (RiP)
Black Library highlights the upcoming release of Pariah by Dan Abnet and the 23rd Horus Heresy book: Angel Exterminatus.
The next section highlights a lovely empire army painted by one Rich Packer. Rich works for GW (Still does) and I hope he still has the army because it is wonderfully made.
Following this, we have an interview with Jervis Johnson about the importance of army composition and varying the rules in tournaments. Jervis approves of comp rules being applied in moderation, or as he puts it “I’m all for comp – or rather, I’m all for comp when it’s used in the right way”. Jervis really likes complex scenarios that are unique to the boards and emphasizes how GW’s focus on everyone playing the game in the way they like is what sets them apart (a theme that is emblematic of leadership in this period).
The next section covers a battle report highlighting the new Chaos models vs some ogres (including a Skaen Plague Catapult converted into a Scraplauncher). Unsurprisingly, the Warriors of Chaos dominated. I will start tracking the new releases victory count to see if they really always win (currently 1-0).
We are now half-way through the issue and come up on the painting section. This features a short showcase of John Blanche’s models and how he gets them to fit his distinctive art themes.
The next few pages detail some well painted models, mostly Leman Russ tanks but also feature some Mangler Squigs (which I hadn’t know were released yet). There is a kit-bash focused section highlighting how you can use bits from different kits to get some cool models.
there is also a feature on making terrain with a fantasy-focused monstrosity:
The Paint Splatter section is focused on the new Chaos Warriors and the semi-new Leman Russ tanks. In the days before weather powder, this means showing people how to use salt to get a rusted pattern on tanks. Basically, base coat brown, wet the areas you want to appear rusty with water and apply table salt. Spray over the whole model with your top coat, and then wash off the salt.
The next section follows Jeremy Vetock’s search for a new gaming club. He has started to make his mark on the hobby (especially with that bonkers Skaven Army Book) but will go on to become very influential in the final stages of WHFB, and in the writing of 40k 6th edition. Interesting factoid: Vetock got his start as a store manager in University Park MD, you can read a 1993 WaPo article featuring him here. (Back in the good old days of 8×4 tables!)
The last few sections cover a listing of Games Workshop locations and adds to send your loved ones there to get help buying you exactly what you want. Their listing is pretty bad as it is nor organized by state in the USA so it is almost impossible to tell where the nearest one is. They also have a list of all independent stockists in a weird set of countries (including Thailand and the UAE but not the USA or France). I wonder how many of these are still in business?
In a weird coda there is then a section highlighting the White Dwarf team, Forge World and some other assorted subject. We are assured that the Ogres player from thus edition’s battle report was able to beat a rival dwarf army to atone for his whopping. The design team talk about how they came up with the Warshrine model, and the Wall of Martyrs. Forge World focuses on urban warfare game board tiles (RiP) and the upcoming release of the Fellbalde and Typhon super heavy tanks. We then get another focused section on the Black Library releases and finally a calendar of when all the highlighted products will come out.
**Phew**
Clocking in at 144 pages it is kinda crazy how much content is found inside this issue. As I recall I believe they started to beef up the WHite Dwarf around this time while also charging more for it, though I might be confused.
I hope you have nejoyed this trip down memory lane! You can already start to see the seeds of future editions and choices being made that will have big implications down the road.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
