Harbinger #4 in the US

SaintRigger

New member
Hey,

Have you guys in the US gotten Harbinger #4 yet? Mine hasn\'t arrived, but I did see one in the store a few weeks ago.
 

supervike

Super Moderator
Yep...

I got my issue four some time ago. It was very shortly after our UK friends recieved it.

I\'d say it was over a month ago....

Just out of curiosity, what stores carry it here in the states??
 

Coyote

New member
it was only released last week.
I received a copy, though I didn\'t order one. No return address either.

I\'m going to put a proper review up on www.totalmodel.com, but for now here\'s a short review.

The writing is pretty poor throughout, as is the editing. The images in the painting sections are too small to be of much. Since they only show each stage completed, a single, larger image of the finished piece would have been more helpful.

The layout in regards to advertisements is poor, with ads placed 2 or 3 in a row (bad) or on the left hand page (again, bad)

The article by Andy Foster is almost unreadable, in part because he is so condescending, but mostly because the background is too dark at the bottom.

If Harbinger wants to be taken seriously it will have to find contributors who don\'t also happen to sell the product, and also properly attribute articles to contributors (4 articles are not attributed, one has a name misspelled that appears correctly in two other places)

The best part of the magazine, aside from the fact that the hobby needs it very, very badly, is Graham Clarke\'s Confrontation articles. They are well written, clear and interesting.

I recommend people pick up this issue. While Harbinger does need to improve its editing, writing and layout skills, as well as increase the amount of contributors, we need this magazine to succeed.

Skip Phil Walling\'s fiction. Only read the captions for the pictures in Andy Foster\'s piece. Thank whoever you worship that someone is making the effort. If you can\'t support them by contributing articles, support them with your wallet (while sending polite but firm letters to the editor letting him know he\'s running on grace, and not because he\'s putting out an outstanding mag)
 

finn17

New member
Steelcult\'s signature says it best...

\"And of course, with the birth of the artist came the inevitable afterbirth - the critic\".

Whatever its faults, it\'s the only alternative we have to WD and slagging it off in public can only reduce its chances of survival.
 

supervike

Super Moderator
Originally posted by Coyote
it was only released last week.
I received a copy, though I didn\'t order one. No return address either.

Last Week?

I have got to be living several weeks in the future then. I have here in my hands Issue 4, which I recieved right before Christmas. I remember that because I just ordered the Netherlord from Heresy and was tickled that there was an article by Andy Foster detailing the steps to put it together.



Maybe I got a prerelease or something?? ??????

Or is it possible I actually live in the future!!(cue weird music and zany sound effects) [/quote]
 

wiccanpony

Official Freak Bar Witch
all good things, take time.........

:)I received number 4 and now I wait patiently for the next mini...as it’s such a new magazine, I’m tolerant as it goes through it’s birthing pains.
Harbinger if your reading the forum today, do to age and really crumby eyesight, the backgrounds on some of your pages are a bit of a challenge to read, but other wise, keep up the good work.:D
 

Caelithar

New member
Yeah I enjoy the magazine , cant wait for number 5 . I will agree with the text on certain colours being unreadable but thats easily resolved . Good luck with it :)
 

Coyote

New member
Without feedback, how do you expect them to improve? Besides, if they charge money for their product they need to be held as professionals, i.e., open to review.

I think it\'s a typo on the website:

\"Issue 4
On Sale 27/01/04\"

It\'s probably supposed to read Issue 5, since the image is for Issue 5.
 

frenchkid

New member
I got mine just before christmas has well, and I have to say that this mag just keeps getting better and better every time. Think I\'m getting addicted to the mag, I just spent the last two weeks jumping on my mail box every time I get home in hope that issue 5 would be there :D:p
 

finn17

New member
Well...

Originally posted by Coyote
Without feedback, how do you expect them to improve?
You could try writing them a letter or sending them an email? they do positively invite and encourage feedback. Publishing your views on the net is something different entirely.
 

Coyote

New member
So, I\'m not allowed to give my opinion?

In fact, I did write them an e-mail requesting submission guidelines (putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak)
I haven\'t heard a response.

One thing I\'ve learned from my father is that if free product arrives in the mail, you review it. I frequent a website that has a review section in need to contributions, thus up it goes (tomorrow probably)

They may be getting better. I hope they are. However, if there was any sort of competition (other then WD) Harbinger would be squashed.

Now, you can either lie to people and say it\'s great or tell the truth and say it needs improvement. It\'s up to you. I prefer to let people know what they\'re buying so that when they do buy it, they don\'t feel cheated.

Hmmm, looking at the price I\'ve noticed that Harbinger Magazine is not a magazine at all, but the got damn Loch Ness monstah, always wants tree fitty. Tree fitty, what are you gonna do wit tree fitty? You the Loch Ness monstah!
 

supervike

Super Moderator
shucks!!

Originally posted by Coyote
I think it\'s a typo on the website:

\"Issue 4
On Sale 27/01/04\"

It\'s probably supposed to read Issue 5, since the image is for Issue 5.

Are you saying that I DO NOT live in the future?????

Damn, and I was just going to go and buy all the lottery tickets and bet on the results of the Superbowl!!!lollol

Actually, as far as the critique goes, I think you have some valid points.

I do disagree with you on Andy Foster\'s article. I don\'t find him condesending at all, but rather humourous. It is obvious he is not a writer by trade, which makes it even more appealling.

Actually, to me the whole appeal of the mag, is that it is similar to the early days of White Dwarf. When it was written by just a bunch of guys who just loved wargames and the hobby of miniatures. It certainly isn\'t the ultra slick, beautifully produced White Dwarf, but like you say, there isn\'t much else for competition.

It has grown in quality with each issue, and I can\'t say that each article is the greatest, but I do like it and I am extremely glad I subscribed.

....now back to the future!!!!lol
 

SaintRigger

New member
Hrm.. that is frustrating since I have a subscription and I have received issues 4 yet (review or no review).

Guess I should fire them off a letter. *grumbles*
 

SaintRigger

New member
Originally posted by supervike
I
Just out of curiosity, what stores carry it here in the states??

There is a hobby shop that I like to visit in Rochester NY that had it on it\'s stands a few weeks ago when I popped in for some paint.
 

SaintRigger

New member
Wow.. like within 60 min of my sending e-mail to the people at Harbinger, I had some information and a resolution. I\'m really impressed.
 
G
Happy with Harbinger

Despite some of the delays with getting started that Harbinger had and aesthetic issues with the magazine layout itself, I have to say that I\'m very happy with the magazine and the people running it. My issue 4 had some printing problems and I emailed the editor to let him know there might be a problem with his printer. In response, completely unsolicited, he sent me a new magazine and some extra miniatures. I am impressed with the effort they are putting into the magazine and the customer service they provide. Everyone I\'ve talked to there is helpful and good natured about the problems that crop up.

All in all, I\'m more than happy to have a subscription and I feel that the magazine has a very good chance of getting past these growing pains with time. ;)
 

SaintRigger

New member
Originally posted by GarnetJubilee
Despite some of the delays with getting started that Harbinger had and aesthetic issues with the magazine layout itself, I have to say that I\'m very happy with the magazine and the people running it. My issue 4 had some printing problems and I emailed the editor to let him know there might be a problem with his printer. In response, completely unsolicited, he sent me a new magazine and some extra miniatures. I am impressed with the effort they are putting into the magazine and the customer service they provide. Everyone I\'ve talked to there is helpful and good natured about the problems that crop up.

All in all, I\'m more than happy to have a subscription and I feel that the magazine has a very good chance of getting past these growing pains with time. ;)

Me too.. all the other issues and stuff have arrived like clockwork. This one probably went MIA in the post.

I\'d love to see them do well also.. it\'s nice to have an alternative. :)
 

ZaPhOd

Super Moderator
I am glad the mags are shipping. They definately need to hire a new web guy.. Come off it. Nothing new :( How are we supposed to vote on the showcase when they don\'t update it? Please? I was going to send another entry too...
 

Coyote

New member
I\'ve heard they\'re changing their distro, because they don\'t like how long it takes for their customers to get the magazine.

I\'m sure Harbinger will grow out of this.
 

frenchkid

New member
Originally posted by SaintRigger
Wow.. like within 60 min of my sending e-mail to the people at Harbinger, I had some information and a resolution. I\'m really impressed.

Same here, I had some pb with getting issu number 1, so I sent them an E-mail, well I got a response from jammy within 4 minutes :D No pb since then, I have to say that they have great customer relations.
 
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