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Should I take out a subscription to White Dwarf?
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Made in us
Ancient Ultramarine Venerable Dreadnought






Illinois

I want to take a subscription, but I want Dakka's input first. What do you think?


INSANE army lists still available!!!! Now being written in 8th edition format! I have Index Imperium 1, Index Imperium 2, Index Xenos 2, Codex Orks Codex Tyranids, Codex Blood Angels and Codex Space Marines!
PM me for an INSANE (100K+ points) if you desire.
 
   
Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

If you want to then do it.

Too many people willing to poopoo anything just because it's by GW. As I say if you think it's worth it then off you go.

I actually found the the the last two to be very good.

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in us
Huge Hierodule




United States

As long as you're okay with the fact that the majority of the magazine is just an advertisement for their products, then, yeah, go for it. Articles with any informative value are few and far between in this iteration of White Dwarf, so if you're looking for a plethora of interesting articles and valuable information, you're better off saving the money or even investing in some back issues.

Hydra Dominatus: My Alpha Legion Blog

Liber Daemonicum: My Daemons of Chaos Blog


Alpharius wrote:Darth Bob's is borderline psychotic and probably means... something...

 
   
Made in us
Using Object Source Lighting





Portland

What? Like, for free?

The age of the internet has basically done away with any need for catalogue subscriptions for pretty pictures of new things.


My painted armies (40k, WM/H, Malifaux, Infinity...) 
   
Made in us
Splattered With Acrylic Paint




Indiana, USA

I bought the paint issue (WD 94) and found it to be immensely helpful! And I've skimmed through a few issues laying around a local game store, and thought they were well-produced. Only reason I haven't picked up a subscription myself is because I only collect Age of Sigmar and have no interest in 40K, so half of the content (and pretty much half of the issues I'd be paying for) would be of any interest to me. So if you're in a similar boat, I say give it a miss and just pick up the issues that interest you at your LGS. If you follow both games though, I think it would be a great idea to get a subscription. Looks like you save some money doing it that way and it would be convenient to have them mailed directly to your house.

At least buy the paint issue! That one was great.
   
Made in au
Hacking Proxy Mk.1





Australia

I don't rate them too highly. There is simply so little fluff and hobby material there compared to what they used to have. That said if you find the painting guides in them are something that help you they might be useful.

 Fafnir wrote:
Oh, I certainly vote with my dollar, but the problem is that that is not enough. The problem with the 'vote with your dollar' response is that it doesn't take into account why we're not buying the product. I want to enjoy 40k enough to buy back in. It was my introduction to traditional games, and there was a time when I enjoyed it very much. I want to buy 40k, but Gamesworkshop is doing their very best to push me away, and simply not buying their product won't tell them that.
 
   
Made in se
Ancient Space Wolves Venerable Dreadnought






I... actually don't know. Help?

I'd say no. Buy the ones you want, leave the rest.

To Valhall! ~2800 points

Tutorials: Wet Palette | Painting Station
 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka






It depends on what you want.

If you're excited of GW's next week release, dataslates, photos of GW models, and occasional painting and modelling tips that are pretty specific to GW product... then it's a great magazine.

If not, it's a terrible magazine. There is very little that's generically useful to non-GW aspects of modelling and gaming.

I buy every issue, but probably a quarter of the issues, I could really care less about (I'm not into Fantasy at all, and I'm not *really* into Chaos, though some Chaos models excite me, and even those issues usually have *something* that's enjoyable to read).

You can always just buy the issues that you really want. But if you're really into GW stuff, and you're a completionist, then you can consider, do I want to grab a snack at Starbucks or a White Dwarf? Or do I just get both and enjoy my White Dwarf at Starbucks?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/12/01 18:57:48


 
   
Made in gb
Arch Magos w/ 4 Meg of RAM





-

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/15 01:39:59


Bye bye Dakkadakka, happy hobbying! I really enjoyed my time on here. Opinions were always my own :-) 
   
Made in us
Ancient Ultramarine Venerable Dreadnought






Illinois

spiralingcadaver wrote:What? Like, for free?

The age of the internet has basically done away with any need for catalogue subscriptions for pretty pictures of new things.


No, not for free.

INSANE army lists still available!!!! Now being written in 8th edition format! I have Index Imperium 1, Index Imperium 2, Index Xenos 2, Codex Orks Codex Tyranids, Codex Blood Angels and Codex Space Marines!
PM me for an INSANE (100K+ points) if you desire.
 
   
Made in us
Willing Inquisitorial Excruciator





Pittsburgh, PA, USA

WD is not worth the price of a subscription. The new format is a pretty good example of style over substance.

   
Made in ca
Navigator






I wouldn't, they're basically just glorified GW ads..
   
Made in us
Stoic Grail Knight





Raleigh, NC

I would definitely say no, given the direction the magazine has gone in the last number of years. You'd be much better served picking up a random WD here or there that has something you're interested in.
   
Made in au
Unstoppable Bloodthirster of Khorne





Melbourne .au

Buy a couple of issues, read them, then make up your own mind based on their entertainment/hobby value to yourself. What "dakka" thinks is irrelevant.

   
Made in se
Longtime Dakkanaut






They do nothing for me.

However whether WD is worth it to other Dakkaites is pretty irrelevant when it comes to you having a subscription.

They are cheap enough that you won't break your bank by purchasing a few loose issues to see if you like it.

   
Made in be
Longtime Dakkanaut





I would say; it depends.

If you like everything from GW, be it AoS, 40k or even Specialist Games, then it may be interesting to take it.

If you are really into one aspect/game only, it's not really worth it - because you don't know what will be the focus each week and it's very possible a lot of them won't be really relevant for you.

Also, be careful; last time WD changed of formula, there were some...troubles...for people who took the old subscription. Since GW will never communicate in advance, you don't know if the White Dwarf will stay that way for a long time or not. Everything may change without warning.
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

I had a WD subscription, and honestly I ended up with so many unread copies loitering in mail bags before they turned my subscription into Visions.
By that point it was basically a glorified catalogue of what had just been released.

The only reason I still have the subscription is that they haven't updated the cost on my direct debit, and I pay £3/month.

The figure you can buy as a subscriber is nice, but I've never had my subscription checked when doing so.


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in us
Stern Iron Priest with Thrall Bodyguard





Redondo Beach

i prefer Visions, but i'm in it for the pretty pictures...
i love having a digital mag i can look forward to each month, and no longer have to watch the box pile grow in storage...
a lifetime of collecting WD really adds up!!!

if you find yourself buying a lot of issues, the subscriptions do save you a nice chunk of change...

cheers
jah

Paint like ya got a pair!

Available for commissions.
 
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

I scalpel out the painting guides and galleries I like, put them in a folder, and recycling bin the rest. Before that I did have a knee high pile of the damn things.


[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in se
Glorious Lord of Chaos






The burning pits of Hades, also known as Sweden in summer

I still have a lot of the old ones!

Anyone who remembers the old Apocalypse battle reports? They were a blast to read back in the ancient days of 2008 or whatever it was.

Currently ongoing projects:
Horus Heresy Alpha Legion
Tyranids  
   
Made in ca
Master Sergeant





 Azazelx wrote:
Buy a couple of issues, read them, then make up your own mind based on their entertainment/hobby value to yourself. What "dakka" thinks is irrelevant.


This ^ sums it up. Or I could say, IMO, if you like being punched in the groin get the subscription [read if you like giving a company that grossly overcharges for its products and does not really care about the quality of the hobby/game or customers then go for it].
   
Made in us
Posts with Authority






If you buy every issue at the store, regardless of whether you like the issue, then get the subscription.

Otherwise, the only way to answer that is to ask 'How many issues of the new version of White Dwarf have you liked?'

Then ask 'How many issues of the new version of White Dwarf have you not liked?'

Then compare those two numbers with how much you would save on White Dwarf by having a subscription.

If the average price per issue that you liked is equal or lower than the average price per issue for the subscription subscription, then get the subscription.

If the result is higher, then buy at the store, and skip the issues that you do not like.



The Auld Grump

Kilkrazy wrote:When I was a young boy all my wargames were narratively based because I played with my toy soldiers and vehicles without the use of any rules.

The reason I bought rules and became a real wargamer was because I wanted a properly thought out structure to govern the action instead of just making things up as I went along.
 
   
Made in pr
Fixture of Dakka






 KaptinBadrukk wrote:
I want to take a subscription, but I want Dakka's input first. What do you think?





No, you don't.

Good money, thrown in a toilet.



At Games Workshop, we believe that how you behave does matter. We believe this so strongly that we have written it down in the Games Workshop Book. There is a section in the book where we talk about the values we expect all staff to demonstrate in their working lives. These values are Lawyers, Guns and Money. 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Gig Harbor, WA

I say no. The content in the current version of the magazine isn't worth the money.
   
Made in au
[MOD]
Making Stuff






Under the couch

If you get enough enjoyment out of the magazine to warrant the cover price, or if you're already buying each issue anyway, then sure, a subscription is potentially a reasonable idea.


Keep in mind though that unless they've changed their postage policy again recently, you'll be getting the mag later than you would if you walked into a store and bought it over the counter, as GW doesn't believe in posting anything prior to the release date for fear that people might find out about new releases a day early and thus lose all interest in purchasing them...

 
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Nottinghamshire

 Ashiraya wrote:
I still have a lot of the old ones!

Anyone who remembers the old Apocalypse battle reports? They were a blast to read back in the ancient days of 2008 or whatever it was.
I went back and bought a load of the < 100 issues to get RPG supplements and scenarios for Dredd.
I'd love to read a stack of them from that era, they're so cool and encapsulate the atmosphere very well.

I have unread copies still sealed from 2013 kicking about in my recycling box.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/12/03 03:22:02



[ Mordian 183rd ] - an ongoing Imperial Guard story with crayon drawings!
[ "I can't believe it's not Dakka!" ] - a buttery painting and crafting blog
 
   
Made in us
Stoic Grail Knight





Raleigh, NC

 insaniak wrote:
If you get enough enjoyment out of the magazine to warrant the cover price, or if you're already buying each issue anyway, then sure, a subscription is potentially a reasonable idea.


Keep in mind though that unless they've changed their postage policy again recently, you'll be getting the mag later than you would if you walked into a store and bought it over the counter, as GW doesn't believe in posting anything prior to the release date for fear that people might find out about new releases a day early and thus lose all interest in purchasing them...


True story- discovering Dakka cured me of my out-of-control compulsive GW buying habits, and I'm now I'm able to afford food again!

   
Made in nz
Regular Dakkanaut




NZ

The old white dwarf would be worth buying, the current one not so much.
   
Made in gb
Wrathful Warlord Titan Commander





Ramsden Heath, Essex

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
 Ashiraya wrote:
I still have a lot of the old ones!

Anyone who remembers the old Apocalypse battle reports? They were a blast to read back in the ancient days of 2008 or whatever it was.
I went back and bought a load of the < 100 issues to get RPG supplements and scenarios for Dredd.
I'd love to read a stack of them from that era, they're so cool and encapsulate the atmosphere very well.

I have unread copies still sealed from 2013 kicking about in my recycling box.


Congratulations you have just purchased the best WDs in existence. To Live and Die in Mega City One is one of the most under-rated adventures out there. Combined with Slaughter Margin and the JD Companion and you have the cream of GWs JD output. I would love to play these.

And if you have WD100 you have the added bonus of the RT Robot creation( or is it dreadnought) rules to boot.


Speaking of Old Skool, I noticed that Warhammer Visions no longer had cellophane so had a peak and it was crammed with 3rd edition era WHFB models. Very nearly spent £7.50 on it but common sense prevailed. Some real nice eye candy though.

How do you promote your Hobby? - Legoburner "I run some crappy wargaming website " 
   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York

I’d say no.

WD these days are very much single topics. As a weekly mag, if you care about what’s coming out that week, grab the WD. If not, pass. But I don’t find enough general content to warrant picking up these days.

I will pick up the odd copy that contains things I care about. Mostly the ones with rules/dataslates for armies I play. But that’s rare enough that a subscription is not worth it to me.

   
 
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