White Dwarf 248 Review

White Dwarf 248 - UK Edition
Monthly Gaming supplement & Citadel Miniature catalogue
Published by Games Workshop

3.50 UK pounds - 4.99 US Dollars

This is a review of the UK edition and content of White Dwarf magazine. Actual contents does vary depending on the country that you are in.

White Dwarf 248 is the release issue for the huge Armageddon event that is taking place this summer, check out the website here www.armageddon3.com for more details. Its very Warhammer 40,000 heavy, as Warhammer takes a back door for this issue and only gets one look in. This months issue comes with a free promotional poster detailing the Armageddon system and planets surface on one side and has loads of actions shots with Citadel Miniatures on the other. The poster is a nice touch and I hope they do more of them in the future. Here is the overview of this months White Dwarf magazine.

GW News - Da Nooz
The White Dwarf news section gets a new Armageddon look - very Orky. There is a long editorial from Fat Bloke explaining all about the concept of the Armageddon campaign. More news on the upcoming Bloodquest movie from Exile in the form of screen shots. A little teaser in the form of some the new Warhammer miniatures is also featured - there is a new Imperial Engineer with repeater pistol and two Ork command miniatures. Finally finishing off the news section from the Black Library given us all the latest about the return of Bloodquest to the Warhammer Monthly comic.

Armageddon Intro
Two pages in a cinematic theme showing an Ork skull against a starfield background. Would of made a good pull out poster, the effect is kind of lost in the binding.

Armageddon Campaign Intro
12 pages dedicated to the start of the Armageddon Campaign. The first section introducing the campaign itself and how it breaks down into various countries. Looks like it setting up to be an exciting world wide gaming event. The last section is a lift straight from the book - which sets the mood for the event and give a good insight for all you have not got Codex Armageddon yet.

The Armies of Armageddon
An advert showing the limited edition army boxed sets that are going to be available for the duration of the Armageddon Campaign. Nice angle the data screens make you read the page instead of dismissing it.

Power of Da Waaagh!
Two pages dedicated to the meanest, nastiest Ork Warlord in the Warhammer 40,000 universe Ghazaghkull Mag Uruk Thraka in all his guises over the years. It also features all the new releases for Orks this month - which considering how Ork orientated this Armageddon layout is there is very few - only Tankbusta boyz, Ork Warboss with an Attack Squig and a Stormboyz Nob. In a issue packed with so great stuff this seems a very thrown together at the last minute. Still its interesting to see how Ghaza has grown.

Best of Enemies!
The background for Commissar Yarrick and Ork Warlord Ghazaghkull. Unless you have the Imperial Guard and the Ork codex this is the only place you'll find out their long entwined history.

In Defence of Armageddon
New release advert page showing the new fantastic Steel Legion Imperial guard and Commissar Yarrick with his full rules so you can use him in your games. Why they did not do the same on Ghazaghkull's page I don't know - would of made it more than just a piece of fluff.

Index Astartes
This excellent series continues the Armageddon theme of the issue be documenting the background of the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter. I hope they manage to keep this series going, us old gamers love this type of background.

Golden Demon - Entrants Survival Guide
Useful for all you who are going to enter this years Golden Demon painting competition, but couldn't his have been included in the program you get at this event?

Speed Freeks!
A more indepth look at the Kult of Speed as White Dwarf continues to make up for the shortfall of background in the Codex series of books. It has loads of modelling ideas with a scratch-built battle wagon made out of Land Raider! Plus you get to look into the mind set of the speed freek Ork.

The Grand Mustering
This months nod towards Warhammer shows us two huge armies - one Dwarf and one that looks like the entire Empire under arms. Truly an epic achievement by Mark Roberts and his mate Peter Wilkes. Well done.

The Armageddon Steel Legions
The Armageddon theme re-emerges in this article with Jervis giving three historical actions that the Steel Legion was involved in. My favourite is the Six hour rebellion.

Warhammer
What is it? Is is preview? Teaser? New Game? Or just more new releases. A very mysterious four pages, still I am looking forward to seeing what this is all about.

Welcome to Fanatic
New material for Blood Bowl, Mordheim, Necromunda, Battlefield Gothic, Warhammer Quest, Warmaster & Epic 40,000. Regularly produced magazines for each game! New gaming supplements & new miniatures. In the words of the article 'Sounds rather exciting doesn't it? Check out the Fanatic website for more details.

LineBreaker
A variant of the awesome Land Raider, this one is designed for close support. Lots of pictures of the new Tank and the full gaming rules as well for a nice little touch, turning this from an advert into a useful article.

Not So - Fat Bloke presents
Fat Blokes editorial space is hijacked by ermm.. 'moi' this month to show off the UK Games Workshop website. As the advert say 'It does exactly what it does on the tin'.

Arena of Death
Four pages dedicated to a 'what if Ghazghkull Thraka and Commissar Yarrick ever met on the battlefield'. A nice fun article. I hope to see more of this series in upcoming issues.

Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report - Warzone Tempestora
Its huge! Just like the Armageddon Campaign. This is a multi-player, multi-table affair to kick off the Armageddon fight. Its all told from the prospective of the soldier on the battlefield and is a stunner to read. I only have one criticism, why did the White Dwarf crew mention it was a two parter in the contents? It took the edge of the battle report for me... Still its a good read and goes to prove what you can do when you have far too many toy soldiers at your disposal.

Mail Order - New Releases
Codex Armageddon
Commissar Yarrick
Armageddon Steel Legion Imperial Guard squad
Armageddon Steel Legion Army boxed set
Land Raider Crusader
Salamander Space Marine squad
Salamander Army Boxed set
Black Templar Army boxed set
Ork Warlord Ghazghkull Thraka
Ork Warboss with Attack Squig
Ork Army boxed set

Summing up
In all its a very good issue of White Dwarf and they continue their trend of getting better issue by issue. This White Dwarf was a blatant promotion for the Armageddon campaign and was very background heavy - which is not a bad thing. The poster was a very nice touch and although not as exciting as the Land Raider one in previous issue still a good thing to stick on the wall of the ol'game room. As for the White Dwarf itself I would like to see a few more hobby orientated articles alongside couple of exclusive rule articles, but at least its not turned into a pretty picture catalogue. Although its not an essential buy this month if you just play Warhammer I would still recommend you get it just to keep tabs on the development of new Warhammer. Well until next month this is the score...

Flaming Skulls