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Updated photos:


















We''ve downloaded and been looking at the new Marines Tactical Marines painting guide for the iBook - which is free. Apologies if this has been posted already, but I've only seen threads about bad things, like the fact you don't have French titles on the Marines boxes any more.

Note: the free offer is for one month, so will run out around 30 September.

It's pretty much exactly the same as existing Citadel iBook guides, like the Ork one we have already - but it's bigger, around 72 pages. The ibook format works really well, as you get a step by step guide, and can click on each stage to blow up the photo. As mentioned below, there's apparently a bigger 200 page book for £17.99, I don't know how much overlap there is between the two.

format follows the current White Dwarf style pretty closely, as you can see. Obviously some people here will regard this as a noddy guide- but the results, let's face it, are better than most of the armies most of us get to face.

This is much better than anything we had online before, in terms of production values. Personally, I'd like to see more of these, I wouldn't mind paying £1.99 or so if it helps cover costs and get us more choice. From memory, the Ork Evil Sunz one was £2.99 but was only around 30 pages. Obviously, this reflects the new base/wash/highlight painting approach, rather than the more painstakig 'eavy metal specials from the old White Dwarfs.

Scroll down later, and you'll see a review by Curtis, the player in the family who has, fwiw, just won the young bloods painting trophy.









It's here. If you're a GW cynic, grab it now before the price doubles!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/games-workshop/id536481148?mt=11

72 pages, sure. But the content of 10 pages could've been put on a single page in like a codex or the white dwarf.

Are there any videos? Because in the 21th century, video guides are a major factor if you ask me. Like buypainted.com or awesomepaintjob make guides which are easy to follow AND ARE FREE.

RoninXiC wrote:
72 pages, sure. But the content of 10 pages could've been put on a single page in like a codex or the white dwarf.

So... they gave it away for free instead of putting it in a Codex or White Dwarf, that you have to pay for? Evil GW!

Re videos, if that turns you on, sure, I find them too time-consuming.

A pleasant surprise for once from GW. I always thought that it was in their best interest to supply painting guides for free, it points you in the direction of paints to buy, can inspire you to paint a scheme or start an entirely new collection. Meanwhile, it costs them very little to distribute digitally.

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:


Apologies if this has been posted already, but I've only seen threads about bad things, like the fact you don't have French titles on the Marines boxes any more.

Someone obviously reminded GW that Space Marines know no fear. Actually I'm suprised, shocked even, that a British company would forget this.

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:

RoninXiC wrote:
72 pages, sure. But the content of 10 pages could've been put on a single page in like a codex or the white dwarf.

So... they gave it away for free instead of putting it in a Codex or White Dwarf, that you have to pay for? Evil GW!

Re videos, if that turns you on, sure, I find them too time-consuming.

Hyperbolic dross, as usual.

Also nonsense, also as usual.

Which is better: pay £5 for a magazine, or pay £300 for an iPad?

Even assuming you already own an iPad, which is better; free stuff you can only access on your iPad, or free stuff everyone can access on any device with 'net access?

Because that's what we're talking about here, White Knights demanding that we drop to our knees and slobber all over Kirby's boots(I must admit, hyperbole is quite fun) because they're doing something they used to do, only in a single instance, for a single army, and in a much more limited way.

When GW reinstate the masses of fantastic web content they used to have online for a grand cost of zilch; the conversion and painting guides, the army showcases, the rules from old out-of-print White Dwarfs, I will happily give them the praise they would deserve, not before.

 Yodhrin wrote:


Hyperbolic dross, as usual.

Also nonsense, also as usual.

, White Knights demanding that we drop to our knees and slobber all over Kirby's boots.....

always good to have a rational, well-thought out response to news. Thanks for enlightening me, I didn't realise GW owned Apple.

(Posted from my iPad.)

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:
We''ve downloaded and been looking at the new Marines iBook painting guide - which is free.

Are you sure? I know they have a preview for free but a whole guide? My iTunes is showing a price of $21.99. Or are you talking about something else?

EDIT: Okay now. I see what the difference is. The "Tactical Marines" guide is apparently just a small section of the larger product they have for sale. Still, it is free so why not get it?

 Yodhrin wrote:
Which is better: pay £5 for a magazine, or pay £300 for an iPad?

You use words like hyperbole and nonsense then put forth a false premise (people buy iPads because GW sells stuff on iTunes)? I thought we dealt with this waaaaay back when they first started releasing their iBooks. Here are two generalizations about iPads and GW's iBooks...

1: People who play 40k/Fantasy do not buy iPads just because GW sells stuff on iTunes. You may know someone who has but I do not, nor have I seen any claim of a person buying an iPad just to get iTunes content.

2: People who already have iPads and play 40k/Fantasy buy from iTunes rather than print medium. I do this. I personally know of others who also do this. Yes, it does not apply to everyone who plays 40k/Fantasy and has an iPad. But it probably should.

Now, can we please stop regurgitating the same old false dichotomy about the eBooks?

 Yodhrin wrote:
Because that's what we're talking about here, White Knights demanding that we drop to our knees and slobber all over Kirby's boots(I must admit, hyperbole is quite fun) because they're doing something they used to do, only in a single instance, for a single army, and in a much more limited way.

Wait. I thought we were talking about the price of a painting guide.

 Yodhrin wrote:
When GW reinstate the masses of fantastic web content they used to have online for a grand cost of zilch; the conversion and painting guides, the army showcases, the rules from old out-of-print White Dwarfs, I will happily give them the praise they would deserve, not before.

Well, someone get this to Kirby right away. GW not getting praise from Yohdrin? Perish the thought.

What exactly are you complaining about...? That the tactical painting guide is free?

The 'how to paint space marines' is £17.99 and it's 204 pages, the Dark Vengeance one is 50 pages and £7.99, Lizardmen is £9.99 for 117 pages.

The better idea would be to have Black Templars, Salamander etc specific guides, with the successor chapters of each of those within each book (ok, salamanders was a bad choice)

I just don't see the point you're trying to make, like if GW doubled the £0.00 price it'd still be £0.00?

 stubacca wrote:
What exactly are you complaining about...? That the tactical painting guide is free?

The 'how to paint space marines' is £17.99 and it's 204 pages...

The better idea would be to have Black Templars, Salamander etc specific guides, with the successor chapters of each of those within each book (ok, salamanders was a bad choice)

I just don't see the point you're trying to make, like if GW doubled the £0.00 price it'd still be £0.00?

To clarify the free guide is 72 pages, seems to cover Black Templars, Salamander etc etc etc. No idea how it compares with the £17.99 book. It's more than enough for us, as we only model dead marines on our 'nid and Ork bases.

YEs, I agree £17.99 is expensive. I still reckon £0.00 is cheap.

Really, if you have an iPad, it's far handier than online guides, altho you need to try it to understand. As for people moaning about iPads... well, moaning is fun I guess.

 stubacca wrote:
What exactly are you complaining about...? That the tactical painting guide is free?

The 'how to paint space marines' is £17.99 and it's 204 pages, the Dark Vengeance one is 50 pages and £7.99, Lizardmen is £9.99 for 117 pages.

The better idea would be to have Black Templars, Salamander etc specific guides, with the successor chapters of each of those within each book (ok, salamanders was a bad choice)

I just don't see the point you're trying to make, like if GW doubled the £0.00 price it'd still be £0.00?

There is misunderstanding and then there is MISUNDERSTANDING.... He's saying it's a good thing.

When I saw the "free" on the how to paint a tac marine, I assumed it was just going to be the prime/basecoat/golden deamon deal for a snap fit Ultramarine.

I was wrong.

It breaks down different parts, covers a number of chapters, includes paints and steps needed, and is in general a solid product. It is very defiantly a sampler, introductory level product though.

Because it's free, I can say I got my money's worth. But I don't begrudge the time I spent downloading and flipping through it. It might not be the best, fullest, painting guide out there, but for free, it's a helpful start.

 Nevelon wrote:
When I saw the "free" on the how to paint a tac marine, I assumed it was just going to be the prime/basecoat/golden deamon deal for a snap fit Ultramarine.

I was wrong.

It breaks down different parts, covers a number of chapters, includes paints and steps needed, and is in general a solid product. It is very defiantly a sampler, introductory level product though.

Because it's free, I can say I got my money's worth. But I don't begrudge the time I spent downloading and flipping through it. It might not be the best, fullest, painting guide out there, but for free, it's a helpful start.

So in your opinion is it worthy to ask an iPad user to borrow said iPad and page through it? I did that with the Tau Alter of War and was disappointed.

 R3YNO wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
When I saw the "free" on the how to paint a tac marine, I assumed it was just going to be the prime/basecoat/golden deamon deal for a snap fit Ultramarine.

I was wrong.

It breaks down different parts, covers a number of chapters, includes paints and steps needed, and is in general a solid product. It is very defiantly a sampler, introductory level product though.

Because it's free, I can say I got my money's worth. But I don't begrudge the time I spent downloading and flipping through it. It might not be the best, fullest, painting guide out there, but for free, it's a helpful start.

So in your opinion is it worthy to ask an iPad user to borrow said iPad and page through it? I did that with the Tau Alter of War and was disappointed.

If you've ever painted a Space Marine, probably not.

I bought the daemons one a while back, because I wanted to see the colours/techniques used on a couple of studio models.

This isn't that sophisticated, it is just, in essence, what basecoat, wash and highlight to use for various chapters. Nothing to grumble about, as its free, but it won't tell you anything new.

It's a terrible painting guide though. Works alright as a colour guide, but it doesn't actually tell you anything about technique at all. And the decal work is atrocious.

 Yodhrin wrote:


Which is better: pay £5 for a magazine, or pay £300 for an iPad?

You can read ebooks in the iTunes format (ePub, I believe?) on laptops and desktop pcs, too. Using free to download programs. I fail to see where the £300 for an iPad is required.

 Breotan wrote:

Hivefleet Oblivion wrote:
We''ve downloaded and been looking at the new Marines iBook painting guide - which is free.

Are you sure? I know they have a preview for free but a whole guide? My iTunes is showing a price of $21.99. Or are you talking about something else?

EDIT: Okay now. I see what the difference is. The "Tactical Marines" guide is apparently just a small section of the larger product they have for sale. Still, it is free so why not get it?

 Yodhrin wrote:
Which is better: pay £5 for a magazine, or pay £300 for an iPad?

You use words like hyperbole and nonsense then put forth a false premise (people buy iPads because GW sells stuff on iTunes)? I thought we dealt with this waaaaay back when they first started releasing their iBooks. Here are two generalizations about iPads and GW's iBooks...

1: People who play 40k/Fantasy do not buy iPads just because GW sells stuff on iTunes. You may know someone who has but I do not, nor have I seen any claim of a person buying an iPad just to get iTunes content.

2: People who already have iPads and play 40k/Fantasy buy from iTunes rather than print medium. I do this. I personally know of others who also do this. Yes, it does not apply to everyone who plays 40k/Fantasy and has an iPad. But it probably should.

Now, can we please stop regurgitating the same old false dichotomy about the eBooks?

 Yodhrin wrote:
Because that's what we're talking about here, White Knights demanding that we drop to our knees and slobber all over Kirby's boots(I must admit, hyperbole is quite fun) because they're doing something they used to do, only in a single instance, for a single army, and in a much more limited way.

Wait. I thought we were talking about the price of a painting guide.

 Yodhrin wrote:
When GW reinstate the masses of fantastic web content they used to have online for a grand cost of zilch; the conversion and painting guides, the army showcases, the rules from old out-of-print White Dwarfs, I will happily give them the praise they would deserve, not before.

Well, someone get this to Kirby right away. GW not getting praise from Yohdrin? Perish the thought.

Oh pull the stick out of your backsides the both of you. Perish the thought that anyone should challenge the White Knight Brigade's usual preemptive attempt to tar anyone who doesn't hail GW's latest token gesture as the most wondrous thing in the history of things as a "hater"(and I would have thought the "hyperbole is fun" comment would have clued you in to the fact I was taking the piss out of Hivefleet's usual opening move of mischaracterising anything other than blind praise as embittered old Rogue Trader-era neckbeards claiming GW are "evil", but whatever).

I notice as well that neither of you managed to address the actual point I raised, which being that GW used to provide content superior to this, for free, in far greater quantities, and on a more open platform(ie, "the internet").

EDIT: Malus, iBook content can only be read on an iPad, you can't even open it on other Apple devices.

It is free because it doesn't have the painting guide to the greatest of chapters, the Crimson Fists. Without that, it is worthless.

i would like to thank this thread for givinng me an excuse to add yodhrin to my ignore list

do you think we'll see this on android eventually? Is there anything in its implementation that would make it ios exclusive?

 Yodhrin wrote:
I notice as well that neither of you managed to address the actual point I raised...

Because your point is irrelevant.

 Yodhrin wrote:
[Because that's what we're talking about here, White Knights demanding that we drop to our knees and slobber all over Kirby's boots(I must admit, hyperbole is quite fun) because they're doing something they used to do, only in a single instance, for a single army, and in a much more limited way.... When GW reinstate the masses of fantastic web content they used to have online for a grand cost of zilch; the conversion and painting guides, the army showcases, the rules from old out-of-print White Dwarfs, I will happily give them the praise they would deserve, not before

Oh pull the stick out of your backsides the both of you. Perish the thought that anyone should challenge the White Knight Brigade's usual preemptive attempt to tar anyone who doesn't hail GW's latest token gesture as the most wondrous thing in the history of things as a "hater"(and I would have thought the "hyperbole is fun" comment would have clued you in to the fact I was taking the piss out of Hivefleet's usual opening move of mischaracterising anything other than blind praise as embittered old Rogue Trader-era neckbeards claiming GW are "evil", but whatever).

I notice as well that neither of you managed to address the actual point I raised, which being that GW used to provide content superior to this, for free, in far greater quantities, and on a more open platform(ie, "the internet").

EDIT: Malus, iBook content can only be read on an iPad, you can't even open it on other Apple devices.

Simple news post attracts accusation of "white knight?" Check!
Self-victimisation as "neckbeard"? Check!
Outrage at being called a "hater", even though it's only in your imagination? Check!
Bringing every post round to a mention of Tim Kirby? Check!
Natural assumption that anything new-fangled is inferior to the Good Old Days? Check!
Mention of backsides, general insults in pre-emptive retaliation for being called a neckbeard, hater, and other imagined terms? Check!

Well done Yodrhin, I don't think there was a superfluous line in that whole post, you managed to get every one of the requisite clichés in. Well nearly. You forgot the conclusive statistic that you read somewhere on the interwebz. Please try harder next time.

winterdyne wrote:
It's a terrible painting guide though. Works alright as a colour guide, but it doesn't actually tell you anything about technique at all. And the decal work is atrocious.

Lol, as I learned how to do decals properly from your guide, and constantly get asked if I freehanded them, so thanks , the thought of your likely reaction to all the silvering did cross my mind.

Does look like these guides are becoming more about achievable and less about aspirational though.

Mod hat on--please keep the discussion objective and less personal. Consider it a warning for all involved.


Mod hat off--I gave it a skim--it's ok for a color guide, not a great deal more (I suppose why it's free). Did make me reminiscence for the old GW site though..

Per-orders are up for the How to paint space marines for $21.99. I guess the free one is just for tactical marines the other one is for all marines. Also saw he how to paint sternguard was either 2.99 or 4.99, can't be bothered to look again

 Theophony wrote:
Per-orders are up for the How to paint space marines for $21.99. I guess the free one is just for tactical marines the other one is for all marines. Also saw he how to paint sternguard was either 2.99 or 4.99, can't be bothered to look again

That's really bizarre since honestly, Marines are generally painted the same way throughout the entire army. It's not like the concepts to paint a Tactical Marine are that different from painting a Devastator Marine, aside from putting a different kind of squad marking on his shoulderpad or what have you.

 azreal13 wrote:

winterdyne wrote:
It's a terrible painting guide though. Works alright as a colour guide, but it doesn't actually tell you anything about technique at all. And the decal work is atrocious.

Lol, as I learned how to do decals properly from your guide, and constantly get asked if I freehanded them, so thanks , the thought of your likely reaction to all the silvering did cross my mind.

Does look like these guides are becoming more about achievable and less about aspirational though.

Heh... it's achievable to produce art by stuffing your mouth full of as many wax crayons as will fit and mashing your face against the paper...

Hyperbolic ridicule aside, I found it unfathomable why they'd do nice, (soooo smoooooth) crisp paintwork, beautiful edge highlights and bork it up by simply not doing the decals with a coat of gloss under them. Could it be (whisper it) because they don't trust their own varnish?

I noticed that the How to Paint Ultramarines is no longer available. I'm curious what happens for those of us who bought it... If we delete it will we be able to re-download it or did GW just exercise the EULA (end user license agreement) where they can effectively nullify your digital purchase?

Brother SRM wrote:

 Theophony wrote:
Per-orders are up for the How to paint space marines for $21.99. I guess the free one is just for tactical marines the other one is for all marines. Also saw he how to paint sternguard was either 2.99 or 4.99, can't be bothered to look again

That's really bizarre since honestly, Marines are generally painted the same way throughout the entire army. It's not like the concepts to paint a Tactical Marine are that different from painting a Devastator Marine, aside from putting a different kind of squad marking on his shoulderpad or what have you.

They actually do go into a lot of detail, for instance, there are two ways shown of doing plasma coils in just the freebie.

Factor in all the stuff like laurels, honour badges, robes etc, I have no issue seeing how it could get to a fairly sizeable length. Especially if they retread some stuff in different colour for different chapters.

It is all totally irrelevant if you've been painting for more than 5 minutes, but I can see how someone with very little experience could get to a reasonable level fairly quickly by using it.

winterdyne wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:

winterdyne wrote:
It's a terrible painting guide though. Works alright as a colour guide, but it doesn't actually tell you anything about technique at all. And the decal work is atrocious.

Lol, as I learned how to do decals properly from your guide, and constantly get asked if I freehanded them, so thanks , the thought of your likely reaction to all the silvering did cross my mind.

Does look like these guides are becoming more about achievable and less about aspirational though.

Heh... it's achievable to produce art by stuffing your mouth full of as many wax crayons as will fit and mashing your face against the paper...

Hyperbolic ridicule aside, I found it unfathomable why they'd do nice, (soooo smoooooth) crisp paintwork, beautiful edge highlights and bork it up by simply not doing the decals with a coat of gloss under them. Could it be (whisper it) because they don't trust their own varnish?

You don't seriously believe the studio use their own gak do you?!

 azreal13 wrote:


Does look like these guides are becoming more about achievable and less about aspirational though.

I agree. They're a good thing, amd will help a lot of people get a good looking army without too much effort (which, if you see the threads about plahying painted vs non painted armies, has to be a good thing). But it's a real shame they're not complementing this with higher-end work.

WE have the White Dwarf which shows how to paint the AOBR warboss, with several customised versions in the same issue. It's stunning. The so-called "customised" examples in this months' WD are merely marines with bits from other kits glued on. In WD in particular, there's a whole level of participation that has completely disappeared. Must be boring for some of the team there.

Why not just post the news without the heavy dose of sarcasm?

It's like.. the whole purpose of this thread is to troll.