Since hearing about the demise of the dwarf, I've been trawling through some of my older issues in search of articles I found particularly entertaining. Much of my reading list hails from WDs from the 80s. There's a lot of back issues, so, in a moment of clarity I decided to throw it out to the community to ask what was your favourite article, or failing that, issue? I don't mean the most informative, or useful or pretty, just your favourite. This will also give us a handy shortlist for further nostalgic wallowing. I'll kick us off.
There are a lot of regular articles I could mention. Illuminations, Blanchitsu and Chapter Approved certainly being some notables, and of course, 'Eavy metal. I poured over those pages of painted miniatures for hours wondering how the hell Fraser Gray could paint like he did. There were plenty of great scenarios, the
Grapes of Wrath and the
Floating Gardens of Bahb Elonn being two favourites. I loved the new models pages (along with all their rules) such as Ruglud's armoured orcs, the plague cart and the gob lobber. This was primarily for the great miniature eye candy, but also for the humour in the back stories.
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| WD95 - p7 |
For me though, it has to be the 3rd edition release article from WD 95. It was my first issue, and those eight pages pretty much sealed the deal as regards my future hobby/obsession. Essentially a big advert for third edition, it worked on my young mind beyond the most optimistic dreams of Games Workshop central. There are better articles, for sure, but this is the one I keep coming back to when I think of my favourite. Pages of images of undead, elves, orcs, dwarves and more coupled with stories of heroic deeds and bloody carnage, all wrapped up in a hardback tome. What chance did I have to resist?
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| WD95 - p38 |
So what about ye? Is there an article, battle report or page of painted miniatures that makes a particular White Dwarf your favourite?
I think I only read WD from about issue 30 through to 70 or 80. It's been a very long time since I read them (and several years since I cleared them out), so it's difficult to remember specific articles.
ReplyDeleteI do remember one on economics for AD&D, however the bits that have really stuck in my mind are the cartoons - Thrud and The Travellers
My favourite was WD 170, solely for the battle report: "The Battle of Skull River", a 3,000pt clash between Chaos Dwarfs (Jake Thornton) and Wood Elves (Robin Dews).
ReplyDeleteIt was an exciting battle, and something about just hit the sweet spot of narrative/descriptive, along with some great images. After reading it, my next army was a Wood Elf one.
It was a WD battle report that I read in the very first issue I ever picked up that immediately hooked me. The article was a High Elves v. Orcs and Goblins battle report, and the players were Rick Priestley and Jervis Johnson. I devoured that article, and then the rest of the issue cover to cover. Done deal.
ReplyDeleteI also remember being really floored when I came across an old back issue of WD, and they had a profile of Andy Craig in 'eavy Metal. The first time I laid eyes on his Harlequins, I felt like I was looking at miniature painting as a legitimate art form. His harlies are still at the top of my list.
Mine would be the series between issues 130 to 140 with the conforntation rules.
ReplyDeleteSome depp, weel-thougt stuff which opens an unilimited space for fun and drream, Still haven't woken up from these.
These issues also have some other very good things but having a complete excelllent game in th WD was a must.
A difficult question for me to answer.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the early build-your-own terrain or Eavy Metal masterclass articles must come close to the top of my list. I am less keen on the Battle Reports which repetitive.
I can distinctly remember a LOTR feature. This is long before the Peter Jackson films with a battle report and cover feature. But in truth browsing through any of my old issues will usually bring up something worth reading in full.
It might be easier to ask for favourite covers. Although even then there are loads.....
Tony