Wargames Illustrated 322 - The Great War for Flames of War

I stopped doing a monthly look at the wargaming magazines I was buying a while ago, I can't really remember why even, but like many things it slipped by the wayside, but this month I'm bringing it back as a one off to look at issue 322 of Wargames Illustrated.  This is because I was really impressed with it and wanted to recommend it to my readers, especially those with an interest in gaming WWI.

The big news this issue is the release of battlefront's Great War Flames of War supplement and the magazine come with a 36 page booklet which provides all the rules for playing this new version of flames of war.  This means of course that the main magazine also has some articles around the background of this supplement with a look at some of the myths of gaming WWI and a look at great war tanks, which lets be honest are of course the main attraction when gaming in 15mm scale.  What I've always liked about wargames illustrated is that although they are promoting the latest flames of war release there is always plenty of other varied content as well.

The magazine also features a couple of Napoleonic articles, the first a fascinating overview of the Polish armies of the era, the second a look at one groups take on the battle of Quatre Bras.  Some eye-candy is provided courtesy on the salute 2014 painting competition.  The other stand out articles were on the history of the Russo-Japanese war and it's implication for WWI and a look at the new 'The Crescent and the Cross' which is the expansion of the 'Saga' gaming world into the era of the crusades.  I haven't played any Saga, but it's something that I've been keeping my eye on for a while, maybe one day.

The booklet that comes with the magazine takes the familiar flames of war rules (which you will still need a copy of) and gives them a new twist.  It starts with a brief overview of the great war and then moves onto all the special rules for fighting in this era and for using the great landships.  There are then late war lists for the British and the Germans and finally three scenarios to play.  This supplement is of course for the western front in Belgium and France from 1916 onwards, I'm hoping the French with their FT-17's will get added at some point as well.

I haven't decided if I will be buying a flames of war WWI army yet, but I have to admit that I'm very tempted.  the other option that I'm considering is using the rules in the booklet, but using all the 1:72 scale figures and tanks that I already have lying around.  Only time will tell, but I do want to do some WWI gaming over in the near future and I now have a ruleset that I could make a start with.

White Dwarf 396 & Wargames Illustrated 302

This months white dwarf is of course focused on the new Hobbit releases, but thankfully they seemed to have learnt a bit and it doesn't overly dominate the magazine.  Again the first 50 or so pages are taken up with the new releases, I know it's important to showcase the new stuff but I'd really like to see the page count on this section come down.  This months battle report is Hobbit related and not a bad read, jeremy, jervis and john blanche all return, but I didn't find any of them that inspiring this month.  On the other hand parade ground (40K flyers), kit bash and the army of the month (an ogre army) were definatly inspiring.  Other than that 'the rivals' returns and the 'this month in' sections at the back were quite interesting.  A reasonable issuse overall.

As the picture above shows this months issuse also came with a very large double sided poster which is basically a giant advert for 40K, with just the standard minis we've all seem before layed out all together.  Very boring I'm afraid and mine went straight in the bin.

A couple of quick thoughts on the new Hobbit line whilst we're here, the models look great, I like pretty much all of them.  Also it's something I've wanted ever since I got into wargaming and first read the Hobbit (around the same time actually), and now they're finally here I'm very impressed, what I'm not impressed with is some of the prices.  The main boxed set looks to be OK (just), but some of the others are insanely priced (e.g. 3 plastic trolls for £50).  It's a shame I'd love an excuse to buy it all, but at these prices I can only see me getting the main boxed set, and possibly, maybe stretch to some of the plastic orcs in the future.  Also although it was predictable I'm very glad they kept it in the same game as the LOTR figures, I'm getting sucked back into middle-earth already.

The theme of this months wargames illustrated is the french and indian wars of the 18th century.  It's not a period I collect, but is one I'd like to do at some point in the future.  Theme articles were an overview, both of the history and the forces, a battle report and a look at how to make period terrain.  Flames of war is quiet this month with the only real article being about the US nationals, which features an awful lot of very nicely painted models.  Savage wars of peace returns with a look at our heroes followers and the first anglo-afghan war, I'm really enjoying this series and hope it keeps going for quite some time.  There is more 19th century action  with looks at the satsuma rebellion in Japan and the US army for the american-mexico war.  The other article of interest was an interview with Bryan Ansell, who of course has been involved with Games Workshop, Wargames Foundry and others for many years.  A good issuse all round. 

White Dwarf 395 & Wargames Illustrated 301

A week late but here we go and after the excitement of last months new styles and giant isssues this month was never going to come off great in comparison, still it's not all bad......

White Dwarf comes with two inserts this month, this first is a gift guide and went straight in the bin, the second however is more useful and is a small booklet with the rules for the new warriors of chaos units.  I'm a big fan of WD introducing new units and having them as seperate booklets is great too as I can just slip it into the army book and not worry about carrying the WD about as well.

The main mag is a bit smaller than last month at 136 pages, the first 50 or so of which is the new realeases section! Just a tad excessive and disapointing.  The format is the same as last month and there are no suprise articles, jervis johnson, jeremy vetcock and john blanche all return, there are some nice gamers models in the form of an empire army and some 40K conversions and of course a battle report showing off the new chaos models.  The good 'this month in' section returns at the back of the mag.  Overall it's all ok, but feels a bit 'light' still and unimaginative and I really think the new releases section needs cutting down.

Talking of new releases I do like the new plastic chaos models and hope to get some of the hellstriders in the not to distant future.  Can't say I feel the same about the new finecast scyla anfingrimm, to me he just looks too much like a skylander!

This months theme isn't much of one really, it's the battle of the bulge for flames of war and there are two articles, one scenario / battle report and one on making appropriate terrain.  Not particulary inspring stuff to me I'm afraid, but there's some good stuff elsewhere in the mag.  The standout article for me is 'savage wars of peace - part 1' the start of a series about adding some victorian stereotype heroes and antiheroes to colonial wargames and developing them, some real potential here.  Another article which will be useful to many is an army list for the Byzantine faction in Saga (a game I'm managing to resist playing for now) with the battle board for them printed on the back of the magazine.  Other articles that I liked included one on some fantastic dioramas of the peninsular war and a look at a battle between the incas and the spainish, which was a bit of a different era to get a look in.  Overall a perfectly good if not spectacular issuse.

White Dwarf 394 & Wargames Illustrated 300

It's been a big month with my two wargaming magazines, lets start as usual with White Dwarf.

White Dwarf 394 (actually I now can't see that number anywhere so WD Oct 2012) is the first of a new era, with a complete redesign and an increase in size and price.  There is a lot of good here, it's a big improvement.  I like the new styling, I like that black library, forgeworld and fantasy flight games are given a proper place.  At the end of the mag is a nice section of whats going on in WD, the design studio, black libray and forgeworld, with the sort of design notes that have been missing of late.  Jervis Johnson, Jeremey Vetcock and John Blanche (blanchistu is spectacular this month) get columns and there are quite a few examples of poeples models and conversions.  A battle report of course features and there is a nice article called the rivals which pits two warhammer generals against each other in army design.  It's not all good though the painting section is still very basic with little in the way of techniques, and the biggy is that the new releases section takes up a whooping 50 pages! A full third of the space.  It's definatly better, but not quite yet fixed.

It also comes with a fre Horus Heresy poster which is OK if not spectacular.

Wargames Illustrated celebrates its 300th issuse by producing a huge issuse of just shy of 300 pages!  This months theme is last stands and the mag has many many articles on famous and not famous last stands throughout history.  Flames of war only gets a quick look in where they explore the new plastic starter set (which I am tempted by), but pretty much every era gets at least one article.  I've not had a chance to read it all yet, but it's very impressive eye candy and the articles I have read have been up to the usual standard (including an interesting one trying to sperate the myth of the 300 spartans from reality).

White Dwarf 393 & Wargames Illustrated 299

Well what do we have here, with the release of the new Dark Vengeance set I was of course expecting coverage of such a momentus release, but alas what we get is what feels like a giant advert, with little of real value.  We start off of course with the new releases section with pics of the new models.  We then get an intro to the new starter set and then a bit of background on it.  Next we get a large article which gives brief battle reports on all 6 of the scenarios from the new box!  It's overkill and disappointing.  Next is a terrain 'showcase' (read advert), and then a painting showcase showing some alternate schemes for models in the box.  The painting showcase is quite interesting and features the new chaos models painted up as alpha legion in a similar scheme as I intend to do mine.  There are some other miniatures showcases as well for space marines and a couple of warhammer armies.  There is also the return of the citadel hall of fame and a dreary standard bearer.  Whilst the painting and modeling showcases aren't bad overall I'm not impressed with this issue at all.

This months theme in wargames illustrated is the wars of the roses.  For the theme we get the usual overview article of the period, looks at the battles of towton and bosworth, and a look at how to paint up burgundian mercenaries.  It was all interesting enough although its not a period I can see myself gaming at any point soon.  Flames of war of course features with a tactics article for American light tank companies and a bit of history and paint schemes for the Messerschmitt Me262 'Stormbirds'.  There is also an interesting look at Osprey's new arthurian rules Dux Bellorum, something else to tempt me and one of many new rulesets osprey plan on releasing.  Other articles of note include battle reports for the battle of naseby and the tet offensive.  Like last months this issue isn't bad, but isn't spectacular either.  I presume they're saving all their best stuff for next months special big celebration issue.

White Dwarf 392 & Wargames Illustrated 298

The first white dwarf after the release of 40K 6th ed and I was slightly disapointed not to find the new choas space marines that have been rumoured for ages taking a starring role, instead we get a new deamon release for both fantasy and 40K.  I'm going to start withe the free daemon booklet that includes rules for the new slannesshi chariots and updates for screamers and flamers for both game systems.  It also introduces soul grinders into fanatsy armies that was a bit of a suprise.  I'm a big fan of this sort of update and I like including it in a seprate handy booklet, although one complaint is that the booklet itself is not sturdy and I don't think will last long.

Of course the new daemons feature prominatly in the main mag as well, with a basic intro to the four main gods and a breif battle report for each system, both of which the daemons win, see if you want to win battles buy the new models ;)  Non-daemon stuff inclues a few pages of player armies with allies, only one of which (the space wolves/imperial gaurd) was really interesting, a fantastic Blanchitsu looking at the plastic nurgle lord and a somewhat naff arena of death trying to sell the new plastic warhammer heroes.  Finally the back cover has a awesome bit of artwork featuring a lord of change.   Overall an OK if not spectacular issuse.

The theme of this months wargames illustrated is the peninsular war, and it's one of the more dominate themes we've had recently, but thats ok, as I'm interested in the peninsular war.  The theme articles include a peninsular war primer, a ridiculously impressive battle of corunna, the battle of salamanca and the battle of avila.  For flames of war we only get a single article which is a look at the soviet invasion of poland and includes a full list for an infantry company.  The other battles featured are the battles of platea and culloden.  Matt parkes teaches us how to paint again, this time clothing and the final article of note is the winners of the salute painting contest, which includes some rather wonderful models.  Like white dwarf the issuse comes across as OK, but not spectacular.

White Dwarf 391 & Wargames Illustrated 297

The closest delivery ever for my two subscriptions, but Wargames Illustrated still came first, but only by a single day.

White Dwarf is dominated by the new 40k release, so much in fact warhammer fantasy gets a mere two pages and LOTR gets nothing at all.  If you're not interested in 40K don't even think about buying this issuse.  So assuming you like 40K is it any good? Well you start off with the new releases section showing the new book and various new templates/cards/dice you can buy.  Next is what passes for the design notes article, it mentions a few of the changes (like allies, fortifications, flyers and warlords), but doesn't tell you why they changed anything except for a vauge intention to make it more 'cinematic' and narrative driven.  I'm holding off judgement on the new edition till I've played it a bit, and that probaly won't be till the new boxed set comes out.  Next comes my favorite bit, no less than 22 examples of real players 40K armies, theres some inspriational stuff here and I particulary like the Imperial Gaurd army made with added empire parts from fantasy.  There's also a couple of brief battle reports and one of the new painting guides that I'm not keen on for the tau.  The final 40K article is a guide for using the new pyschic powers with existing armies, dull but definatly useful.  And finally Jervis has gone walkies and Jeremy Vetcock steps into standard bearer, it makes a nice change as Jervis seems to have been getting a bit stale of late.  
In conclusion, this is an OK issuse, if they'd have bothered with a proper design  notes article it would have even been good, but alas.

This months theme in Wargames Illustrated is the new flames of war expansion 'devil's charge' about the battle of the bulge in 1944.  The theme only gets two articles, a complicated 3 table scenario for Peipers charge and then a battle report showcasing the scenario.  Its a large game and it'd be a while before my fledgling force could give it a go!  They seemed to have crammed a lot of other stuff into this issuse (maybe it feels that way because of the small theme), two small show reports from salute and adepticon (They sat there will be more from salute next issuse), I've also decided I really need to try and get to salute next year.  Two hobby articles, one on how to paint faces and another on how to photograph miniatures, you never know there might be an improvement in photograpy around here as a result.  Then of course there are the other historical articles this month featuring the battle of falkirk 1746 (carrying on from last months theme), the Illyrian revolt of 6AD, early post independence US-Indian wars, and the Boshin war at the start of Imperial Japan.  And finally a look at the new bolt action 28mm WW2 game from warlord games, which admitedly looks interesting, but I'm trying to ignore it a bit as I might be tempted and I've alredy started collecting WW2 in 15mm, and theres no way I want to start collecing periods in more than one scale.  Quite a good issue all round.

White Dwarf 390 & Wargames Illustrated 296

This months white dwarf is basically all about the new 40K flyers for Space Marines, Orks and Necrons and in particular the Space Marine and ork ones.  Lots and lots of pictures, some painting advice, an interesting looking scenario and of course most importantly the new offical rules for the Stormtalon and the various Ork planes.  I like the look of the new Stormtalon, but I think it's probaly a tad to expensive to be anything but a fun selection.  It's early days though and I might be proved wrong yet.  Also for 40K players there is a bit of history for a campaign involving the white scars, orks and necrons (funny that), oddly no battle report.  And finally a very impressive Blood Angels army is showcased.

The Warhammer fantasy stuff is shoved at the back and isn't much to write home about, a look at the new plastic savage orc boss and goblin shaman (both of which I like, but the orc particulary), a gallery of golden demon winning empire models (although several of which I've seen before) and a look at how to build a reiksguard chapter house out of their scenary range (essentially an advert).

Apart from that theres some more of the new style painting guides that I'm not a fan of and a dull standard bearer.  In the end it all comes down to weather you're going to buy the flyers as to weather this mag is for you.

This months theme in wargames illustrated is the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and we get three good articles on the subject, an overview, a look at 'what ifs' in the invasion of england and finally a look at what was going on back in scotland.  It's not a period thats on my imediate radar, but the 18th century is a period I might go for in the future.

Flames of war next with two articles, one on collecting tank destroyer armies and one on adding camoflague to your tanks, both ok, if not amazing articles.

The other stand out articles for me were a battle report for 'Saga' and a look at napoleons swiss troops.  I keep getting very tempted by saga, as it happens I've been reading some dark age stuff recently, I love the imagery and the low start up costs are soooo tempting, but I'm trying to resist adding yet another game for the time being.

The other big article is an extract from the new 'pike & shotte' game from warlord games, which is from the same stable as 'black powder' and 'hail ceaser'.  The extract looks at a game of the battle of pavia using the new ruleset.  I'm not a fan of copy and pasting straight from books, it's not a bad article, but feels lazy, and if I bought the book as well I don't like having paid for it in two places.

White Dwarf 389 & Wargames Illustrated 295

Turning first to White Dwarf this months theme is the new Necron releases, first we get the new releases section which thankfully isn't as long as last months, they then go over the same stuff again with a small article talking about the new releases and how to use them.  Then 11 pages of how to get certain colours using the new paints.  I'm normally all for painting advice, but there's no techniques here, essentially its just a list if colours which feels a bit lame.  Standard bearer is back, but is also dissapointing with a unispiring ramble about compromise.  Fortunatley there is some good stuff too, firstly 3 pages with lovely drawings describing some of the different knightly orders that use demigryph knights, even though its only three pages this is the standout article for me, more like this please.  More for warhammer next with a new scenario and new spells for storm of magic games and interestingly a selelection olf witch hunter relics and warrior priest prayers.  Then towards the back is a chunky article on a 40k campaign (heavily featuring the new necrons) which includes campaign rules, 3 scenarios, a couple of mini battle reports and two new apocalyse datasheets for the necrons, this is good stuff too and really fits together nicely and providing some solid new rules.  Finally the final installment of a tale of 4 gamers, maybe I just rememeber the origanal too fondly, but this falls a bit flat for me.  Not a bad issuse in the end, there is a good chunk of filler, but at least the good stuff was really good.

This months theme in Wargames Illustrated is the Crimean war.  The crimean war has always been a bit odd for me, in a lot of ways it serves as the bridge between the Napolenic wars and the later colonial conflicts (both periods I collect), but it's never really inspired me.  For the theme we get an overview article, plus looks at the battles of Alma and sevastapol.  Flames of war gets two articles, one on the correct way of using the new American transfer sheets and an article featuring two army lists for 101. Panzerbrigade.  I'm really chuffed by this, I've been looking at building a company around the new plastic soilder company panthers and this list is just what I need.  Matt parkes' painting series continues with a look at paints and colour theory.  Theres a few other bits as well, a look the the new 18th century game maurice, a battle report for the new dark age system age of ravens and a look at the battles of Castagnaro (1387) and Palo Alto (1846).

White Dwarf 388 & Wargames Illustrated 294

Well march has turned out to be a month of contrast, as far as quailty of wargaming magazines goes.....

White Dwarf this month is really bad, with very little real content.  The first 33 pages (around 25% of the magazine) is just the new releases segment with a lot of pics of the new empire models and the new paint range, all of which is basically repeated throughout the rest of the mag.  The next major chunk of the mag introduces the new paint range and provides a lot of useful tips, although its in an odd landscape format that looks as if it's been ripped straight from the new 'how to paint book', still I might be wrong and as I'm not planning on getting the book the painting tips are still useful.  Then we get a very vague bit of empire background and the rules for Karl Franz (from the new army book), this is very disappointing, no design notes again, so I have no idea what changes have been made to the empire army, only what new models I can buy, I can't stress enough how much I miss getting real design notes.  Then the final part of the warhammer civil war supplement.  For 40k we get 3 battle missions for use on death worlds, this is good and useful and probaly the best bit this month.  Then a tiny little space wolves vs tyranids battle report and finally a bit of painting tips for space wolves, also in the new landscape format.  Then finally the next installment of the tale of four gamer for LOTR, but even this has been screwed up, only a couple of pages long.  Also no standard bearer and no hall of fame.  Such a lame issuse, I can't be bothered to go find out when there was last a worst issuse, but I recon it was a while ago.

You also get this free poster, which is rather dull and I'm not going to put up, still its free I suppose.

Thankfully I really like this months issuse of wargames illustrated.  This months theme is the new 'blood, guts & glory' book for flames of war, but it only gets a couple of articles (a guide to some gamers tank armies and a battle report) and doesn't much feel like a theme at all.  For napoleonic era fans there's a guide to skirmishing in1790's egypt and an article on the war of 1812. An interesting 'great warriors' article on the teutonic knights, to coincide with the release of fireforge games new plastic knights (this is how to promote new products and write a good article at the same time, please pay attention WD).  The other stand out articles for me were a guide to French Zouaves 1830-1860 and the first in a 3 part series on the rise of Imperial Japan and the fall of the Samurai.  There is also a fascinating 'hobby talk' article on using the space hulk ruleset to represent WWI trench raiding, something I can't wait to try out, just need to get me a trench system to go with my WWI figures.  The final thing of note was the start of a painting and modelling series by matt parkes which shows a lot of potential.  A lot of good quailty stuff here that coincides with my periods of interest.  Certainly a win in my book.

White Dwarf 387 & Wargames Illustrated 293

My monthly look at the two wargaming magazines I subscribe too, lets see what march has to offer.....

As always we'll start with white dwarf, this months mag is dominated by 40k, focusing on the new tyranid and space wolf releases.  Yet again no real design notes which is a shame and we get the rules for the tervigon and tyrannofex taken straight from the codex (something I'm not a fan of, if I play 'nids I'll have the book and if I don't it's not much use to me, also it just seems lazy to reprint something rather than bother to recreate new material).  There is a tervigon painting guide that's pretty good though.  The single warhammer article is the conclusion of the civil war expansion, which is useful, but I'd have liked a bit more for the system.  Lord of the Rings inevitably also continues its comeback, with a mini battle report (and another scenario reprinted form one of the new sourcebooks) amd the start of a new 'tale of four gamers' series, a series I've liked from the beginning (which was a loooong time ago now) and I'm glad to see it return.  The mag is topped up by a rather poor standard bearer, a new induction into the hall of fame and a fantasic showcase of last years slayer sowrd winners from around the world.  So in the end a few good bits, but quite a lot of what feels like filler too.

This months theme in wargames illustrated is 'giant wargames', which is three articles showcasing well giant wargames of dettingen, a roman wargame in germania and chancellorsvillie.  The articles are ok, but its very loose as a theme.  Other articles include german armoured tarins for flames of war, the french foreign legion in sub saharan africa, haiti's war of independence, a great warriors feature on the hussites and a small article on playing napoleonic skirmish games.  A average issuse all round, it's not bad as such, just doesn't grab you.

I'm hoping next month brings a bit more excitement.

White Dwarf 386 & Wargames Illustrated 292

Febuary's Gaming Magazines have arrived, so lets have a looky...

White dwarf's main theme this month was a suprise (to me anyway) return to the Lord of the Rings strategy game, for which they've released a bunch of new models (mainly expensive looking and in finecast) and a bunch of new army books.  I have bunch of Lord of the Rings figures but have only ever played the game once, and will almost certainly get some of the models when the Hobbit range comes out, the coverage however was really a bit naff, and felt like a giant sales pitch rather than any real content.  The rest of the mag however isn't too bad.  For warhammer we get the second part of the civil war rules, the rules for the new deathknell watchtower, a new scenario using said watchtower (although you could any watchtower and play it), and a couple of players vampire counts armies featured, all good stuff.

You have to turn and flip your mag over to get the warhammer 40,000 25 years celebration stuff at the back, which includes a suprislingly interesting article on the origins of 40k and a battle report.  Also featured is the 25th anniversay collectors model based on the origanal rouge trader cover.  Very nice it is too, unfortunately its in finecast and costs £20 for what is essentially one space marine, I'm going to have to think very carefully about this.  As usual we get standard bearer as well, which this month is an odd ramble about tape measures and templates! 

This months Wargames Illustrated has the theme of 'darkest africa', a period I have a good deal of interest in, so prehaps inevitably I like this issue quite a lot.  The theme articles include a general overview and then three battle reports using different rules and showcasing the variety of forces avaliable to feild in this setting, with a lot of focus on the natives rather than just the colonial troops.  The other article that I suspect will raise a lot of peoples interest is the (breif) design notes on the new flames of war third edition.  Having only played a couple of intro games of flames of war second edition I'm not really in a posistion of pass any kind of judgement on these.  We also get articles on wargaming the battles of Ligny and Sedgemoor and a Fall In! 2011 show report.  Not a bad issue all round.

For those interested in darkest africa it's also worth taking note that wargames illustrated have put a few articles from older issues up for free PDF download on their site.

White Dwarf 385 & WarGames Illustrated 291

January's periodicals are finally in, with White Dwarf delaying this post by not being released until jan 7th due to the festive season, its not a decision I'm happy with and wargames illustrated managed to turn up before christmas, but still, does it contain anything good this month...

This months major release is the new Vampire Counts warhammer armies book and the models that accompany it, and inevitably this dominates the magazine.  There are several extracts from the new book, including background and the rules for the big new plastic kit, it's not bad, but strikes me as being very lazy, and I'm very disappointed that there's no proper design notes, having read the articles I have no real idea about any changes to the army compared to the previous edition.  It's not all bad, the eavy metal showcase had some intrestingly painted models and there is also a new scenario and an updated scroll of binding for storm of magic.  We also get part one of a new civil war warhammer expansion, which looks interesting and a couple of painting guides.  40k gets one article which is a Necron tactica, not really much use to me as I don't play with or against Necrons.  And finally standard bearer and the citadel hall of fame provide interesting articles as usual.  Not the best issuse.

The theme of this months wargames illustrated is the early battles of the american revolution.  It's not a period I'm likely to game, but there were a couple of interesting articles, a useful guide to painting the uniforms of the period and I really liked the period maps of New England that were featured.  The other standout articles for me were on the Mexican generals of the American-Mexico war and the first Anglo-Sikh war.  Whilst again its something I'm not likely to use the mag also features an article on using Kelly's heroes in games.  Not as bad as White Dwarf, but not the best issuse here either, maybe its the time of year.

White Dwarf 384 & Wargames Illustrated 290

My latest thoughts on this months gaming literature, these posts seemt to be quite popular so these mini ramblings are probaly going to become a regular feature.

As usual I'll start with White Dwarf, it comes with an extra little dreadfleet booklet, which when I first saw it I was quite excited about, then I read it, and unfortunately its just a big advert (they must have a load left to shift), still at least it wasn't taking up space in the main mag.  The actual Mag is a good one again (this is almost starting to become a habit), it contains real rules for both warhammer (new scrolls of binding for the new fancy monster kits) and for 40K (apocalypse datasheets and 4 scenarios for a Necron vs black templars mini campiagn).  There are also a couple of painting articles, a couple of model showcases (I always like seeing other models in a unique style) and the obligatory battle report.  It's a good read and the best issue in a while.

Now moving on to Wargames Illustrated, this months theme is eastern front WW2 in 1944, and is tied into the new flames of war releases, it's not the best theme, but doesn't dominate the mag, and there are some really good other articles in there.  For me the highlights were the article on the Comanche Indians and the article on the Austro-Prussian war of 1866.  The other interesting part was the start of a new series called 'tabletop musings' which seems to be in the model of white dwarfs 'standard bearer', this time features some thoughts on the use of cover in games, I like little articles like this and have high hopes for this series.  The mag also features a report on the colours 2011 show and articles on the battle of syracuse, the battle of pavia and some ACW ironclad action.

White Dwarf 383 & Wargames Illustrated 289

I have two wargaming magazines on subscription, White Dwarf and Wargames Illustrated, both feature different aspects of my wargaming world.  White Dwarf is of course Games Workshops inhouse magazine and only features articles and models for GW's systems.  Wargames Illustrated is a historical wargames mag and rarely has any fantasy or sci-fi content, but covres a range of manufacturers and systems. 

The two mags come at very different times as well, Wargames Illustrated comes to me earlier than release date (around the 21st of the month) and White Dwarf shows up around 2 weeks later when we are into the next month.  I don't actually mind this as it means I'm never more than 2 and a half weeks away from a new gaming fix.

This month we have the Necron issue to conincide with the new Necron codex.  For the necrons you get a breif history, design notes, painting ideas and a battle report.  All expected and fine, I've never been massivly interested in Necrons, but I can't really fault them for covering the big release of the month.  We also get a couple of tactics articles (one for warhammer ogres and one for the lord of the rings strategy game), a featured sisters of battle army (including a nice organization diagram for the orders).  The other two interesting articles are the short regulars standard bearer and citadel hall of fame, two of my favorite series actually.  It's all ok, but half the mag is taken up with the Necrons which I'm a bit meh over, still if you like necrons I'm sure you'll be happy.

Wargames Ilustrated also themes its monthly output.  This months theme is the pelopolnesian war, and there are 4 articles on it, a basic history overview, a land battle, a sea battle and a look at the warriors of sparta.  Amongst others you also get a good flames of war article, a look at last argument of kings (the new supplement for black powder) and an interesting article on the Cape Helles part of the gallipoli campaign.  One problem with wargames illustrated is that it's very broad outlook keeps tempting me to start new periods.  The mag is full of pretty pictures of models as you would expect and I actually learn real history every month.

So which is better? I definately come down on the side of wargames illustrated, both magazines are the same size but WI just has a lot more content and takes a lot longer to read and is generally more interesting.  This isn't to say WD doesn't have its moments, and there has been a definate improvement of late, but it still feels light in comparison.