Official April 2012 White Dwarf (USA 387, UK 388 etc) Feedback Thread

[librerian_samae]

Here's what I wrote in the other thread:

If average rating is a 5 on a 1 to 10 scale I would say its about a 4.

firstly a 6 because of the pretty good death world article and little paint tutorials very nice.

However -1 due to emptiness of empire section, I was REALLY looking foward to this but no designers notes or anything blergh.

Another minus 1 for the slop shoddy wolves/nids report, for a start it should have been last issue and this issue an empire one. Secondly it felt forced and empty and too rushed with no proper maps etc, plus 'oh look best monstrous creatures in the book eat the opponent because he has nothing to counter them even though the opponent was doing better objectives wise.'

Overall a big disappointment could have been much better.

[shelfunit.]

A couple of weeks ago I started to go back in my WD collection and read some stuuf. However, I already had removed all the advertising and other irrelevant (at the time) pages, so some weren't complete, to say the least.
Some say that older WDs were much and much better, but reading these old copies didn't make me look back with happier thoughts. I noticed that some issue didn't have any contents in them, probably because there wasn't much of interest in the first place.

In short, looking back isn't always rose-tinted.

Depends on how far back you looked. Anything less than 5 years ago and you have the same problems as today. Anything below around issue 250 and the difference is almost so much, were it not for the name and general subject matter you would think it was a different magazine.

On another note, I looked up the prices for WD on the site. A single WD costs € 7,50 , a year-subscription € 70 and a 2-year-subscription € 125. If you take a 2-years, it will break down to a little over € 5 per issue. Given that each WD will contain a little of something that is interesting, is it really a high price to pay? If I don't have a subscription, I will have to go to the store each month and peruse that months copy to see if it is worth buying. Maybe missing some interesting bits. And if I have bought 4 or 5 issue in a row, wouldn't it have been better to just have a subscription?
€ 125 is a lot, but other glossy magazine are of a similar price.

That just shows how ridiculous the non-UK pricing structure is - the price you quote for a 2 year subscription in Euros is, individually (roughly) the same price as those in the UK pay per off the shelf issue. If you are in Europe and don't mind reading in English it is cheaper to get WD off Wayland/Maelstrom.

What page is Standard Bearer i cant find it? Answer by PM please!

Don't think there is one this month - as bad as it usually is, at least it is a page of text in an otherwise word starved production.

[Skaven13]

The member of J.A.D.E.D. above me seems to be living up to his membership there! I can't say I blame him though. I have been in this hobby for nearly 20 years. WD got me into the hobby initially. And yes, I can definitely see the shift between being a gaming supplement AND monthly hobby catalogue (it used to say it was a catalogue at the top of each issue) to strictly being a catalogue and marketing tool. I haven't bought a WD in, oh I don't know, years now, because I feel the price is outrageous for the content being offered. I thought about the rose-tinted issue for quite a while too. Am I just suffering from extreme nostalgia? Or was there really a difference? Looking back to issues in the early 90s, there is a definite difference in presentation. Mainly words and pictures, and the ratio reversing. My observations:

Words. Yes, there were a lot more words in each issue. There was more fiction, there were designer notes (quite a few of them), and there were a few articles promoting what was coming out that month. Now, some may argue that the price of putting color photos back then was a lot more expensive than it is now, and that explains why there were more words than pics back then. Granted, maybe it was. But does that really give you a reason to slack on content? Probably not. In essence, you just got more meat with each issue. But times change, and so do demographics, and if GW believes kids are their target audience, then they must also believe that kids are not interested in reading, just looking at pictures of plastic and resin. Now looking at this issue, and the past few issues, I really think GW is realizing this. They are including new rules in the issues, and some additional content to help with games. The problem, again, is the execution. New content for your games is there, it has been increasing, but is still not where it used to be.

Pictures: Again, the problem is the execution. Pics of things coming out are great, and really, double-page spreads have been done before. Back in the early 90s, they would kind of throw them in randomly, usually showcasing a boxed game and its contents. The execution of these issues each month SCREAMS "buy buy buy" (six pages devoted to pics of paint, for instance) which to me kind of says something of the integrity (or lack of) of the marketing team. Prior issues showed a model in New Releases once, maybe twice maximum. We are seeing multiple pics for one model in the New Releases section alone, not to mention the rest of the issue. Prior issues did not need entire issues devoted to the releases of the month, they covered other things as well (specialist games scenarios, for instance). Yet now, WD has turned into just a promotion of what is new this month, that is it. And some people seem to have come to the place where they expect that now. One person said they were wondering why Space Wolves and Tyranids were in this issue, when this issue was supposed to be the "Empire" issue. It wasn't like that in the past. In the past, you got content all over the place. Some space for the new releases, some space for other things. Again, they have been changing a little bit for the better (the new scenarios in this issue, as well as some helpful painting guides for beginners was a nice addition). Past issues did not have nearly as many pics, but they were there, and usually the "stuff in the back" was full of them, usually unpainted minis in a catalogue-type presentation (again, it WAS a hobby catalogue as well as a hobby supplement, let's not forget what it was then). And that is fine. It can be both. But games such as myself are getting ticked that it is leaning (way) heavier towards the catalogue end of the spectrum.

As far as this issue, I wouldn't be so harsh as to give it a 2 or something. Probably a 5. Why? I can honestly say the only thing keeping it from being an 7 is the presentation. That's it. We do not need 6 pages of pictures of paint, nor do we need 4 pages dedicated to one model, nor will I pay $9 an issue for pictures I can see online. But there were good things in this issue that indicate a step in the right direction. Months ago people were complaining that there are no new rules or scenarios in WD, and we have been starting to see these reappear. We see Death World rules, new scenarios, helpful painting guides, and some sample rules for Karl Franz. For me, less pictures screaming at me to buy their product and a more detailed Battle Report would have had me smiling.

Edit: Cutting out the last part about price before I get my hand smacked....again.

[6mmhero]

I have to say this months issue was the least enjoyable in a while. I hoped that there would be more on the empire release, some of the painting stuff seems like it could be good and it is nice to have the final part of Civil War (dragged out a little too long). The deathworld rules will be fun to use at some point soon.

I have a subscription to WD and generally enjoy flicking through the magazine, it has its ups and downs content wise so it will be interesting to see where the magazine goes from this new low (I think my collection goes back to issue 150 or there abouts).

I give it a 5 this month due to Civil War and Death World.

On another note while I understand your opinion Shelf Unit I can't see what is the point in responding to every review that isn't "OMG WD is the worst thing ever" and saying they are wrong. Yes you don't like the magazine but do you really need to keep on about how little you think of it etc, have you written to GW to state your concerns over the content of the magazine?. I suppose I am gushing over the magazine now...........

[shelfunit.]

On another note while I understand your opinion Shelf Unit I can't see what is the point in responding to every review that isn't "OMG WD is the worst thing ever" and saying they are wrong. Yes you don't like the magazine but do you really need to keep on about how little you think of it etc

Well, when people are giving bonus marks for quality of paper and continually gushing about seeing "pictures" that are readily availible on GW's own website - both larger and better than those in WD, and giving ratings halfway up the scale due to 2 articles that take a total of about 5-10 pages out of the whole magazine, then yes, I think the point that it is cack needs to keep being rammed home. I just cannot fathom how, in it's current form it can be considered enjoyable - outside of advertising the month's new releases it contains essentially nothing.

,

have you written to GW to state your concerns over the content of the magazine?. I suppose I am gushing over the magazine now...........

What's the point of writing to GW - as a number of other posters on this forum have proven, you just get a stock reply. Sadly a number of them seemingly faint at the possibility Mark Wells or Tom Kirby responding to them "personally" and automatically assume everything will instantly improve because of it. This has not been the case for FC. As with everything else with GW, the only thing that will make them change anything is if people stop paying for whatever it is needs changing - whilst they are making money from something nothing will improve.

[Damien 1427]

On another note while I understand your opinion Shelf Unit I can't see what is the point in responding to every review that isn't "OMG WD is the worst thing ever" and saying they are wrong. Yes you don't like the magazine but do you really need to keep on about how little you think of it etc, have you written to GW to state your concerns over the content of the magazine?. I suppose I am gushing over the magazine now...........

Whineseer is sadly like the rest of the internet in that everything is WORSE THAN GENOCIDE OH GODS WHAT MONSTERS THEY ARE FOR PUBLISHING THIS HOW DARE THEY or OH GODS EVERY TIME YOU TURN A PAGE ICE CREAM AND GOLD BULLION FALL OUT. This is true for every aspect of the hobby, as you can see in the Fantasy section fo the forum, in regards to the current Empire army book debacle, where Rob Cruddace has either gone around to every single player's house and replaced all the jam in their doughnuts with faeces, or he's arrived with a bottle of wine and cake and told them they're looking great.

[6mmhero]

What's the point of writing to GW - as a number of other posters on this forum have proven, you just get a stock reply. Sadly a number of them seemingly faint at the possibility Mark Wells or Tom Kirby responding to them "personally" and automatically assume everything will instantly improve because of it. This has not been the case for FC. As with everything else with GW, the only thing that will make them change anything is if people stop paying for whatever it is needs changing - whilst they are making money from something nothing will improve.

Or you could just whine on an internet forum about how bad the magazine is. Yes I am sure a letter won't get anything changed but then neither will moaning on an internet forum. Perhaps things will only change when people stop buying the magazine, but then a lot of people who buy WD prob don't read forums or a certain section of a certain forum.

A mid rating for two articles from me represents a rating of about 3 for most of the magazine and then some bonus points for content that I will actually use. Besides which what makes your opinion anymore valid than any other members (assuming that you believe yours is more valid). I find the same happens in the finecast thread, a lot of people cannot accept that people can be happy with a product. I have had a few that I have been happy with but an awful fail rate on most of the FC that I have purchased, although I don't feel the need to try and belittle members who are happy with their purchase even if there are defects.

At the end of the day I enjoy GW products for what they are, yes they are expensive and yes sometimes faulty but I have a lot of fun assembling, painting and playing games with their rules and their figures.

Out of curiousity do you buy WD or just read (flick through)it in a newsagent? If it is the later then why do you care as you can get the content you want online for free as you have pointed out. If people decide to purchase the magazine and are happy with it, then fair play to them.

[paddyalexander]

OH GODS EVERY TIME YOU TURN A PAGE ICE CREAM AND GOLD BULLION FALL OUT.

Damn you gwPLC!!! You got gold bullion in my icecream!!!

[Tarax]

Damn you gwPLC!!! You got icecream all over my gold bullion!!!

Fixed that for you.

[Avian]

Picked up this issue because it's been a year or so since the last one and I wanted the paint chart.

It was pretty 'meh'.

4 out of 10

[Sheena Easton]

Bought it in the Supermarket last week because it was shrink wrapped and appeared to have a pretty poster (!) with it like it sometimes did back in Ye Olden Dayes.

Would give it a 3 because the paint stuff was quite useful (though could easily have been put on a poster / booklet) and the poster is pretty even though it is the most blatant advert for the new big kits ever.

[simonr1978]

And finally, most importantly: I can't take the internet and read it on the toilet.

Given that practically every modern mobile phone has build in web browser software, even if you don't have a laptop/notebook/tablet, yes so long as you have a mobile phone that is 10 years old or less, you can take the internet practically anywhere you can get a signal.

[Dervos]

I'm really really disappointed in the trend these last few years of them distilling and dumbing down the battle reports. That's what got me into buying the magazine in the first place was that there was a nice long battle report to read with lots of pictures, the players talking about their armies before and after, showing an actual ARMY LIST.

WHERE were the battle reports in the tale of four games!? =/

I get really bored by the warhammer white dwarves because it warhammer fantasy battle just doesn't interest me but there at least used to be a battle report I could get into, or there would be some interesting article for another game.

I really can't justify subscribing to this magazine although its been asked of me several times at the store, in my mind it was my excuse to go to GW because I had to go pick up the magazine, now I can't even claim that anymore.

*sigh*

[Cacodemon]

I had a sub for two years that expired couple issues ago and I thought I'd pick this one up for the Empire stuff. What a disappointment. Worst WD since the infamous GIANT-issue.

I'm not too much of a painter to enjoy any of the new paint ranges or painting guides, and the Empire stuff was so shallow. Armies in the battrep were nice though.

2/10 from me.

[Kisanis]

People still give money for WD??

Are you all on crack?

It was only occasionally worth it's cost 10 years ago... even then it was more of a 'hey I found 10 bucks and don't need a blister this month' situation (Oh my, buying a blister at less than 10$ cdn.... How quaint)

Seriously. I just look at it on the shelf, flick through it for 30 seconds, sigh, then put it back. It has 0 content, what little it may have, will likely be available for free on the website within a months time (or already is)