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moved from another thread

Impossiblist1904 wrote:
2020 just keeps on giving doesn’t it?
“Dear Subscriber,



Over the last few months, with much of the world on some form of lockdown due to Covid-19, and people looking for safe socially distanced ways to get things, we've seen a surge in readers signing up for White Dwarf subscriptions.



As always with White Dwarf, we print more copies than we think we’ll need for subscribers – to cover any increase – and usually, we have plenty of copies for everyone.



This time, however, for issue 455, the number of new subscriptions has exceeded our ability to supply everyone right away. Your copy is one of the ones that will be delayed. We’re sorry about this but want to reassure you, it’s only a temporary setback.



Right now, we’re printing enough to make sure absolutely everyone who has subscribed gets their copy, although the delay could be up to two weeks.



If you have not received your magazine by the 15th of September, get in touch with our customer service team who will be ready and willing to help.



As always, thanks for your continued support – we hope that you enjoy the issue.



Thanks,

The White Dwarf Team”

 Sacredroach wrote:
I got the same email...this is after not being shipped the 2nd to the last issue and GW had to send me a non-subscriber issue of WD to make up for it...

1st world problems, but still...

That's a bummer for subscribers. Doesn't bode well for me being able to get a copy this week.

Maybe if they weren't printing two versions of every issue this wouldn't be such a problem.

I cancelled my subscription last year since mine always came a week after it was available at my FLGS. Any savings from the sub will be recouped by not buying the issues that don't have things I'm interested in.

Could offer everyone with a sub the electronic version as a get you by till their copy comes?
I’m sure people could ‘procure’ an e-copy online anyway themselves, but it would be nice for GW to offer (and actually I think pirating seems to have disappeared for a lot of GW stuff. Maybe they are cracking down on it, certain people always used to mention getting ahold of things on the sly. But I’ve not heard of any 9th rules or anything. So maybe they’ve really gotten into prevention etc)

people still pay for GW's ads?

 Stormonu wrote:
people still pay for GW's ads?

White Dwarf actually has gotten pretty good since they last revised it, there's fiction and all sorts of good stuff.

BrianDavion wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
people still pay for GW's ads?

White Dwarf actually has gotten pretty good since they last revised it, there's fiction and all sorts of good stuff.

Yep, new version is reasonably good, with actual long written articles rather than just lots of pictures with captions and they've pretty much dropped all the stuff that could be called ads. Obviously you could say the whole thing is an ad in some way, but pretty much all the pictures of models etc. are shown as part of an article, not just pages of pictures of models, doesn't even have the "New releases" pages anymore. Even has some articles on scratch building scenery and sometimes mentions non GW products!

In fact I'd say it's about the best it's been (and I've been reading it since around issue 100), from a personal point of view I would like to see even more detailed build articles and less battle reports, but I know that they are actually quite popular.

Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve been a subscriber since, erm.....2010 I think. And not once has my annual direct debit gone up, despite WD increasing in price. Still £50 per year, compared to a cover price of...£5.99 per issue (£72 a year), and sub of £60.00

 Lord Damocles wrote:
Maybe if they weren't printing two versions of every issue this wouldn't be such a problem.

Wait...what? There are different versions of WD for subscribers and non-subscribers? Why? What's the difference between them?

Only the cover. Content is otherwise identical.

Did anyone notice the different feel to this month's issue? Cover felt different, and I think the size may be a little smaller overall. I assume different printers due to COVID stuff.

I can understand people's irritation at not getting their copy early but in fairness this just sounds like a one off.
Bizarrely this has mad me think I should probably subscribe considering I buy it every month.
@Mad Doc, I wonder if you're sub price is due to loyalty or an oversight on their part. Either way good for you.

 redbristles wrote:
Did anyone notice the different feel to this month's issue? Cover felt different, and I think the size may be a little smaller overall. I assume different printers due to COVID stuff.

I noticed the different cover yeah. Had a rough/textured feel.

Yes, cover has a rougher, more textured feel, but the size is the same as previous issues.

Cover also feels a bit thicker and slightly waterproof; gamer ready?!

It's an odd one, I checked the printing company involved and its the same one as the previous issue, so that can't be it. Could be a general change going forward.

What?! Hath Hell frozen over? A White Dwarf magazine actually worth reading? What is this madness?

The last time I bought a copy was when there was a SM Plastic terminator model included with the mag, got into a painting competition by getting it, and at that time the magazine was utter rubbish compared to the state the mag was in the 90's.. So you're saying the White Dwarf of the 90's has silently returned?!

Time to peruse some issue samples on iBooks just to see for myself I guess.

As always, YMMV as to the quality of the contents. It's had its ups and downs, I've personally resubbed after the latest reboot as some of the articles on world building and whatnot are most excellent in my eyes, but there has been a long stretch where it was anything but stellar or worth pursuing. But again, YMMV.

What bemuses me is that, at least the 2nd person in the first post, seems to be an existing subscriber.

Surely this sort of "apology" email should be getting sent to new subscribers.

"Welcome to WD, soz but you are one of too many new subscribers, you need to wait longer, or click here to get a non-subscriber issue with all the printed crap on the cover"

Fictional wrote:
What bemuses me is that, at least the 2nd person in the first post, seems to be an existing subscriber.

Surely this sort of "apology" email should be getting sent to new subscribers.

"Welcome to WD, soz but you are one of too many new subscribers, you need to wait longer, or click here to get a non-subscriber issue with all the printed crap on the cover"

Yep, I am an existing subscriber and have most of the printed issues since #77 (1982-ish or so). The cover was only a minor irritation, as I was more interested in not getting back-to-back issues again.

I do not recognise the descriptions of 'good' White Dwarf appearing in this thread.

That we have fallen so far is saddening.

I can't really argue with that, but I mostly enjoy reading the painting techniques, seeing the models from others, and the occasional article on AT.

 Lord Damocles wrote:
I do not recognise the descriptions of 'good' White Dwarf appearing in this thread.

That we have fallen so far is saddening.

I tried to evaluate this for myself by perusing the magazine samples on iBooks, but GW is clever — all the sample pages only contain pics of minis sent by other readers, so I'm not getting any idea what the quality of the WD's own content is. Not really a proper sample for evaluating publication quality, which tells me something by itself already. Doubt I'm missing that much.

Having said that, some of the conversions and paintjobs the readers have done are outright stunning!

 tauist wrote:

 Lord Damocles wrote:
I do not recognise the descriptions of 'good' White Dwarf appearing in this thread.

That we have fallen so far is saddening.

I tried to evaluate this for myself by perusing the magazine samples on iBooks, but GW is clever — all the sample pages only contain pics of minis sent by other readers, so I'm not getting any idea what the quality of the WD's own content is. Not really a proper sample for evaluating publication quality, which tells me something by itself already. Doubt I'm missing that much.

Having said that, some of the conversions and paintjobs the readers have done are outright stunning!

The last issue I bothered to write anything about was 450 - it wasn't good.


Reader-submitted painting/modelling material is garbage-tier content - it's available in effectively unlimited quantity for free online. It has no place in White Dwarf while so much else is sorely lacking.

I think the quality has really improved over last few years and has lots more game content then the ad version.

Brief breakdown of this months issue -
6 pages of reader conversions / paint jobs
4 page article on the Warhammer setting from a writing perspective
14 pages on a sub faction for squig riding goblins including background, new rules and painting guide.
4 pages on using terrain in narrative ways in Warcry.
10 page Deathscape campaign setting for Age of Sigmar with background and rules.
10 pages of battle report for Warcry which includes section on painting trees to look like cherry leaves.
4 page article with 40K rule writer.
4 page story about Sisters and Astra Militarium vs Necrons.
8 pages showcasing a Sons of Horus army for Horus Heresy includes very basic painting guide.
8 pages on pariah nexus lore.
6 pages on the custom White Dwarf space marine chapter including lore and conversion guide
16 pages on converting / painting Tzeentch miniatures (or other factions in there colour scheme) for 40K and Sigmar. Includes painting and basing guides.
20 page battle report for AT.
4 pages showcasing a display board for Middle-earth including design tips and colour scheme guides.
2 pages on how to convert goblin town terrain into Gothmogs boats for middle-earth.
14 pages of sister of battle novela (part 9 of 12)
3 pages of photos from inside the studio.

Not all will be of interest to all people but it’s entirely proper articles now and not adverts.

(Apologies for any mistypes, typing on phone with magazine in front of me)

Quasistellar wrote:
I cancelled my subscription last year since mine always came a week after it was available at my FLGS. Any savings from the sub will be recouped by not buying the issues that don't have things I'm interested in.

I ended my subscription a few years back for this very reason. Sometimes I would call and get a replacement issue before my actual issue showed up. Allowing a print company to
handle business in your name, you would think they would keep better tabs on their actions.

Ah, I wondered where my copy had gotten to. Not that I've had that email either :/

I still wish they'd sell me a digital subscription tbh.

The amount of content has gotten so "bad"* in recent years that I need to make my own index so I can remember where scenarios, campaigns, and new rules are.

While I love the rules and scenarios and such, honestly, my favorite articles are the monthly articles from Jervis Johnson (and others like Robin Cruddace) about game design. They are endlessly fascinating.

*bad, as in, so much good content