Review: White Dwarf November 2012

The second issue in the new format and it continues in the same style. But there are some minor changes, continue reading to find out more.

Design
A lot of focus on this in the last review of course and there is the same design in this issue. Nice and robust format and the layout with pictures and stuff is the same. And I still like this more minimalistic design even if I still want more and bigger pictures for their Battle Reports. One design change they have made though is the background and lighting for the New Release photos. They where red and black back in the last issue for the CSM releases, this time around though we get light blue backgrounds which gives us the feeling of snowy barren landscapes. Suiting for the tribes from the north. It will be interesting to see if they will change the backgrounds each month depending on what the new releases are, I think this approach is great.

New Releases
I don't think anyone have missed all the new WoC stuff coming out, no new book but a smaller release similar to the previous VC and DoC releases. So what do we get? Two new unit entries to the army in the form of Skullchrushers of Khorne and Hellstriders of Slaanesh. I like the look of the Skullchrushers even if they aren't that exciting, but cool models non the less. The Hellstriders I like more and more but I still don't like the idea of Marauders on steeds of Slaanesh. Hopefully we will get uniqe units for Tzeentch and Nurgle as well in the next wave of models for WoC.

We also get a new plastic kit for the Chaos Warshrine, I don't know what I think of it actually. I kind of like it but I also think the whole model looks a little bit to busy for my taste. May have to do with the paint job as well and I see a lot of potential for converting the whole thing and grab bitz for other things. There are also some new Finecast sculpts for Valkia, Festus and Scyla, I like the first two but Scyla not so much. We also get a lot of the older WoC models remade in Finecast like the Tzeentch Lord on Disc, Be'Lakor and Chosen. We also get so see the new White Dwarf model looking like an Director and Wh40k Cultists in boxes of five to enlarge your Dark Vengenace Chaos Cultists hordes, so no new Cultists sculpts for now. Other new releases includes the new Ultimate Paint Set with a cardboard storage system. Strangely we don't get the newest additions to the Citadel colour range called Edge colours. If all these things weren't enough we also get a red paint station +, four new cool but expensive Basing kits and the Imperial Defence Network for Wh40k. The last on is a big bunker system, also called Wall of Martyrs because of  all the the dead Guardsmen around the entrenchments. It's really cool looking but expensive and comes at prize of £100, $ 160 € 130. Lastly we also get four Mega Forces for Empire, Space Marines, Vampire Counts and Necrons and all seems to be good value deals.

Painting and Modelling 
 Like last month we also get an Army of the month article, this time it's Rich Packer's Empire army, some really cool conversions and paintjobs in there. Also like last month we get the segment called Blanchitsu with John Blanch:es heavily converted Inquisitor Warband, toghether with Johns characterful painting we get some truly unique looking models, really nice. We also get Parade Ground featuring tanks this time and 'Kitbash' focusing on Wh40 k Warlords, really nice segments both of them that I hope WD will keep in the future and develop even more. In Parade ground this month we get to see a big Whfb board with an really tall Tower in the middle, truly inspiring and something I want to try out some time in the future. For the Painting part we have the Paint Splatter segment, this time showing how to paint Chaos Warriors, skulls, horns etc. Also Juggernought armour and how to do salt weathering on tanks so some good reading here even if there would have been nice with some more in depth tutorials as well.

Rules and Fluff
 Not much in the fluff department more than the little text accompanying the rules for the new unit entires for WoC, which we get in a little two page booklet together with the magazine. I would have hoped for more rules changes but hopefully this means we won't have to wait long for the WoC Army book.

Gaming
A nice Battlereport with WoC versus Ogre Kingdoms testing out the new units for WoC. Nicely written but as the last issue I think it's a little bit short and we need more overview pictures of the battle and the pictures should also be bigger as it's hard to see everything as it is now. After the Battle Report we also get a post -battle review from the army book authors and Adam Troke which is an fun and interesting read.

Sadly we didn't get The Rivals segment this time, I really liked that and hope it shows up again in the next issue.

Conclusion
WD contiues what it started last month and I's really fun and interesting to read with something for everyone, not just the current released army owners. The 'This month in' articles is also nice showing what is currently going on in the Design studio, White Dwarf, Forgeworld and Black Library. Other than that this issue is actually shorter than the last one with both the Rivals segment and the Horus Heresy stuff missing with nothing instead. So this month we just get 136 pages instead of 152 like the last one, with the same price tag of course. It's a shame and I would have liked to see them filling out those missing pages with something instead. Other than that it's still a great Magazine nowadays and I hope it will continue in this fashion.

Rating: 4 out of 5

First look: Nov White Dwarf Pics

Got my White Dwarf today and it's packed with stuff. All the WoC stuff of course but also a lot of other stuff I haven't heard of before, including new paints called Edge paints (used to paint edges of course), a new mega paint set called Ultimate paint set,  new really cool basing kits like the Northen Wastes kit and Under-Empire Kit. Also new is the Imperial Defence Network for Wh40k with bunkers and the Wall of Martyrs.

So a lot of stuff and I must say that this issue continues with what Octobers issue started and WD is really fun to read nowadays.

Cool looking diorama picture.

A lot of cool bitz in this kit it seems. Not to much customization though so most will look pretty much the same. Will be buying one though. 

You get a Icon for each of the Chaos Gods.

I like the look of these guys and there's plenty of extra heads in the kit, eight in total.

Still don't like the concept of these guys but some quite nice bitz in this kit.

Nah not my cup of tea at all, although not as bad as most think.

Like these more and more, especially Valkia and the little details on Festus

Edge paints? Dunno if it's needed but the colours looks quite good.

Really cool new Basing kit, hoping for more of these. Will be buying the Northern Wastes for my WoC.

Wall of Martys with a lot of dead Imperial Guard, promising stuff.

News: More WoC Pictures, 2013 White Dwarf sub model + new Bundles info

So got some more and better pictures from the same guy as before where you can see some of the models a lot better, here you go. Also showing this time the new White Dwarf sub model, really nice I must say.

 Pictures are from here.

Info from the same guy again and also via Warseer.

New Bundles are:

SM

2X tactical squad
1X command squad
1X Commander
1X scouts
1X LandraiderCrusader
1X Ironclad
1X Razorback
1X Droppod

Necrons
1X Walker
1X Bark
1X Glider
6X Jetbikes
1X Spider
2X Worriors (24)
1X Extinctors
6X Scarabs

Vamps
1X Dragon
1X Shrine
1X Corpscart
1X Vargheists/Crypt (3)
1X Zombies (20)
1X Skeletons 20
1X Ghules 10
1X Knights 5
1X Necromancer

Empire
1X Karl Franz
1X Hellfire
1X Shrine
1X Knights 10
1X Commander/BSB
1X Spearmen 20
1X Greatswords 10
1X Technicus

Prices:

Empire: 195€
Vamps: 200€
SM: 200€
Necrons 200€ 

News: Warriors of Chaos pics from Nov WD!!

Pictures of Skullcrushers, Hellstriders, a new Scyla model, Warshrine, Festus and Valkia. So a lot of new models for my WoC, unfortunalty I'm not that sold yet. The jugger knights looks good,  Got this from Warseer, it's from a Austrian member 'Kurl Veranek' who got White Dwarf early and he put up some photos of the new WoC stuff. Not super great quality but you see how the stuff looks at least.

Also here's some rules:

Rare Choice:

Skullcrushers
Jugger Rider 60pts per model
unit size 3+
can take lances and a standart up to 50 pts
same weapon rules as knights
WS5 S4 T4 W2 I5 A2 LD8

Juggernaught
WS5 S5 T5 W1 I2 A2 Ld7
Fear
Will of Chaos
monstrous Cav
Magic Res 1
Mark of Khorne

Special Choice:

Hellstriders

Slaanesh Rider 19pts
WS4 S3 T3 W1 I5 A1 Ld7
Shields and Spears
light Cav
can get always strikes first for the first round of combat for 1pts
Mark of Slaanesh
Fear and Will of Chaos
poison (mount)

Soulhunter:
Unit destroyed
1+ devastating charge
2+ stubborn
3+ 4+ Ward


All in all not that impressed, but hey it may look better IRL and when you can paint and convert a little yourself they will probably look better. The Skullcrushers and Hellstriders looks pretty much like I thought, and I like the first one the second one though I have never liked the concept of. The Warshrine I dond't know what to think of, it's a little to much going on I think and the whole model looks to busy. Some parts of it like the models riding it and the 'chaos ogres?' holding the thing looks cool though and will make really nice bitz as well. On the characters is kind of hard to tell, but both Festus and Valkia looks pretty much as the artwork from the current book. Scyla got an new much bigger model, never liked the old one but I don't know if I prefer this one either. Easier to say when we get some better and more pictures. What do you think?

News: New WHFB FAQ:s are up!

Many major changes in the latest FAQ updates including Rulebook, Empire, VC, TK, Daemons and Dwarfs. One of my favourites is that Monstrous Cavalry now gets to use the highest Toughness, so Demigryph Knights are now T4 :) Down below are summary from Kalandros in the first post of the thread discussing these new changes. You find the thread here and you find the updated FAQ pdf here.

From Warseer:

Putting a bunch of endless rules debate to rest and changing a few things at the same time, many FAQ updates including Rulebook, Empire, VC, TK, Daemons and Dwarfs, maybe one or two others I missed?

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_...EBOOK_v1.6.pdf

Q: If a unit charges into combat and, on the turn it charges, the last
of the enemy unit it is fighting are removed as casualties due to
Daemonic Instability, the Unstable special rule, Cornered Rats or as
a result of a War Machine failing its Break test, does the charging
unit get to make an Overrun move? (p58).
A: No.

So not only Undead and Daemons but any war machine, units of skaven slaves and squig herds - anything which is removed AFTER the 'combat round' (Overrun only allowed if models were killed before the 'who wins' step)

Q: Do units that are deployed as Scouts count toward determining
who finished deploying their army first? (p79)
A: No. 

 

Finally placing scouts back to where they belong: not part of normal deployment~

Page 83 – Monstrous Cavalry.
In the second paragraph, replace “All the cavalry rules…with
one exception – monstrous cavalry always use the highest
Wounds characteristic…” with “All the cavalry rules…with
two exceptions – monstrous cavalry always use the highest
Toughness and Wounds characteristics…” 

 

Demigryphs are now T4.

Page 107 – The Battle Standard Bearer.
Add “If a Battle Standard Bearer is in a unit that Refuses a
Challenge and is subsequently moved to the rear of its unit, it
loses the Hold Your Ground rule until the end of the turn.
Note, however, that if the Battle Standard Bearer has a magic
standard its effects continue to apply as normal (it cannot be
‘switched on or off’)”. 

 

No more hiding the BSB at the back and benefit from BSB reroll - its now gone until next turn.

Q: Do lone characters get a Look Out, Sir roll against Impact
Hits if there is a friendly unit consisting of five or more models of
the character’s troop type within 3”? (p96)
A: Yes. 

 

This one was weird but understandable. Warning someone about to be run over, has 50% chance to react in time it seems~ rare occurrence in the game however. Few are caught by a wolf chariot charging 18"+ into their lone character.


Tomb Kings! All is not entirely lost:
http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_...Kings_v1.3.pdf

Page 29 – Army Special Rules, Entombed Beneath the Sands
Add “A unit with the Entombed Beneath the Sands special
rule may choose to deploy normally along with the rest of the
army if the owning player wishes. In this case, the owning
player must clearly state this to their opponent before either
player begins deploying their army. 

 

Stalkers can now begin the game in play right away instead of always risking to lose them
This means that chaff like Swarms and war machine hunters like Scorpions can also start at your deployment line instead of risking them for nothing.

A good change - allowing flexibility depending on the opponent as you decide at deployment, not on your army list (except for Necro Knights, you gotta pay the points to give them the now optional choice of entombment of course~)

etc read up and follow the new rulings!

Mantic Ogres Pics

Just saw these over at Mr Saturday's Mumblings. And it's pics of the upcoming Ogres from the Mantic Kickstarter campaign. These pictures are from their open day.

Must say I'm impressed with all the stuff Mantic are putting out these days and the quality of it, I really like the heads for these Ogres. I also like the pic of a whole model, but not the short legs I'm afraid. It gets a really cartoony look which is fine, but those legs are just to short for that large upper body. Looking forward seeing what more Mantic is having in store for us in the near future.

Poll: Which CSM army should I start to paint?

Hey there, quite some time ago since I've updated the blog. I'm now in my new apartment but still have lots of things to do, among them getting a normal Internet Connection (thank god for the ability sharing connection with your phone). So not much painting or anything the last couple of weeks, will do some more hobby stuff from now on though.

One of the things I wanted to do is to paint up some of the Chaos Space Marines from the Dark Vengeance box. But I'm still unsure of what colours and what legion they will belong to. My first thought was Alpha Legion as I like the colours and the different look they have. But there have been a little to much of them lately in both WD and on the GW webpage so now I'm more leaning on painting up some Iron Warriors.

What colours do you want to see this Helbrute in?

So I want some help, what do you think I should paint up? Alpha Legion, Iron Warriors, Thousand Sons or Night Lords? Can make DIY renegade chapter instead if someone posts a good idea in the comments but first and foremost you can choose between these four alternatives.


Can't promise that the winning alternative is the one I will paint up, however it will affect my decision greatly and help me choose what CSM army I will start up. If you have further suggestions or ideas please tell me in the comments below. Thank you.

Showcase: Chaos Hellcannon finished!

So at last, my Hellcannon is finished. I took quite some time but in the end I like the result and Iv'e also learned quite a lot of what I should and shouldn't do when I paint the next one. Like for example, don't assemble the whole thing. Get all the basic colours and as much as you can paint before you assemble the model, it will make things that much easier. Also, bend all the parts in the right shape before anything else. I forgot to do this on one large part of this model and it makes it look a little strange but now it is to late to fix so...

Anyhow, I'm currently moving to another apartment so not much painting or anything will get done the next two weeks or so as I will focus the move. Will try to do some updates here though, until then these pictures of my Chaos Hellcannon will have to do, hope you like and as always, comments and criticism is very welcome.