Review: White Dwarf May 2013

New month, new White Dwarf, new releases. This issues main release is the High Elves for Warhammer Fantasy and after the last issue I can't say I had high hopes for this one, but was actually a little surprised in a positive way this month, continue reading to find out why.

New releases
We get a lot of new kits for High Elves big and small along with the new Army Book, I won't get into detail about the kits (check GW website for that) but I must say I'm liking them more and more. One really pleasant surprise here is that they will release a new Uniforms and Heraldry book and of course this one is about High Elves. I have the Empire one and I really like it, I hope GW will continue to do these as they are great inspiration when painting your armies as well as you get some nice fluff about your army as well. We get a better preview of both this book and the Army Book which is something I have asked for, could be a lot more fleshed out but better than nothing. We get a new Radagast model for the Hobbit and some BL books but nothing major and most we have already seen.

Painting

So what is the Army of the Month? You guessed it, Space Marines once again. Well Blood Angels for being more precise and it belongs to the veteran model maker Mark Bedford so it is a really nice looking army. Just wished we would see something else than some type Space Marines. In Blanchitsu we see more Blanche inspired models but this time it's not from himself but from Julian Bayliss who have won multiple Golden Demons.

In Hall of Fame we see the Chaos Helbrute from the DV box and in the Parade Ground we continue too see loyalist Dreadnoughts, both converted and non converted. All of them looks nice but we have all most probably already seen them, except the last one who was sent in by a reader, a really cool and heavely converted Deathguard Dreadnought...ehmm I mean Helbrute.

In Kitbash we get to see some really different models, a Chaos Warshrine who rides on top of a Maulerfiend (an idea I had for a while as well), High Elves Spearmen of Chrace and Chaos Cultists. The we also get a second Parade Ground which features different Titans which most of us already have seen probably. We also get to see some more of Japan's Golden Demon winners, but just two pages this time which is enough in my opinion.

I the past Paint Splatter has been a real Hit or Miss, and mostly misses. But this time it's a lot better actually. They have focused on the High Elf models of course and they actually show a lot of details, good paint jobs and not just the most basic of techniques. For example who to paint the Phoenixes, white cloth, magical bows, silver armour and more. We also see a quite nice tutorial on how to paint different looking horses, really useful which is really nice for change.

Rules and Fluff
We don't get much about the rules but we do get some fluff when they talk about the new HE books, nothing we haven't heard before as it's mostly a explanation of who the High Elves are. But at least it's something.

Gaming

Battlereport! High Elves Vs. Ogres. The armies are ~3200 Pts it is explained in the text but I don't know why they aren't showing us exact numbers like they used too, if the readers want to find out what the exact costs are for different units without buying the AB there are plenty of better ways to get that info. They are of course showing us the new units in the HE army and we get to see Jes Godwin's Ogres again as the enemy army. Other than that the Battle Report follows the same formula as the previous ones. Quite good but nothing spectacular. 

The other stuff
We get two new articles this month! The Armchair General where Adam Troke explains why he loves the Dark Angels and why they are so fun to play. Although we have seen Adams army before it was nice too read about why he likes them so much and what he usually fields. The second new article is called The Time of Dragons where Mat Ward and Trish Carden writes about Dragons, fluff and how the GW Dragon models have changed over time, quite interesting article but it would have been better if we got too see even more of the really old Dragon models.

In 'This Month in' we get some goodies as well some painted models from the WD team with little focus on HE and Dreadnoughts, and at the Design studio we get some words from the sculptors about the new High Elves. At Forgeworld we see the Fellglaive heavy tank and Space Marine Legion Outrider bike (the HH bikes for short) and some painted models including some really cool Pre Heresy Night Lords. At Black Library we get a chat with Guy Healy about his first BL novel called Baneblade.

Conclusion
Even though a lot of things is like the last issue I feel some things is addressed here. We got two new articles this month which is really nice and I hope they continue in this manner. Also one major thing I thought about the April issue was that we didn't have any reason to re-read it, I didn't find that there was anything useful to come back to. Not at all so in this issue, better painting tutorials is one thing and I just feel they have got more stuff in this issue that is interesting. This is issue is far from prefect but I feel that maybe we are now going into a up going trend.

Rating: 3 out of 5

News: Better Quality High Elves photos from WD

Now when we are hearing more and more solid rumours regarding the rules for HE we also get some more and better photos for the next WD. I got these over from HERO's Gaming Blog.

Comment: Like this release more and more, still don't like the chariot but I like the Eagle pulling it.The Phoinexes looks cool and I really like the new Shadow Warriors, really awesome looking. The Maiden guard looks quite nice as well with their magic bows.

News: High Elves video clip and rumours

So GW released a new video clip yesterday, and last time when we got the Tau teaser it was pretty cool. This one however not so much, it looks like Batman will join the fight against the forces of destruction in Warhammer world and that would have been awesome! But sadly I think 'Reborn to fight anew' means the we just will Phoenixes in our HE armies, which by it self aren't that bad.

Made by Luigi over at Warseer, just had to include it here

On to some more fun stuff for HE then, the blog Hero's gaming blog posted up these rumours yesterday, and well it is an interesting read:

Source #1 - Source says from the WD
Some rumours for you all.
New Sea Guard character type. Can ride flying chariot
Hoeth Loremaster is a Lord choice and is L2 mage that knows all signature spells from battle magic.
Phoenix gets buffs based on winds of magic. If it dies, comes back on a roll of a 6
Reavers and Silverhelms core
Bolt throwers are rare
High Elf lore attribute "Shield of Saphery" grants 6+ ward save, if you have a 6+ ward save already it increase by +1
White Lions and Swordmasters still have ASF...
Phoenix can be ridden or unridden. Flame Phoenix is anointed of Asuuryan, Frost is anointed of Caradryan
Sisters of Averlorn, magic bows. 

Source #2
I have contacts that have confirmed 2 things for me
A. Lord level lordmaster is in the game in some capacity(knowign 1 of each lore which is sig)
L2 wizard high elf hero stats but 3 wounds.
B. Looks like ASF is staying contary to all rumours, however whether it is speed of asuryan style with great weapon im yet to find out, however i highly doubt it and think it will flick to initiative order rather than asl. Looks like great weapons in initiative order. Also new rule partial prowess across the entire army!
C. Lothern Sky cutter chariots are the new chariot pulled by a swift feather rock! Eagle eye bolt thrower on back (possibly an upgrade)
can be a character mount for new character Lothern sea helm which is the guys you have seen with bsb in rumour sections. This guy can alos be on foot and or armed with trident.
D. Sisters of averlorn are rare choice with magical bows using wytch fire.
E. High elf core will be reavers and silver helms and high elf militia(i dont know details of this)
F. Sms and Dps WLs(characian hunters) same stats have no idea if they have extra armour or not yet.
G. Flame Spire Phoenix does a slash attack, wake of fire (like abomb it can get back up), soem type of ward, attune to magic rule.
H. Lion chariots same stats will be stubborn.
I. Shadow warriors plastic kit sold in 10s.
J. Anointed of Asuryan is character that can ride phoenix.
K. Banner of world dargon possible without bsb though i dont know what it does.
L. Sms 6+ ward possibly only vs shooting
M. RBT still in rare
N. Everqueen has an upgrade or a second character is called her hand maiden appears to be a body guard
O. High magics
Lore attribute you gain +1 to ward saves
signatures *2
Soul quench 8+16+ 18 inch
2d6/4d6 s4 magic missiles
Drain Magic is an augment and hex 7+ remians in play (not sure on details)
Spell 1 Apothesis 5+
single model 18inch
recovers a wound or boosted 12+D3 wounds
Spell no? Hand of glory5+/10+
Increases ws,bs,i,m by 1 or d3
Sorry thats all i have
Thats all I have guys hope that helps confirm or dispel some rumours, watch this space if you want the truth.

Source #3
FACTS:
1) High Magic Lore attribute is 6+ ward save on friendly units if you cast a spell on them. If your already have a ward save, this gets better by 1 point.
2) Stubborn Lion Chariots.
3) Frost and Fire phoenixes can go alone. BUT frost phoenix can only be ridden by Caradryan and fire phoenix by the Anointed of Asuryan.
4) Loremaster of hoeth is L2 Lord option with WS6 W3 A3. Knows all signatures from rulebook.
5) New Lothern Sea Guard hero character. He can ride a flying boat.
6) New Lord option: Anointed of Asuryan. He can ride a fire phoenix.
7) Silver Helms go core.
Sisters of Avelorn will have magic bows (but we do not know if any other bonuses)
9) Three army rules: Speed of Asuryan, Valor of Ages, Martial Prowess. We do not know yet if they remain the same or they have changed (apparently the latter option).
10) Flying boat name is Skycutter. LSG hero can be built on foot or as a crewmember from the Skycutter sprue. Phoenixes' names are: flamespyre/frostheart; Anointed of Asuryan and plastic Caradryan can be built either mounted or on foot from plastic sprues of phoenixes
11) Deductions: Phoenixes WON'T be MC, for they go either alone or are a hero mount. You may expect heros from other regions (avelorn, caledor, chrace)
All those things can be already considered facts, AND they are today's leaks all of them.

Source #4
New Range Items
Warhammer: High Elves
· 96 page full-colour, hardback Warhammer armies book written by Mat Ward.
High Elves Flamespyre Phoenix/ Frostheart Phoenix
· This box contains a multipart plastic kit that makes either a Flamespyre Phoenix or a Frostheart Phoenix, two completely new monster miniatures for Warhammer, along with two mighty warriors of renown that can ride them.
High Elves Lothern Skycutter
· This completely new flying chariot is a multipart plastic kit that can be assembled in one of three different ways. Either as a flying chariot drawn by Swiftfeather Roc, upgraded to include an Eagle Eye Bolt Thrower or a mount for a Sea Helm a new High Elf Hero.
High Elves Shadow Warriors/Sisters of Avelorn
· This box contains a multipart plastic kit that makes either ten Shadow Warriors armed with Longbow and Sword or 10 Sisters of Avelorn, a new High Elf unit armed with magical Bows of Avelorn.
Loremaster of Hoeth
· This clampack contains a new High Elf warrior mage, the Loremaster of Hoeth as he charges into battle casting a fireball spell on a sculpted base.
Repackaged High Elf Battalion
· Contains 20 Spearmen, 20 Archers, 8 Silver Helms and a High Elf Chariot (that can be assembled as a Tiranoc Chariot or a Lion Chariot of Chrace).
Uniforms and Heraldry of the High Elves Book
·72 page full-colour, hardback Uniform and Heraldry guide detailing the colour schemes, crests, banners and blazonry of the ten realms of the High Elves. 

New Finecast Releases
Alarielle the Radiant
· A clampack that contains one highly detailed Citadel Finecast resin miniature sculpted by Edgar Ramos. Alarielle is the Everqueen of Ulthuan her miniature strides forward with roses bursting to life beneath her feet as she strides over a piece of Chaos Warrior armour.
Handmaiden of the Everqueen
· A clampack that contains one highly detailed Citadel Finecast resin miniature sculpted by Darren Latham. The Handmaiden is a warrior champion of the Everqueen
Available While Stocks Last
These Items are highly limited, please request the quantity you require and we will supply you as close to this number as we can.
Warhammer Battle Magic: High Elves
·Eight cards that define the unique effects of High Elf spells and are great to help keep track of the spells used by each of the wizards on the battlefield.

News: Pictures of the new High Elves models

The High Elves release is soon here and because of that we are now getting pictures from the next WD. Check them out below, I got them from Bell of lost Souls Lounge found here.

Eagle Chariot

BSB?

Shadow Warriors

Maiden Guard/Guard of Avelorn

Alarielle

Maiden Guard character

Flying chariots, Phoenixes and more 

Phoenix with and without riders

Phoenix box

Comment: The models looks decent enough, but I have never been a big fan of High Elves I must say. The models I like most is the Phoenix, Shadow Warriors and the BSB the rest looks quite meh to me. Also I don't really like the concept of the flying chariot and it just feels gimicky and another chariot for HE, the Eagle looks really nice though and I know many HE players want this kit just for that one. I'll reserve further comments until I see better pictures.