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White Dwarf (magazine)
Encyclopedia
White Dwarf is a magazine
published by British
game
s manufacturer Games Workshop
. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing
and board game
s, particularly the role playing games (Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons
, RuneQuest
and Traveller
(which were all published by other games companies). The magazine underwent a notable change in style and content in the late 1980s and is now dedicated exclusively to the miniature wargames exclusively produced by Games Workshop, mainly the core systems of Warhammer Fantasy Battle
, Warhammer 40,000
and The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game
.
and Ian Livingstone
initially produced a newsletter called "Owl and Weasel
" which ran for twenty-five issues from February 1975 before it evolved into "White Dwarf".
Originally scheduled for May/June 1977 but first published one month later on a bimonthly schedule with an initial (and speculative) print run of 4,000, White Dwarf continued the fantasy and science fiction role-playing and board-gaming theme developed in Owl and Weasel but owing to the increase in available space began to produce reviews, articles and scenarios to a greater depth than had previously been possible.
The magazine was hugely influential in the 1980s when it helped to popularise RPGs in the UK. This included material for the 'big three' role playing games of the time - (Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons
, RuneQuest
and Traveller
. For a time White Dwarf also contained material for those American
RPGs for which Games Workshop had the UK licence, competing directly with TSR
's own UK publication, Imagine
, and various other mainstream UK and imported fantasy and science-fiction gaming magazines.
In addition to this a generation of writers passed through its offices and onto other RPG projects in the next decade, such as Phil Masters and Marcus L. Rowland. One huge attraction of the magazine was its incorporation of mini-game scenarios, capable of completion in a single night's play, rather than the mega-marathon games typical of the off the shelf campaigns. This would often be in the form of an attractive and interesting single task for either existing or new characters to resolve. These could either be slipped into existing campaign plots, or be used stand-alone, just for a fun evening, and were easily grasped by those familiar with RPG rules.
During this period the magazine included lots of features such as the satirical comic strip Thrud the Barbarian
and Dave Langford's
"Critical Mass" book review column, also a comical advertising series The Androx Diaries, and always had cameos and full scenarios for a broad selection of the most popular games of the time, as well as a more rough and informal editorial style.
In the mid-late 1980s, however, there was a repositioning from being a general periodical covering all aspects and publishers within the hobby niche to a focus almost exclusively on Games Workshop's own products and publications. The last Dungeons and Dragons article appeared in issue 93, with the changeover being relatively abrupt and obvious by issue #100. In this respect it took over some of the aspects of the Citadel Journal, an intermittent publication that supported the Warhammer Fantasy Battle
game. The magazine has always been a conduit for new rules and ideas for GW games as well as a means to showcase developments. It often includes scenarios, campaigns, hobby news, photos of recently released miniatures and tips on building terrain and constructing or converting miniatures
.
Today, the magazine focuses exclusively on miniature wargames and thoroughly covers the models, miniatures
and related paraphernalia created by Games Workshop and has carried the tagline "Games Workshop's monthly gaming supplement & Citadel miniatures catalogue" for a long period.
Grombrindal the White Dwarf is also a special character for the Dwarf army
, whose rules are published only in certain issues of White Dwarf (being revamped for the most recent edition of the rules). It is never stated who exactly the White Dwarf is, but it is implied that he is the spirit of Snorri Whitebeard, the last king of the Dwarfs to receive respect from an Elf. The image of the White Dwarf has graced the covers of many issues of the magazine, and is regularly featured in the interior artwork as well. The image was also used on the character sheet
for the Dwarf character in Hero Quest
.
The magazine's content is divided among the three core games (Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer 40,000 and The Lord of the Rings SBG), with roughly equal amounts of page space devoted to each, although The Lord of the Rings SBG usually has the least amount of space with usually only 1/4 to 1/5 of the magazine.
The monthly battle reports have arguably been White Dwarf's most popular feature for many years, as acknowledged during various White Dwarf editorials. Battle reports used to be blow-by-blow accounts of a battle between two or more forces, usually with their own specific victory conditions. The reports followed the gamers through their army selection, tactics and deployment, through the battle to their respective conclusions. The format has gone through several changes in recent years - ranging from a simplified, generalized style in the 2006-7 editions, to a return to a more detailed and visual style from October 2007.
In June 2010 Andrew Kenrick replaced Mark Latham as the White Dwarf editor. Andrew had previously been White Dwarf sub editor as well as sub editing other Games Workshop material such as the most recent edition of the Space Marines
Codex.
On 26 May 2007 White Dwarf celebrated its 30th birthday with celebrations in Games Workshop stores around the world.
In the late 1980s, mail-order subscriber copies of White Dwarf also received a small companion magazine Black Sun, written, illustrated and produced by Tim Pollard
(with occasional contributions from other GW authors such as Andy Chambers
). It contained very informal 'inside' information from the Citadel Mail Order Department, news, game reviews, articles and competitions as well as a short lived cartoon serial. Some new rules for then current GW products also debuted in 'Black Sun'.
An earlier free companion magazine of the same title had been distributed in a similar manner from 1984, edited by Steve Williams.
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
s manufacturer Games Workshop
Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
and board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s, particularly the role playing games (Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, RuneQuest
RuneQuest
RuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
and Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
(which were all published by other games companies). The magazine underwent a notable change in style and content in the late 1980s and is now dedicated exclusively to the miniature wargames exclusively produced by Games Workshop, mainly the core systems of Warhammer Fantasy Battle
Warhammer Fantasy Battle
Warhammer: The Game of Fantasy Battles is a tabletop wargame created by Games Workshop. It is the origin of the Warhammer Fantasy setting....
, Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
and The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game
The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game
The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game , and often referred to by players as Lord of the Rings, is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop . It is based on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, and the book that inspired it, written by J. R. R...
.
History
Steve JacksonSteve Jackson (UK)
Steve Jackson is a game designer, writer and game reviewer.-History:In early 1975, Steve Jackson co-founded the company Games Workshop with John Peake and Ian Livingstone....
and Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone OBE is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. He is a co-writer of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and co-founder of Games Workshop....
initially produced a newsletter called "Owl and Weasel
Owl and Weasel
Owl and Weasel was Games Workshop's first publication, a periodical edited by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone for twenty-five issues from February 1975 until April 1977 when it was superseded by White Dwarf, which is published on a monthly basis ....
" which ran for twenty-five issues from February 1975 before it evolved into "White Dwarf".
Originally scheduled for May/June 1977 but first published one month later on a bimonthly schedule with an initial (and speculative) print run of 4,000, White Dwarf continued the fantasy and science fiction role-playing and board-gaming theme developed in Owl and Weasel but owing to the increase in available space began to produce reviews, articles and scenarios to a greater depth than had previously been possible.
The magazine was hugely influential in the 1980s when it helped to popularise RPGs in the UK. This included material for the 'big three' role playing games of the time - (Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, RuneQuest
RuneQuest
RuneQuest is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 1978 by Chaosium, created by Steve Perrin and set in Greg Stafford's mythical world of Glorantha. RuneQuest was notable for its original gaming system and for its verisimilitude in adhering to an original fantasy world...
and Traveller
Traveller (role-playing game)
Traveller is a series of related science fiction role-playing games, the first published in 1977 by Game Designers' Workshop and subsequent editions by various companies remaining in print to this day. The game was inspired from such classic science fiction stories as the Dumarest saga series by...
. For a time White Dwarf also contained material for those American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
RPGs for which Games Workshop had the UK licence, competing directly with TSR
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
's own UK publication, Imagine
Imagine (AD&D magazine)
Imagine Magazine was a monthly magazine dedicated to the first edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and Dungeons and Dragons role playing game systems published by TSR UK Limited.-History:Imagine was published between April 1983 and October 1985...
, and various other mainstream UK and imported fantasy and science-fiction gaming magazines.
In addition to this a generation of writers passed through its offices and onto other RPG projects in the next decade, such as Phil Masters and Marcus L. Rowland. One huge attraction of the magazine was its incorporation of mini-game scenarios, capable of completion in a single night's play, rather than the mega-marathon games typical of the off the shelf campaigns. This would often be in the form of an attractive and interesting single task for either existing or new characters to resolve. These could either be slipped into existing campaign plots, or be used stand-alone, just for a fun evening, and were easily grasped by those familiar with RPG rules.
Thrud the Barbarian
Thrud the Barbarian is a comics character created by Carl Critchlow in 1981. Although Thrud himself is a parody of Conan the Barbarian, particularly as depicted in the Arnold Schwarzenegger films, inspiration for the character's adventures and adversaries has been drawn from several fantasy...
and Dave Langford's
David Langford
David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...
"Critical Mass" book review column, also a comical advertising series The Androx Diaries, and always had cameos and full scenarios for a broad selection of the most popular games of the time, as well as a more rough and informal editorial style.
In the mid-late 1980s, however, there was a repositioning from being a general periodical covering all aspects and publishers within the hobby niche to a focus almost exclusively on Games Workshop's own products and publications. The last Dungeons and Dragons article appeared in issue 93, with the changeover being relatively abrupt and obvious by issue #100. In this respect it took over some of the aspects of the Citadel Journal, an intermittent publication that supported the Warhammer Fantasy Battle
Warhammer Fantasy Battle
Warhammer: The Game of Fantasy Battles is a tabletop wargame created by Games Workshop. It is the origin of the Warhammer Fantasy setting....
game. The magazine has always been a conduit for new rules and ideas for GW games as well as a means to showcase developments. It often includes scenarios, campaigns, hobby news, photos of recently released miniatures and tips on building terrain and constructing or converting miniatures
Miniature conversion
Miniature conversion refers to the practice of altering the appearance of a miniature or model so as to deviate from the standard version purchased in a boxed set....
.
Today, the magazine focuses exclusively on miniature wargames and thoroughly covers the models, miniatures
Citadel Miniatures
Citadel Miniatures Limited is a company which produces metal, resin and plastic miniature figures for tabletop wargames such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000....
and related paraphernalia created by Games Workshop and has carried the tagline "Games Workshop's monthly gaming supplement & Citadel miniatures catalogue" for a long period.
Grombrindal the White Dwarf is also a special character for the Dwarf army
Dwarf (Warhammer)
In Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, The Dwarfs are a race of short, stout humanoids very similar to the dwarves of Middle-Earth and the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. Dwarfs in the Warhammer setting are proud warriors highly driven by honor.-Homeland:Dwarfs reside mainly...
, whose rules are published only in certain issues of White Dwarf (being revamped for the most recent edition of the rules). It is never stated who exactly the White Dwarf is, but it is implied that he is the spirit of Snorri Whitebeard, the last king of the Dwarfs to receive respect from an Elf. The image of the White Dwarf has graced the covers of many issues of the magazine, and is regularly featured in the interior artwork as well. The image was also used on the character sheet
Character sheet
A character sheet is a record of a player character in a role-playing game, including whatever details, notes, game statistics, and background information a player would need during a play session. Character sheets can be found in use in both traditional and action role-playing games...
for the Dwarf character in Hero Quest
HeroQuest (board game)
HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game that was created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with the British company Games Workshop and set in the latter's Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, as shown by a map of the Warhammer 'Old World' being printed on the...
.
White Dwarf today
In December, 2004, White Dwarf published its 300th issue in the United Kingdom and North America. Each issue contained many special "freebies" as well as articles on the history of the magazine and the founding of Games Workshop.The magazine's content is divided among the three core games (Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer 40,000 and The Lord of the Rings SBG), with roughly equal amounts of page space devoted to each, although The Lord of the Rings SBG usually has the least amount of space with usually only 1/4 to 1/5 of the magazine.
The monthly battle reports have arguably been White Dwarf's most popular feature for many years, as acknowledged during various White Dwarf editorials. Battle reports used to be blow-by-blow accounts of a battle between two or more forces, usually with their own specific victory conditions. The reports followed the gamers through their army selection, tactics and deployment, through the battle to their respective conclusions. The format has gone through several changes in recent years - ranging from a simplified, generalized style in the 2006-7 editions, to a return to a more detailed and visual style from October 2007.
In June 2010 Andrew Kenrick replaced Mark Latham as the White Dwarf editor. Andrew had previously been White Dwarf sub editor as well as sub editing other Games Workshop material such as the most recent edition of the Space Marines
Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000)
In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000 setting created by Games Workshop, Space Marines are genetically modified "super human" soldiers created by the Emperor to conquer the galaxy and defend mankind. According to Games Workshop, there are over a thousand recorded chapters of Space Marines,...
Codex.
On 26 May 2007 White Dwarf celebrated its 30th birthday with celebrations in Games Workshop stores around the world.
Spinoffs
GW's US studio also ran for a while a biweekly online supplemental free e-zine Black Gobbo. It included two regular columns, "Rules of Engagement" and "Ask the Scenery Guy," to help answer gamers' questions. Similar to its printed counterpart, it was devoted to the games and hobbies created by GW. Just like its printed counterpart, Black Gobbo also has its own character, published on the web with its own article, rules, and modelling tips. The name is a pun. Gobbo stands for Goblin, which is hated by the Dwarfs. Dwarfs are, likewise, hated by Goblins. Black is also the opposite of white, hence Black Gobbo is the exact opposite of White Dwarf; one being free, electronic, short, weekly, black and a Goblin while the other one cost something, printed, comparatively long, monthly, white, and a Dwarf. The e-zine was cancelled in 2008 on the revision of GW's website.In the late 1980s, mail-order subscriber copies of White Dwarf also received a small companion magazine Black Sun, written, illustrated and produced by Tim Pollard
Tim Pollard
Tim Pollard is an English actor and entertainer who has been appearing and performing as Robin Hood in and around his home town of Nottingham England for over 16 years...
(with occasional contributions from other GW authors such as Andy Chambers
Andy Chambers
Andy Chambers is a British author and game designer, best known for his work for Games Workshop. He worked extensively on various Warhammer 40,000 rulebooks and sourcebooks, and also authored at least one fiction novel set in the same universe....
). It contained very informal 'inside' information from the Citadel Mail Order Department, news, game reviews, articles and competitions as well as a short lived cartoon serial. Some new rules for then current GW products also debuted in 'Black Sun'.
An earlier free companion magazine of the same title had been distributed in a similar manner from 1984, edited by Steve Williams.
White Dwarf editors
- Ian LivingstoneIan LivingstoneIan Livingstone OBE is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. He is a co-writer of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and co-founder of Games Workshop....
: Issue 1 (June/July 1977) - 74 (February 1986) - Ian MarshIan MarshIan Marsh is a British writer and editor. He graduated in 1983 from the University of Surrey, Guildford, with an honours degree in Materials Technology ....
: Issue 75 (March 1986) - 77 (May 1986) - Paul Cockburn: Issue 78 (June 1986; contents page erroneously headed "April 1986") - 83 (November 1986)
- Mike Brunton: Issues 84 (December 1986) - 93 (September 1987)
- Sean Masterson: Issues 94 (October 1987) - 107 (November 1988)
- Phil Gallagher: Issues 109 (January 1989; there is no Editor credited in issue 108) - 116 (August 1989)
- Simon Forrest: Issues 117 (September 1989) - 139 (July 1991)
- Robin Dews: Issues 140 (August 1991) - 189 (September 1995); third longest-serving Editor
- Jake Thornton: Issues 190 (October 1995) - 214 (October 1997); the card section in the magazine comes and goes
- Paul Sawyer: Issues 215 (December 1997) - 301 (January 2005); occasionally called "Fat Bloke"
- Andy Stewart: Issues 302 (February 2005) - 310 (October 2005)
- Guy Haley: Issue 311 (November 2005) - 330 (September 2007)
- Mark Latham: Issues 331 (July 2007) - 365 (May 2010)
- Andrew Kenrick: Issues 366 (June 2010) - present
See also
- Battle Games in Middle Earth
- Games WorkshopGames WorkshopGames Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
- Warlock (magazine)Warlock (magazine)Warlock was a British magazine published by Penguin Books and game manufacturer Games Workshop between 1983 and 1986. The primary focus of the magazine was fantasy, with emphasis on the Fighting Fantasy adventure gamebook series.-Publication history:...
External links
- The Improved and Expanded Exodite's White Dwarf and Fanatic Press Index — searchable and browsable (by game), covers #1-322 (mixture of UK and US editions)
- Index to White Dwarf — browsable index by topic, covers #1-100, The Best of White Dwarf Articles #1 to #3, and The Best of White Dwarf Scenarios #3