WHITE DWARF · MARCH 2025
The War of the Rohirrim at Edoras, the history of Aeldari design, a Harlequin Combat Patrol, Gnashka’s Ironsunz and the concluding Bunker Car Show.
COVER TO COVER
In printed page order
Lyle introduces an issue centred on the new Middle-earth game and The War of the Rohirrim. He recalls the secrecy surrounding the film project and points readers towards the new miniatures, the Edoras battle report and practical ways to track a hero’s Might, Will, Fate and wounds.
Reader models range from Jakub Bartkowiak’s Yndrasta to Brandon Ryan’s Black Templars, an Emperor’s Children Venomcrawler and a Rune Priest. Letters discuss weapon identification, changing Chapter markings and finding a manageable way to finish an army, while the closing model-of-the-month feature brings Thorin’s Company into the fire-lit trees of an early Hobbit scenario.
Jonny Watson recreates the Howling Griffons collection that inspired him in White Dwarf 180 in 1994. He sources old metal Marines, reproduces the quartered yellow-and-red heraldry and banners, and builds terrain and a painted scenic backdrop to echo the original photographs; Fred Reed’s response to the project completes the connection between two generations of hobbyists.
Dave Barker-Hurden builds Thorin’s Company for the Out of the Frying Pan scenario, surrounding the dwarfs with sculpted burning pinecones. He cuts detail into small putty cones and pulls fresh putty into flames with tweezers, then uses his first airbrushed firelight to connect the models to the scene. Hunter Orcs are planned as their opponents.
Rob and Danny explain the appeal of Middle-earth through nine aspects of collecting and playing: familiar heroes, recreating film and book battles, accurate character painting, accessible turn structure, heroic resources, themed army lists and evocative terrain. A photographed encounter between a bow-armed Rohirrim and a Hill Tribesman demonstrates movement, shooting, duels and wounding, while Might, Will and Fate make heroes more than stronger ordinary warriors.
Danny’s Haleth, Háma and 24 Warriors of Rohan defend Edoras against Rob’s Wulf, General Targg and replenishing Hill Tribesmen in The Last Stand of the Princes. The defenders must hold the central position and keep their princes alive long enough for the scenario’s escape condition, while the attackers can recycle losses and use flaming brands to strengthen their claim on the objective.
Gavin, Lewis, Keith and Luke discuss translating The War of the Rohirrim into miniatures while keeping Rohan visually connected to the older film range. Leather, wool, horse motifs and crested helmets remain familiar, but the replacement plastic infantry have more natural movement and clearer silhouettes. Haleth’s commanding poses contrast with Háma’s lighter, more informal equipment, while Helm’s bare-handed fury and Héra’s two very different identities demand distinct sculpts.
Jes and Daz trace the Asuryani range from Rogue Trader’s space-pirate elves to the contemporary craftworld host. A release timeline follows the arrival of seers, Aspect Warriors, grav-tanks, ghost warriors, Corsairs and Phoenix Lords, demonstrating how the foundations established around White Dwarf 127 continue to shape the faction.
The original space-elf armour grows from an advanced protective bodysuit into the smooth Guardian form, with panels suggesting musculature without losing the faction’s slender proportions. Jes and Daz explain changes to helmets and mesh undersuits, and how Guardian design supplies a common foundation for the wider range. The shuriken weapon’s crossbow ancestry, moulding constraints and increasingly visible ammunition magazine show practical production choices becoming recognisable visual language.
Jes and Daz compare the boat-like, predatory motion of Asuryani vehicles with exposed Imperial machinery and the concave blades of Drukhari designs. Convex hulls, split prows and curved War Walker legs suggest carefully grown technology. The Falcon’s early Epic model leads to the much more developed 1997 tank, whose chassis also underpins the Fire Prism, Night Spinner and modern Wave Serpent.
Jes explains how the space-wizard archetype survives in Asuryani seers through robes, staffs, talismans and elongated helmets. Farseer crests and bearded chins differ from the more martial Warlock helmet, while skeletal rune armour and crystalline weapons communicate psychic craftsmanship beyond human understanding. Eldrad’s accumulated spirit stones and trinkets exaggerate these defining traits.
Daz revisits the early Eldar Scouts, whose longer bodies and emerging helmet shapes helped establish later Aeldari proportions before Aspect Warriors existed. Modern Rangers retain the explorer’s cloak, gaiters, supplies and long sniper rifle, with topknots hinting at links to Exodites. Jes also explains the recurring triangle as a reference to the divine triad of Asuryan, Khaine and Vaul.
Daz describes Corsairs as a return to the Aeldari’s original pirate identity, free from the restrictions of craftworld life. Their mixed helmets, armour, runes and garments deliberately combine Asuryani and Drukhari cues, while the shuriken rifle blends both factions’ weapon shapes. Eldritch Raiders heraldry ties the current models to a force first seen in White Dwarf 100.
Jes distinguishes craftworld world-runes, protective hierograms, divinatory runes and written script. Iyanden’s symbol expresses light in darkness, while Biel-Tan’s evokes rebirth and its ambition to restore the old empire. Examples on Wraithknights, aircraft and infantry connect sculpted markings to Bonesingers, spirit protection, warrior identities and the uncertain remains of ancient Aeldari writing.
The Eldar Dreadnought begins as a graceful alien war robot, but its blank head and psychic controls quickly become the basis of a dead soul inhabiting wraithbone. Jes follows that idea through short-lived Ghost Warriors to Wraithguard and Wraithblades, whose upright, measured poses distinguish them from living Aeldari. Distortion weapons extend the same unsettling technology by opening lethal breaches into the Warp.
Jes traces the Wraithknight to the small Eldar Knight Titans of the late 1980s and the manufacturing advances that eventually made a huge plastic version practical. Its exaggerated limbs combine wraith-construct beauty with vehicle intakes and thrusters, while its helmet reflects the partnership of a living pilot and a dead twin. Enlarged recognisable weapons and removable locating plugs make the centrepiece both visually coherent and extensively poseable.
A new Harlequin Combat Patrol combines the Knight of Evenfall Troupe Master, Alineth Shadespinner, two six-player Troupes, two Skyweavers and a Voidweaver. Bespoke datasheets emphasise adaptable melee performance, deceptive defence and a mobile gun platform; the accompanying advice recommends weakening targets before the fragile performers commit and using speed to take objectives.
This optional battle variant replaces ordinary Core Stratagems with powerful Exigency Stratagems and supplies an additional pool of Exigence Command points. Extra reserves and a catch-up bonus encourage escalating battles, with adjustments for the multiplayer Cauldron of War format. The new tactics enable dramatic advances, harder attacks, demolition, emergency concealment, unexpected charges and limited indirect fire, making resource timing central to the variant.
Nick uses Callis and Toll to explain the value of viewpoint characters who can explore the Mortal Realms without determining the fate of the cosmos. Callis’s brave, hopeful soldiering clashes productively with Toll’s pragmatic monster-hunting, and their work for the Order of Azyr exposes the hidden threats beneath Hammerhal Aqsha. Aqua Ghyranis explains their extended careers without erasing the psychological cost of their adventures.
The Ironsunz combine the Ironjawz’ admiration for brute strength with a willingness to use tricks, traps and opportunistic alliances. Dakkbad Grotkicker’s contradictory origin stories and cunning capture of Bossbiter establish his reputation, but Gordrakk’s overwhelming Waaagh! forces him into a subordinate role. Campaigning in Hallost wins him an independent power base, even as his long absence weakens his standing in Ghur and leaves him waiting for a chance to eclipse the Fist of Gork.
A fleeing grot is rescued from Dire Wolves and dragged before Dakkbad’s throne in the Booming Scar. His apparently worthless report from Ghur becomes valuable when he reveals that both Gordrakk and Kragnos have gone. Dakkbad’s bored resentment turns instantly into ambition, and he orders his warriors and Tarkan allies to return home and seize the vacant opportunity.
The first Gnashka rules instalment supplies a Legends Army of Renown for Dakkbad’s return to Ghur. Its restricted Ironjawz roster can include Kagruk and Tarkan Ogors, with Brute units unlocking additional support choices. Terrain-edge redeployment, movement after a kill and an anti-monster Waaagh! reflect the clan’s combination of aggression and guile; bespoke enhancements, spells and prayers replace the normal faction package. The article explicitly excludes these Legends rules from competitive matched-play events.
Dakkbad rides Bossbiter with an overboss-choppa and relies on a nearby chosen Brute unit to provide a protective ward while improving its accuracy. His namesake kicking attack threatens ordinary infantry, and challenging a hero or monster can grant first strike at the cost of concentrating attacks on that opponent. The article suggests converting a Megaboss on Maw-krusha to represent the named overboss.
Emily applies familiar flesh-painting principles to greenskins, favouring translucent glazes over abrupt edges and using the colour wheel to choose complementary accents. Cool green skin benefits from warmer red areas at lips and joints, while yellow-green flesh can take cooler purple accents. Worked examples cover Kruleboyz, grots, hobgrots and a larger Brute Rager, showing how changing the wash and highlight sequence produces distinct complexions.
Over a black undercoat, Orruk Flesh establishes the mid-tone before Coelia Greenshade darkens the creases. Ogryn Camo is glazed onto raised features and Krieg Khaki picks out the strongest ridges, with a little Carroburg Crimson around the lips adding warmth. The sequence demonstrates how soft transitions and limited sharp accents preserve the craggy face without making it look chalky.
The hobgrot recipe starts with Hobgrot Hide over black, warms its recesses with Reikland Fleshshade and restores the original colour to raised areas. Morghast Bone makes the final facial highlights and Wraithbone finishes the teeth. This deliberately ochre complexion broadens the greenskin palette beyond conventional green orruks.
A second Kruleboy recipe swaps in Biel-Tan Green shade and Elysian Green glazes over Orruk Flesh. Zamesi Desert sharpens the face, and Druchii Violet cools the lips, producing a more yellow-green surface with purple accents. The comparison makes the effects of changing only a few stages easy to judge.
The grot example layers Skarsnik Green over Orruk Flesh, shades with Coelia Greenshade and uses Ionrach Skin as a translucent highlight, with warmer ear glazes. Alongside it, a Brute Rager demonstrates treating each broad muscle as a larger version of a facial plane: successive Orruk Flesh, Ogryn Camo and Krieg Khaki layers leave earlier colours visible in the recesses.
The studio answers Tomy Boivin’s request for Krondys’s skin recipe by building thin glazes over a Wraithbone spray. Ionrach Skin and Sons of Horus Green shape the cooler scales, while Flayed One Flesh, Ungor Flesh and Skrag Brown create the warmer belly. Pale mixed highlights and White Scar connect the two surfaces through gradual colour transitions across the dragon’s large body.
Jimbo explains why movement decisions determine much more than distance travelled. Running can secure objectives but limits later actions unless a unit bypasses those restrictions; movement order keeps heroes protected, forward screens deny objectives, and careful spacing blocks enemy arrivals. Retreating can save a unit or enable a new charge, while a near-destroyed undead unit can sometimes exploit damage and replacement rules to reappear elsewhere. A Nighthaunt-versus-Troggoth puzzle tests those ideas.
The Tattershields’ broadcast finally reaches listeners, but the first organised response comes from Harrovir’s traitors. Trapped in the comms-locus, the exhausted Kasrkin discover that Orrich once served under the enemy warlord. His knowledge of Harrovir’s impatience enables a gatehouse ambush, and the battle forces him to face former comrades and the violence that still threatens to define him.
Black Library editor Richard turns William Crowe’s fictional squad into a set of converted Kasrkin. Head swaps, Cadian equipment and a Hive Scum chainsword distinguish Linnd, Gunner, Yarin and Auber; Orrich combines Blooded and Cadian parts and has scars cut into his face. Chipped armour and a restrained grey-blue recipe represent soldiers who have fought for months without reliable supplies.
The Bunker introduces the concluding Car Show gallery and a deck-free Underworlds format, then invites elite-unit entries for the monthly painting challenge. It also previews a studio Kill Team league with weekly games, standings-based pairings and newly painted boards, designed to match people of comparable performance and bring unfamiliar opponents together.
The achievement tracker awards points for monthly scenarios, club games, event units and painting-challenge entries, with a combined monthly limit and ranks from Trooper to Castellan. The page includes an April challenge log and directs readers to downloadable Bunker resources, making it a practical record sheet for ongoing club participation.
The second half of the studio Car Show presents the remaining converted vehicles and awards prizes for appearance, speed, toughness, flashiness and ambitious kitbashing. Builds combine Ork machinery with Imperial, Kharadron, Votann and Chaos parts, ranging from a live-wired tuk-tuk to a gun mounted through a giant boar. Matt’s flame-wreathed Tzeentch dragster wins Best in Show, while the captions explain construction and selected paint choices.
Phil’s toughest-looking winner combines Squigbuggy, Scrapjet and Gorkanaut or Morkanaut components with parts from a Vindicator and Killa Kans. Large tracks, an oversized dozer blade and a skeletal rear spoiler give the build its crushing silhouette. Sotek Green and Temple Guard Blue establish worn turquoise panels, while technical corrosion and brown paint weather the machinery.
Graham makes a rough vehicle for his Chaos Squats from a smoothed-down Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy. An Arkanaut Frigate turret and Forgefiend Hades autocannon replace the original weaponry, while Chaos Rhino spikes and icons define its allegiance. Blood for the Blood God supplies the final violent surface detail.
Sophie builds a Khornate giant motorbike by joining two Goliath Maulers and filling their gap with Invader ATV parts. A Slaughterpriest rides the vehicle and the front icon comes from a Blood Warrior, with blue and white surfaces chosen to show off added blood effects. The conversion carries her enthusiasm for motorbikes into a deliberately extravagant Chaos machine.
Sergi joins the front of a Megatrakk Scrapjet to the rear of a Deffkilla Wartrike, removing the original wing stubs to strengthen the racing-car outline. A simple dirty-bone finish uses Agrax Earthshade over Wraithbone, followed by Abaddon Black scuffed on with a sponge. The restricted changes show how a clear silhouette can carry a conversion without excessive extra parts.
Phil imagines a badly secured flatbed load made of angry squigs rather than ordinary supplies. The truck’s crew can release the cargo with a lever, turning a road hazard into a deliberate weapon. The overflowing beasts and their containment structure make the narrative joke legible from the model itself.
Matt converts a Sagitaur into a half-skimmer by replacing its rear wheels with Hernkyn Pioneer magna-coils and adding an Impulsor engine assembly. One wheel remains on the ground to preserve its identity as a car, and the red body with black spots draws on his interest in ladybirds. The contrast of familiar insect markings and advanced Votann engineering gives the build a distinct character.
Dave’s flashiest winner combines a Ridgerunner with a Deathstrike missile to deliver the Star Children’s message at improbable speed. Spotlights become megaphones and Dakkajet parts reinforce the body, while high-visibility pink makes the result impossible to overlook. Its conversion story turns Genestealer Cult propaganda into a literal rocket-powered roadshow.
Maxime’s tribute to Gorkamorka combines a Deffkilla Wartrike and rear Kill Rig platform with surviving components from the 1997 boxed game. Airbrushed red-to-yellow transitions suggest heat, and fine painted details reinforce that fiery gradient. The build connects contemporary large plastic kits with the older Ork vehicle game that inspired it.
Jordan revives the Cyboar idea by bolting Battlewagon parts onto a Maw-grunta. Embedding the gun in the creature’s mouth requires drilling through the back of its head, turning a fantasy monster into a heavily mechanised Ork mount. The caption explicitly treats the beast as an unconventional car, so the conversion’s identity comes from its outrageous concept rather than realistic engineering.
Andy’s Evil Sunz machine mashes a Stormraven Gunship into an Ork Trukk, adding as many boosters and engine parts as its huge rear thrust bank will hold. He aligns their force with the chassis to embody the Ork conviction that corners waste speed. The resulting red vehicle has a conspicuous aircraft ancestry and an intentionally excessive engine installation.
Nathan’s second Team Tuk Tuk vehicle starts with a Sentinel and Orlock Outrider Quad wheels. Working lamps connect to a small battery hidden inside a Sentinel leg, with wiring routed through the body and rear structure. Magnetic battery attachments complete the circuit, making the winner of Most Souped-up a functional lighting project as well as a conversion.
James narrows an Achilles Ridgerunner’s front axle and mounts a Deathstrike missile on top, joining the two with plasticard. Sponged colour moves from red at the rear through orange to a yellow nose, while Rhinox Hide supplies recess definition. This fastest-looking winner depends on a long rocket silhouette and a hot gradient to express speed.
Adam combines a Skorpius Disintegrator with a Battlewagon to imagine an Ork recovery of a wrecked Dunerider. Tracks and wheels explain the conversion’s repaired mobility, while sponged and drybrushed surfaces create wear. Cotton wool rising from the exhausts makes the vehicle look overworked and reinforces the joke behind its insistence that it is not a tank.
Ivan interprets an Ork mechanic’s response to a Space Marine Repulsor as adding larger engines. Mephiston Red, Evil Sunz Scarlet and Wild Rider Red establish the body, with Troll Slayer Orange highlights and Reikland Fleshshade in the shadows. The warm colour progression supports the noisy, heavily modified look of the resulting Land Rocket.
Matt’s Best in Show winner combines a Sagitaur with Tzeentch Daemon parts, Defiler armour and a Stormraven tail. An airbrush builds the chassis from white through blue-green hues to pale highlights, contrasting with magenta-and-orange flames tipped in purple and yellow. The palette and swirling daemonic forms make its transformed Votann core look like a racing vehicle possessed by change.
Warscroll Skirmish removes Rivals decks and concentrates on fighter cards, warscroll abilities, positioning and combat. Players retain the ordinary board, tokens, dice and battle-round structure, with glory focused on fighter Bounty and additional opportunities for positional warbands. The feature presents the format as a quick introduction and a way to run fast games without deck preparation.
The reader gallery features Ben Heng’s Praetors, Olafur Olafsson’s Flesh Tearers Centurions, Toby Daw’s Brothers of the Sword Terminators and Dirk’s Vargheists. Studio examples broaden the theme with Ossiarch bodyguards, a Drukhari kill team, Angmar Werewolves and Inner Circle Companions in several Dark Angels successor heraldries, demonstrating how elite models can carry either coherent army colours or individual identities.
Nick’s Immortis Guard use Skeleton Horde over Wraithbone followed by a Screaming Skull drybrush for the bones. Gold receives a warm wash and renewed metallic layers, while Naggaroth Night, Nuln Oil and Dechala Lilac form the contrasting purple. The deliberately straightforward recipe provides a quick, coherent finish for a small elite unit.
Elliot paints a Drukhari kill team for his wife Sian, using brilliant yellow armour against dark weapons and leather. Ironjawz Yellow receives Ulthuan Grey highlights and a light Casandora Yellow glaze, while Black Templar weapons are highlighted pale and washed back with Nuln Oil. Screaming Skull drybrushing gives the black leather a different texture.
Dan adds a crenellated Stygies VIII Technoarcheologist, Lyle adapts Tome Keepers heraldry for a kill-team Captain and Matt clears long-pending Sisters of Battle projects. Adam shows a newly finished Leman Russ, and the team’s painting and gaming scoreboards track their progress. The page connects manageable finishing goals to the wider Bunker Bingo activity sheet.
Adam follows the tank-painting advice from issue 508 on a Leman Russ Vanquisher. He sprays Chaos Black, masks a camouflage pattern with adhesive putty and applies Mechanicus Standard Grey, revealing the hard-edged pattern when the putty is removed. The completed vehicle illustrates the masking method on a recognisable Imperial tank.
The movement puzzle’s recommended answer keeps the lone Hexwraith fighting so the Troggoths cannot Counter-charge, then runs Chainrasps into a forward screen using At the Double. Alternative plans relying on the Hexwraith dying or returning leave too much uncertainty and allow the enemy to steal the objective. The explanation shows how an apparently expendable survivor can control movement more effectively by staying engaged.