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Archive for the ‘40k’ Category

White Dwarf 135 – March 1991

30 Mar

It’s happened! We’re now up to £1.95 for 80 pages. That’s 1.875p a page! Compare that to the current price of £4.50 for 120 pages and you get 3.75p a page. Actually when you take inflation into account that’s not too bad… Anyway.

Games Workshop And Citadel News (2, 1 page)

It’s been three years (apparently) since a price rise and so it’s about time for one now. Large boxed games like Space Hulk will now be £22.99 and Warhammer 40k will be £11.99. Metal miniatures are now typically £3.99 for 4.

It’s no wonder I could afford to play back then. How do kids today manage?

Games Workshop Store News (4, 3 pages)

Events at stores in the past.

Wayne England’s Dwarf Longbeards (8, 2 pages)

A quick rundown of a Dwarf army being assembled by some of the artists.

Mighty Empires (10, 3 pages)

Some rules tweaks that have been made as the studio play a rather large game and some rules clarifications.

Modelling Workshop: Ruined Temple (14, 4 pages)

The default state of all buildings in Warhammer (both fantasy and 40k) is ruined, and this tells you how to build a ruined temple from foam core board and plaster wedding cake decoration pillars. It’s actually a very nice looking building and the techniques again wouldn’t be out of place today. Mind you sticking foam board together, adding balsa wood detailing and then texturing before painting isn’t exactly hard. Would be nice to see GW go down this route again, even if they were selling overpriced foam board and balsa wood in stores to cash in on it.

Freebooterz (18, 8 pages)

Rules for Ork Freebooterz. Generated from a random table (still the worse mechanic ever for games) they let you have some interesting new units in your Ork army. My favourtites are the Ork Genestealer hybrids. Of course Genestealers would infect Orks, and that’s a range of models I really wish they had made. Speaking of which…

Modelling Guide (26, 14 pages)

A massive piece on how to convert models. How to cut them, pin them and fill gaps. It then has a few examples such as Ork Genestealer hybrids and some Flash Gitz with converted weapons.

Kustom Weapons (40, 8 pages)

Rules for how to make kustom weapons for Orks using a D6 and D100 (2D10 for those who have never experienced it, not a hundred sided die). Stop with the random rules!

Games Workshop Sheffield Grand Reopening (47, 1 page)

Advert with a money off coupon for the opening event. Whoever owned this magazine at the time lived in Sheffield I suspect as it’s gone.

Warhammer 40,000 Vehicle Points Values (50, 2 pages)

Vehicles used to be costed according to the sum of all the points of the characteristics of the vehicle plus points for weapons. This was of course far too complicated and more suited for kitbashing vehicles. Now that there’s a good range it’s time to go to fixed points as we have today.

Guess how many points the Land Raider is? Yep, 250. The whole range is here, including all of the scratch built models and conversions such as the Whirlwind and Baneblade.

Warhammer 40,000 Vehicle Data Records (52, 2 pages)

To hit pictures for Imperial and Eldar Jet Bikes.

Genestealer Invasion (57, 5 pages)

Missions for Space Hulk and the expansions. These can be played as a campaign.

Games Workshop Oxford Grand Reopening (59, 1 page)

An advert by any other name is still an advert.

Marienburg (64, 9 pages)

Another chunk of roleplaying filler. Should I admit I have some of the current 40k roleplaying books? Probably not.

New Releases

  • Ork Freebooterz 070683
  • Aspect Warriors (extra models) 071572, 071560

Wow, that’s a lot of modelling. Some really good content this month.

 
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Posted in 40k, Mighty Empires, Space Hulk, WHFB, WHFRP, White Dwarf

 

The 40K MMO is no more

29 Mar

So it looks like the 40k MMO has gone, which sucks for the staff that have been dropped. The games industry is broken when it comes to the way the handle staff.

The other side of the news is good though as I struggle to think of a single IP that is less suited to an MMO than 40K. Lone marines going around doing quests for people? The only way to make it work would be as Rogue Traders, but that just wouldn’t sell.

Thankfully the era of everybody rushing to make an MMO that will just flop is nearly over.

 
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Posted in 40k

 

White Dwarf 134 – February 1991

28 Mar

£1.50, 80 pages. Surely this can’t go on for ever? Down to 15% adverts too. There’s even a less store focused view coming in as the store news isn’t right up front.

Games Workshop and Citadel Miniatures News (2, 1 page)

Oh no! Incoming price increase coming for the magazine!

Games Workshop Luton Grand Opening (3, 1 page)

Money off coupons for the Hull store.

Space Crusade (4, 8 pages)

Terminators, Space Marine Scouts, Orks, Tyranids and Genestealers for the original Space Crusade.

Advanced Heroquest: The Trollslayer’s Oath (12, 16 pages)

Dwarves take on Skaven in somewhere that isn’t Moria, right?

Heroquest: The Halls of Durrag-Dol (30, 3 pages)

Heroquest adventure that adds Skaven to the game.

Waa-Ghazgkull (34, 10 pages)

A Goff warband led by somebody called Ghazghkull. Bet he never caught on.

How To Paint Your Warband (42, 7 pages)

How to paint Orks. Not a bad guide actually.

Golden Demon Awards 91 (52, 2 pages)

How to enter.

Games Workshop Store News (54, 3 pages)

Events at GW stores.

Games Workshop Hull Grand Opening (57, 1 page)

More money off coupons.

Modelling Workshop: Ork Building (60, 4 pages)

It’s more scratch built buildings, and these are for 40k for a change. Foam board, balsa wood and now textured wall paint/polyfiller as well.

‘Eavy Metal: Richard Wright, Adrian Dyson and Steve Mussared (64, 2 pages)

The decline of ‘Eavy Metal sees us down to two pages as well as the back cover. There’s not even any words.

Advanced Space Crusade: Ork Warbands (66, 10 pages)

Orks in Advanced Space Crusade, as well as a new board section that doesn’t fit on one page…

New Releases

  • Nothing, it’s all existing models

Well this is a good issue if you like the MB games, but probably useless for much else if you don’t like Orks.

 
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Posted in 40k, Advanced Heroquest, Advanced Space Crusade, White Dwarf

 

White Dwarf 133 – January 1991

27 Mar

Another strange issue, but still £1.50 for 80 pages.  I say that but the magazine has no page numbers where it matters…

Games Workshop Store News (2, 2 pages)

What’s happening this month?

Ork Mekaniaks (4, 13 pages)

The Games Workshop trend to go a bit heavy on cards hits here.  Most of these pages are cut out event cards.

Ork Shokk Attack Gun (18, 9 pages)

More Orks! More Dakka!

Ork Warbike (27, 2 pages)

Rules for the new vehicle system.

Colin Dixon and Roy Eastland (30, 2 pages)

One page of words, one of pictures.

Pirate Ships and Bridges (32, 3 pages)

Yet more interesting things for the wilderness in Mighty Empires.

Genestealer Invasion (35, 4 pages)

Some new Space Hulk missions

Modelling Workshop: Fences, Walls & Hedges (40, 4 pages)

A slightly less interesting month for modelling as we learn how to make fences and hedges.

Golden Demon Awards 91 (44, 2 pages)

The categories you can enter for the next awards.

New Games Workshop Stores (46, 1 page)

Six new stores open. And Hull is a really dull map.

Titan Expansions (47, 6 pages)

Lots of new weapon options for Epic Titans.

‘Eavy Metal (54, 3 pages)

A diorama and two pages of text.

Marienburg (58, 9 pages)

Yet more Fantasy Roleplay

New Releases

  • Titan Heads and Weapons 072812
  • Space Marine Captains 070268

Lots of pages this month, but for some reason they seem underwhelming. Still, lots more 40k than everything else so that can’t be bad.

 
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Posted in 40k, Epic, Mighty Empires, Space Hulk, WHFRP, White Dwarf

 

White Dwarf 132 – December 1990

26 Mar

It’s a week bookended by great things, so let’s get started with a very modelling heavy issue.

Games Workshop Clubs (2, 2 pages)

More of a general slant this month with no focus on individual stores.

Games Workshop and Citadel News (4, 1 page)

Stuff coming, including another plug for the music… Crash and Burn are now D-Rok.

New Games Workshop Stores (5, 1 Page)

Luton, Hull, Sheffield, Croydon and Oxford.

Modelling Workshop: Hills and Mines (6, 5 pages)

What happens when you take the knowledge of what a bread knife can do to polystyrene and combine it with the fantasy buildings of the last few months? You get a hill with a hole in it. I believe these were called mines back in the day. It’s actually a really nice build.

Epic Realm of Chaos (12, 10 pages)

Epic chaos plastics are coming, so here’s some more fluff and rules.

Confrontation: Creating A Gang (23, 11 pages)

Force building for confrontation to follow up the last few months content.

‘Eavy Metal – Tyranids and Space Marine Scouts (34, 2 pages)

Painted versions of the models from Advanced Space Crusade. Those marine models still hurt to look at…

Advanced Space Crusade: Imperial Guard (36, 5 pages)

You know how I said it was unfair to put Marine scouts up against Tyranids? Yeah, poor Imperial Guard…

Mighty Empires: Necroploices (43, 3 pages)

More new location rules for Mighty Empires, including a page of new tiles.

Modelling Workshop: Baneblade (47, 10 pages)

7 pages of modelling, 3 of rules. Yep, 7 pages to scratch build a baneblade! It’s all downhill from here you know… Hang on, this uses hex bases for turrets. Not sure I’ve seen them in the magazine for a while…

Illuminations: Stephen Tappin (58, 3 pages)

The feature returns with more black and white pictures.

‘Eavy Metal – Mekaniaks, Stuart Willis and Space Crusade (61, 5 pages)

Two pages of describing the models and three pages of models.

Ironstone Pass (66, 9 pages)

Warhammer fantasy battle pages. How much longer will they last? Also why do they get more pages than Fantasy Battle nowadays?

New Releases

None again. Just repacks.

 

Fantastic modelling issue. Nice terrain and the Baneblade! This is before Forgeworld existed and way before the plastic kit of course, just plastic card and a few spare bits.

 
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Posted in 40k, Advanced Space Crusade, Epic, Mighty Empires, WHFRP

 

White Dwarf 131 – November 1990

24 Mar

This month we have Advanced Space Crusade on the cover. I always thought this was a really cruel game as setting Marine Scouts on Tyranids isn’t exactly fair on the scouts… For the record there are still 3rd party adverts in the magazine at this time, but not for rival products. I’ll mention when they stop. They are nearly all connected with GW in some way though, such as Axis and Alies and Shogun (published by MB, who also do Heroquest/Space Crusade) and Fighting Fantasy books (Ian Livingstone being a founder of GW of course)

Retail Spotlight – Edinburgh and Glasgow (2, 2 pages)

Staff and events for those north of the border.

Retail Store News (4, 2 pages)

More events for the stores. Do GW stores even have events any more, it’s been years since I was brave enough to go into one. Support your independent stores folks, GW stores will survive without your business but you friendly local store will always give you much better service.

Games Day 1990 (6, 2 pages)

A quick overview of 1990 games day.  There’s nothing of note to the historian in there.

The Emperor and Horus (8, 4 pages)

Two pages of text told, interestingly enough in the present tense, detailing the Emperor’s assault on Horus over Earth. Spoiler: Neither of them really win.

‘Eavy Metal – Fraser Gray, Eldar and Bretonnians (12, 2 pages)

Some really quite nice yellow/orange/red blending on some chaos models, an Eldar diorama with a crashed ship that I’m sure I should recognise from somewhere and then a page of Eldar and Bretonnians.

Epic Realm of Chaos (14, 15 pages)

Epic army list for Chaos. A couple of interesting things to note: The first is that they are allowed to take every race except Eldar and the second is a note by Andy Chambers:

Don’t feel that you can’t use a Chaos force until you have the right models – you can improvise [...] Feel free to do so with my blessing.

Modelling Workshop: Gobsmasha (32, 4 pages)

Two pages of modelling, one of rules.This time it’s turning an Ork Battlewagon into an Ork Gobsmasha. This means making it an enclosed topped vehicle and adding a big forward mounted cannon. It’s actually a very convincing conversion and could have passed for a proper released model.

The rules have one of the new to-hit templates. and a half page on feedback from people playing the new rules. Amusingly, considering the melta-heavy nature of 40k at the moment, there is a suggestion that if you are finding melta dominate your game then change penetration from 5D6+8 (13-38, average of 25.5 with a very stable zone around that average) to D6+2D12+8 which makes the groupings less likely to be around the average.

Inquisitor Kryptman (38, 4 pages)

More fiction, aren’t we spoilt. This type it’s about Inquisitor Kryptman.

Modelling Workshop: Warhammer Fantasy Town House (42, 4 pages)

Yet more modelling content? Well this time it’s a fantasy town house using the same techniques as last month. Foam board for the walls, card for the roof and individual tiles and balsa wood for the timber frame. They really can be very nice models, and this technique can still be used today with more detailing as it’s a very solid technique.

Advanced Space Crusade (47, 6 pages)

The usual preview full colour advert thing. Poor, poor scouts look so outmatched by the new plastic Tyranids.

The scout models really were poor, and the Tyranid warriors were quite nice for the time. The open latticework chests were very unusual for the time I remember.

‘Eavy Metal: Paul Robins, New Releases and Bretonnian Diorama (54, 4 pages)

The last page of this would, I expect, have been on the rear cover if it hadn’t been a wrap around Advanced Space Crusade cover as it’s a whole page and painted by the Perry Twins.

Warhammer Fantasy Battle Questions and Answers (58, 1 page)

Another page FAQ for Fantasy Battle. 40k never seems to get these…

Mighty Empires: Wizards Towers (60, 5 pages)

Wilderness locations and Wizards Towers for Mighty empires.

Necromunda Gangs (64, 10 pages)

Who lives in Necromunda, and who will you be playing? More rules for the game currently called confrontation.

New Releases

  • Blue Horrors of Tzeentch 073226
  • Pink Horrors of Tzeentch 073226
  • Plague Bearers of Nurgle 073226

What’s this? Two pieces of fiction and two good modelling articles? We really are spoilt.

 
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Posted in 40k, Advanced Space Crusade, Confrontation, Epic, Mighty Empires, WHFB, White Dwarf

 

The first few defining moments for 40k

23 Mar

As I’ve been going along through White Dwarf I’ve been noticing defining moments that really changed 40k into what it is today. It’s quite early that some of these happen, and in fact the game we know and love came around in the first few years.

White Dwarf 105 is one of the first as it’s when Space Marines existed as an army list that we would recognise today. There was a lot of fluff around them before now, but they didn’t have that solid feel of the army that they received with this issue.

White Dwarf 123 adds Orks as we know them today. They were a lot more comical, but the basics are all there. It’s also around this time that the increase in quality of the models was really ramping up, and the quality of painting in ‘Eavy Metal was doing those models justice.

White Dwarf 130 is where painting really hit a special point, and the new eldar models really benefited from this. I think this was a reason why everybody had an Eldar army back then (or at least that’s how I remember it). I have really fond memories of those Swooping Hawks… We also get the new marine sculpts, which totally blew the poor old plastics away. Bigger, more deadly looking and they still don’t look out of place with your army today. I have some in a box somewhere, I might give one a modern backpack and gun to prove it.

This is of course my view, I wonder if other feel the same way? Was the introduction of the guard in issue 109 vitally important for the game? I never thought so, but thinking about it that really did shape the Imperium. On the other hand Genestealer Cult armies from Issue 114 didn’t really shape where we are today as they’ve been expunged from history.

Anybody have any thoughts of the game up to mid 1990?

 
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Posted in 40k

 

White Dwarf 130 – October 1990

22 Mar

It’s time for another iconic modelling strand to start, and also for a new game to start coming through.

Retail Spotlight: London (2, 2 pages)

4 shops in London had things going on that you are now very late for.

Games Workshop and Citadel News (4, 1 page)

The first canadian store, Mighty Empires releases and Eldar Exarchs are coming as well.

Games Workshop Retail Store News (6, 2 pages)

List of events.

‘Eavy Metal: Studio Staff (8, 2 pages)

The quality is up another notch this issue. Some of the eldar models are really pushing the level of blending.

Necromunda (10, 16 pages)

A game called Confrontation is coming, and so we get a load of brilliant fluff about hive worlds.

Games Workshop Readers Poll (26, 3 pages)

Answer questions, win every boxed set in print.

‘Eavy Metal: Eldar Squads and Richard Pickup (30, 2 pages)

Again, some more fantastic eldar models.

Inquisitor Kryptman (32, 2 pages)

Some fluff for 40k

Chivalry (40, 7 pages)

A game about knights fighting. Lots of cut out cards.

Games Workshop Gaming League Rules (42, 5 pages)

Fancy being the best player in your area? Local gaming leagues are your answer.

Praetorians (48, 4 pages)

Capitol Imperialis and Hellbore for Epic.

Mighty Empires (52, 3 pages)

Introduction to the classic campaign/standalone game.

Modelling Workshop: Warhammer Cottage (56, 8 pages)

The start of  new series of modelling articles that concentrate on warhammer terrain. Foam board, card and balsa wood make fantastic fantasy cottages.

The Great Hospice (64, 9 pages)

Fantasy roleplay is still going

‘Eavy Metal: Frances Ellyard and Space Marines (74, 4 pages)

Pictures and words. What’s this, new Marine models?

Jervis Johnson – US Tour (78, 1 page)

The next American holiday for a staff member.

New Releases

  • Space Marine Strike Force. Mark 7 armour, 15 metal marines with plastic arms. The poor old Mk6 plastic are no longer the new hotness.

There may be not much 40k but the rest of the issue makes up for it. We’re also moving away finally from the initial launch models and the second generation of model styling is fully here (Let’s call it fully 1.5th edition maybe). On top of that the fantastic modelling piece on cottages is still useful even today.

 
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Posted in 40k, Confrontation, Epic, Mighty Empires, WHFRP

 

White Dwarf 129 – September 1990

21 Mar

Two things I am getting bored of: 80pages and £1.50. Still, the cover of this issue promises that a personal CD player and 15 personal organisers can be won in this issue.

Retail Spotlight: Manchester, Preston and Liverpool (2, 2 pages)

Why the chaos 8 pointed star above Liverpool? Eh?

Games Workshop Store News (5, 2 pages)

Stuff. All over. Boring.

John Blanche US Tour (7, 1 page)

Turning a two week holiday into a tour.

Games Workshop and Citadel News (8, 1 page)

Terminator belt buckles and grey marker T-shirts

Waaargh The Orks Competition (9, 1 page)

In association with Abbey National (a building society, think Bank if you are young or foreign) there is the chance to win some high tech things! A CD is a magic disc that contains music (OK, not quite that bad yet, give it another 10 years) and a personal organiser is a crappy calculator that can also remember phone numbers and things. They were never popular, even then as the Filofax was always a lot more useful. For instance a filofax can be used to create army lists. I guess a crappy calculator can too, but you still need paper. I may be rambling. Anyway the kicker is that you had to open an account with Abby National in order to enter the competition! I somehow think that the regulators would have something to say about this nowadays.

If this isn’t an advert I don’t know what is.

‘Eavy Metal: Bretonnians (10, 2 pages)

Fantasy Battle models.

Space Marines (13, 14 pages)

The different marks of Space Marine armour.

‘Eavy Metal: Space Marines (29, 1 page)

Space marines.

Games Day ’90 Programme (30, 6 pages)

What to expect from Games Day.

‘Eavy Metal: Chaos Champions (36, 2 pages)

Chaos wotsits.

Warhammer 40,000 Vehicles (40, 7 pages)

Continuing the vehicle rules from last month. Interesting the Land Raider is this month, not last.

Ork Painboyz (46, 17 pages)

Yet more Ork rules. Because Ork rules are the best.

‘Eavy Metal: Painboyz, Adrian Wink and Chaos Renegades (67, 6pages)

Pictures and words.

New Releases

  • Um, nothing

Another really good issue if you like 40k, but nothing for anybody else.

 
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Posted in 40k, White Dwarf

 

White Dwarf 128 – August 1990

20 Mar

Another year has past, so it’s time for 40k to get a bunch of new rules.

Retail Spotlight: Brighton, Southampton and Torquay (2, 2 pages)

Shops so boring they did three on two pages this month.

Games Workshop Store News (4, 2 pages)

Things happen. Apparently. Mostly games clubs.

Games Workshop and Citadel News (6, 1 page)

A boat. Games Workshop are sponsoring a boat. Well technically it’s Ian Livingstones boat, but still! Continuing with the crazy is still more rock music being produced and, I must admit that I suspect I’m actually dreaming now, Brian May is playing on a Crash & Burn album, which lends Warhammer Records and air of legitimacy I’m just not sure they deserve. I thing I need to lay down for a bit.

‘Eavy Metal (8, 2 pages)

New and recent models.

Marienburg (10, 9 pages)

I’m getting bored of this city.

Ork Freebooterz (20, 2 pages)

Artwork for Ork pirates.

Warhammer 40,000 Vehicles (22, 20 pages)

Continuing the theme of it all being a bit mad we now have some new rules for vehicles in 40. This somewhat crazy system used a clear plastic sheet that was placed over cutaway diagrams of vehicles and the grid on that used to aim. The area that is hit on the diagram can then take damage. This was of course a crazy system and I remember thinking it was a bit crazy at the time.

Interestingly we get the Ork Battlewagon in these rules, and the model comes this month as well. Now this was my favourite early plastic vehicle GW did and it was fantastic. Except for the fact that the wheels always fell off. I must build the one I have and get some pictures…

‘Eavy Metal: Battlewagons (42, 2 pages)

Some nicely painted 40k battlewagons using the new kit.

Modelling Workshop: Battlewagon with Blitzkanon (44, 2 pages)

Got a brand new Battlewagon kit? Well why not cut up a Biro and add a gun to it? Another of the modelling articles that contain templates for extra bits you cut out of card.

‘Eavy Metal (46, 2 pages)

Words about models shown in this issue.

Epic Orks Army List (50, 20 pages)

Epic Ork Hordes. Fluff, rules and counters.

‘Eavy Metal: Waa-Wazrokk (72, 3 pages)

An Evil Sunz army (2 pages of pictures, 1 of army list)

New Releases

  • Space Ork Battlewagon (Plastic kit)

I’m happy, my favourite vehicle got released this month. Add on some new vehicle rules and Epic Orks and it’s a very good issue.

 
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Posted in 40k, Epic, WHFRP, White Dwarf

 
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