But I did get #332 yesterday, with the snazzy 2nd edition Codex-inspired artwork on the cover.

I never liked the Grombrindal editorial.  I'm not 13.  I know there isn't a Santa Claus, either. 

Starts with the new releases (which I like)...which is pretty much the entire 40K Chaos release set, soup to nuts.

There is a two page HE preview, showing the plastic mage kit (foot and mounted), and the plastic dragon.  They mention the plastic chariot can be built as a Lion or Standard chariot.

Obviously, Chaos is the flavor this month.  The designer notes will be lamented by folks such as myself.  The term they highlighted was making an army list without a "hassle".  Which sounds great, except I don't think any player ever complained about making an army list.  That's PART OF THE FUN.  Another note is Gav points out (like a stake through my heart) is that a Codex should be ONE army list.  Forever and ever.  Any idea good enough for a army should merit it's own Codex.  I wildly disagree with that theory, but with a long term view, I know that idea will die soon enough   As a 13th Company adherent, it is a kick to the balls, though.

They of course discuss the rules, the generic daemons, the renegade focus, show some of the color schemes (some are good, some are derivative, some blow), have Mark Harrison give his take, etc.  I alsways enjoy the modeler take, because if you read what they say, it provides some insight into the creative process at GW.  He mentioned he had to fight for the large Chaos Lord base, and discussed design briefs he had to follow.  I find stuff like that (even as throwaway lines while trying to be excited about the new models) pretty interesting.

As always, new plastic sprues means full page layouts of all of the bits (painted).  I like this addition to the WD.  It sets me up for success with BWB/TWS.  Lots of them this issue:

1) Chaos Marine, 2) Chaos Termies, 3) Chaos Termie Lord, and 4) Chaos Spawn

There is an IG/Chaos battle report...I skipped it, but there it is.

There are between 10-50 pages on LOTR.  Closer to 10.  I recall it took me longer than two seconds to flip through them (cool Mordor map), but less than seven.  I'm not knocking the LOTR line, I'm sure it's fascinazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

JJ's Standard Bearer was on Apocalypse, and it was interesting to say the least.  Mostly fluff, as all of his SB's are, but he talked about it's conceptual genesis in the design studio.  And he kept talking about special characters (again).  With pics.  But it's not a bad read.  He does discuss they plan to support Apoc through WD and the website, adding rules and scenarios, like they used to do in 1st and 2nd edition.

Warhammer had an article on Mighty Empires, and how it can be used for old campaign battles (I think - did anyone buy Mighty Empires???).

Warhammer Tactica was on Magic, by Alessio.  Didn't read it.

The EM article is for Huron, and I like these articles as well.  The thing is 8 pages, so it's pretty comprehensive.  For completists, I wish GW would compile all of these online somewhere.  But it's nice to get them.

Onto Apocalypse.  I do like their abbreviated "Tale of Three Gamers", where they assigned the task of making Apocalypse armies to three of their slaves, Christian Byrne (who is adding 2500 points to his already huge Chaos army - new Vindies and new plastics); Matt Hutson who is staying with power armor, and got a Battle Company he is making into Blood Angels (brand new, from that box), and another gent is got 2 Baneblades to add to his IG army.  I like these types of articles, and they said it'll lead to two Apoc battle reports, one next month, and one at Christmas.

They've redone the last few pages, which still list stores and whatnot.  For some reason, they showed a lot of the metal Chaos 3.5 releases over a few pages, and Direct Order stuff, and they have two pages at the end showing Coming Soon stuff: the Baneblade box, the SM Battle Company, the two Marine metal releases, and all of the prices.  They also took almost a full page to pimp their Ard Boyz tourney, which I think is a neat idea, even if I have no interest (or skill) in it.

If you like Chaos, it's a decent issue, and I like some of the layout stuff.  I do like the army prep articles.  I find stuff like that neat.  Some Apoc thoughts in a different thread.

Salut,

Chuck

Now THAT is funny!

No Lash! It is almost like they're either feeling guilty about it or, more likely, they are that dumb.

And I agree, I like the "older" (turn by turn) style of Battle Reports too.

I wouldn't mind freeing up some space by shrinking down the "back patting' designer notes and/or the Standard Bearer too.

Fixed.

I like being reminded of why I have not purchased the caucasian midget in 2 years.

I guess LatD isn't a "good enough idea for an army".  Not like "Deathwing Assault".

Is this guy serious(ly slowed)?  Or is he just pretending that "good ideas" are the determining factor when deciding who gets a codex?

You mean the Nemesis Crown (affair)?  Lessee.  People found a way to cheat the system and log 10 Total Massacres a day; there were in-store events that did not affect the campaign in any way; Grimgor made his appearance in the end fluff by hocking a loogie at Karl Franz and then ran away (again); the Dwarfs ended up with the crown and locked it away.

So a whole 'nother campaign and bupkis happened.

The quickest way to alienate existing customers is to totally invalidate varient list.  Especially one's like Elysian where the standard gear differs (shotguns vs. lasguns).  GW doesn't seem to care.  They get grief about squats (rightly so), but they've done the same thing to a whole lot more armies between 3 and 3.5.

Personally I'm just waiting for someone to knock Tom Kirby off a roof or something

If you look at the data sheet for the "Masters of the Chapter" it seems to imply Space Wolves have the same organization as everybody else but with different names.

After umpteen years of battle reports, the only conclusion one can draw is that's how they actually play in the studio.