White Dwarf Retro N°2

Hello everyone,

After a long wait, we’re finally returning to our exploration of old issues of the French edition of White Dwarf, starting with issue 2, published in February–March 1993.

While the first issue had already piqued our curiosity, this one proved even harder to track down! We had to wait a long time before finally getting our hands on a copy, to the point where we had to dig into our collector’s wallet to add it to the collection. But that raises an important question: was it really worth the price we paid?

That’s what we’ll try to find out in this detailed review of the second issue. Our goal remains the same as with the first issue: to show you what these historic magazines actually have to offer and help you decide whether they’re still worth the sometimes considerable investment required to acquire them today.

As with issue 1, we also want to extend this journey into the past by creating new articles inspired by the original publications. We already have several projects in mind, but bringing them to life takes time, especially when it involves rebuilding terrain or replaying old scenarios. We haven’t even finished working through the list of articles planned around the first issue yet! Don’t worry, though: these projects haven’t been forgotten, and we fully intend to work through them gradually.

In the meantime, let’s open this second French edition of White Dwarf together and discover what it has in store for us, more than thirty years after its publication!

Below, you’ll find the magazine’s contents, followed by a detailed look at each article.

Warhammer Magic:

Warhammer Magic is a supplement dedicated to magic in Warhammer, which would go on to receive further editions and variations. This issue of White Dwarf gives us the opportunity to revisit its very first appearance and the new features it introduced to players at the time.

The supplement introduced no fewer than 35 new spells, around a hundred magical items, a new magical combat system, and a new spellcasting mechanic. The box contained all the materials needed to put these new rules into practice, including cards that allowed players to keep their choices secret until the very last moment. Each race, of course, had its own distinct Lores of Magic, further reinforcing the unique characteristics of the different armies.

On paper, Warhammer Magic offered an additional layer of strategic depth. The choice of spells and magical items could significantly change how an army functioned and influence the course of a battle. The White Dwarf article presents the supplement with unbridled enthusiasm, showering it with praise and examples to showcase its possibilities.

However, looking back today, the explanations remain rather brief and sometimes struggle to convey how this new system actually worked in practice. At the time, introducing such a system represented a significant evolution for the game.

Rereading these pages today is quite amusing. After decades of increasingly complex rules, supplements and new editions, what was once presented as a major gameplay revolution can now seem almost insignificant. At times, the article even feels like a somewhat clumsy advertisement, so eager is it to convince us of the supplement’s merits without always going into sufficient detail.

Space Wolves:

A far cry from the Index Astartes articles we would come to know later, this feature takes us back to the Space Wolves’ background as it was presented at the time. Spanning no fewer than 16 pages, it traces the history of the Imperium and the Chapter, combining historical accounts, short stories, rules and a miniature gallery. It’s a particularly rich format that explores the different facets of this famous faction.

The background section is especially detailed and contains some interesting passages, including a few that surprisingly echo questions still being asked about the Warhammer 40,000 universe today. One example that stands out to me is this sentence:

“Leman Russ disappeared 10,000 years ago, and no one knows where he is. It is said that he will return in the final days to lead his people into the ultimate battle, when Horus, the master of evil, returns to threaten the universe.”

This prophecy is quite surprising when viewed from our modern perspective. Horus is supposed to have been killed during the Horus Heresy, yet the text already raises the possibility of his return.

The article does more than simply recount the Chapter’s history. It also explores the Space Wolves’ initiation rites, the origins of the Wulfen, and the different ranks and roles within this warrior brotherhood. These details all contribute to giving the Chapter a distinct identity. With the evolution of the game and the introduction of the Primaris Space Marines, some aspects of this identity may have seemed less prominent in more recent publications, although the fundamental characteristics of the Space Wolves have, of course, remained central to their portrayal. To round off the feature, the article also includes rules for Ragnar Blackmane and Ulrik the Slayer.

We thoroughly enjoyed reading these pages, which are packed with details that sometimes differ from the current canon but nevertheless demonstrate just how rich the Warhammer universe was at the time. The article gives the Chapter real depth and captures the imagination of Space Wolves fans. Everything is covered with an admirable attention to detail, whereas some more recent publications can occasionally leave us wanting more when it comes to background lore.

The short stories interspersed throughout the article also provide a welcome touch of light-heartedness amid all this information. They make the feature more engaging to read and contribute to the charm of these older publications.

’Eavy Metal: Characters

A colourful ’Eavy Metal gallery showcases a variety of wizards from Warhammer Fantasy Battle, most likely to tie in with the Warhammer Magic supplement featured earlier in the magazine.

Tyrion and Teclis:

This time, we turn to the world of Warhammer Fantasy Battle to explore in detail the story of two High Elf twin brothers: Tyrion and Teclis. From the invasion of Ulthuan by the Dark Elves and the forces of Chaos to the victory over the Witch King at the Battle of Finuval Plain, and including Teclis’s departure for the Old World to fight the forces of Chaos following their conquest of Kislev, this background story lays a solid foundation for understanding these two characters and their place within the world of Warhammer Fantasy Battle.

As is often the case, the background article is followed by rules for both characters, along with their magical item cards and a miniature gallery. However, nothing confirms whether these cards were also included in the magic supplement mentioned at the beginning of the article.

’Eavy Metal: Mike McVey:

The magazine features several articles by Mike McVey, a painter on the ’Eavy Metal team at the time. He shares his thoughts on painting the newly released High Elf and Space Wolves heroes, as well as other miniatures featured in the galleries, including Goblins and the War Altar.

’Eavy Metal: Night Goblins, Forest Goblins and Water Troll:

A few pages are dedicated to the Greenskins and the miniatures available at the time. Although some of these models had already appeared in issue 1, these new galleries showcase additional miniatures from the army, highlighting the variety of models available during this period.

Warhammer: Imperial Characters:

These few pages provide some background information, along with the rules for the Imperial characters available at the time. Interestingly, several of them have since disappeared from the current ranges. The magazine presents the rules for Emperor Karl Franz, Ludwig Schwarzhelm, Grand Theogonist Volkmar, the High Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic, Reiksmarshal Kurt Helborg, Boris Todbringer, Elector Count of Middenland, Aldebrand Ludenhof, Elector Count of Hochland, Valmir von Raukov, Elector Count of Ostland, Marius Leitdorf, Elector Count of Averland, and Tzarina Katarin, the Ice Queen of Kislev.

This real journey back in time is fascinating, highlighting just how diverse the range of available characters once was. We can’t help but regret that several of these iconic figures have never been re-released in updated versions. It certainly makes us hope to see them return to the tabletop one day!

’Eavy Metal: Imperial Heroes

Finally, to accompany the previous article, an ’Eavy Metal gallery is dedicated to these iconic characters of the Empire. It is a chance to admire the miniatures painted by the Games Workshop teams at the time and rediscover these heroes who left their mark on the history of Warhammer Fantasy Battle.

To conclude, our overall impression of this issue remains mixed. The absence of a battle report is disappointing, as we believe these were a real strength of this type of magazine at the time. While dedicating almost half of the magazine’s pages to the background lore of the two universes is an excellent idea, the content nevertheless lacks balance. This issue focuses primarily on background lore and character rules, making it better suited to enthusiasts already invested in these particular armies than to a broader readership. It’s an interesting editorial choice, but one that makes the issue less accessible and varied than we would have liked.

Aside from its appeal to collectors, this issue probably doesn’t justify the price you would have to pay to acquire it today on its own.

Here is the list of articles we would like to revisit and bring up to date on our blog, as we did with the first issue.

• Index Astartes: Space Wolves

The other articles don’t offer anything particularly worthwhile for a modern reworking.

White Dwarf Retro Listing

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