Resurrecting The Bellower

The Bellower webzine was a real credit to our community in the past, with a lot of great work put in by Randroid and the rest of the team, and it proved to be extremely popular here at the Stronghold as well as with the wider Warhammer community (thousands of downloads!). I reckon it would be fantastic if we could work together on resurrecting it!

Anyone new to The Bellower who hasn't yet had a look at the previous issues can find them over here: http://www.ogrestronghold.com/bellower.php

What I'd like to discuss first is what you think would be good to include in The Bellower going forward. Which features would you like to see return, and do you have any ideas for new features that could be added?

As for a deadline for Issue #7, it's the Stronghold's 10th birthday in July so I think it would be good to try to aim for somewhere around then if all goes well.

Anyways, I'd like to see how much interest there is in helping to put this baby together and I'm looking forward to seeing what ideas you might have!

Cheers!

Great to see this making a return - it was a part of the project to give this place a boost, and I am glad to see it getting some love

Of course, I'm in!

JJ

I would like to contribute in whatever way possible! Although I've been very busy with work (I've only done the one "Know Your Enemy" re-write so far  ), I'd like to be able to help someway.

I'm no cartoonist, but I can try to add whatever you'd like! Or edit, if need be

It'd be kinda fun to do a food segment, both real-world and Warhammer-world like things (like "Orc Shanks" and other silly things like that lol). But, I'm happy with whatever!

I am more than happy to help resurrect The Bellower in any way I can. I'm not sure what I could do TBH but I am happy to give anything a go if you would like.
I'm not too hot on game reports as I don't play as often as I used to, but I am happy to do anything on building models, conversions or something in that vein if you would like.

G_H

Count me in!

I've got some experience in editing articles (for spelling etc, not layout) from the Druchii.net Monthly from around 6-7 years ago, so that's something I can definitely help with. I can also try to come up with painting and modelling articles, but that will have to wait until I've moved to the new apartment

- Loran

Being a creative soul, proof-reading can definitely come my way if required. Language is my weapon and I love to wield it haha (despite various typos when on the forum on my phone with a cracked screen!!!)

Artwork is a real must for making the Bellower an attractive prospect for potential downloaders I feel, as well as interesting articles across the whole gamut of the hobby we know and love.

Perhaps recent thread ideas may be useful as ideas for the Bellower?

A spotlight on a particular foe for instance, with a highlight on the army in question, the tools at our disposal to deal with them, and maybe even a battle report to highlight what's been spoken about.

There are some incredible painters and modellers on here, and also some wonderful people posting tutorials recently that are of the highest quality. Perhaps that's another avenue.

For myself, I always loved the articles in white dwarf that displayed single miniatures of the best quality such as Blanchitsu. Could we cherry pick some incredible models from various categories (a la the gallery) and get people to talk about their concept/process etc? Again, I'm talking of the most inspirational high-quality models here with good pics available...

Not a big ask at all

Bellower coming out of the caves?  Sh*t just got real son!   

<--------Battle reports for this chum right here.

I would love to add content in a new section perhaps called: "A butcher's guide to the Halfling Cookbook". I'll provide a recipe and instructions on how to make a dish? Like, High elf souffle. Or perhaps cooking tips. Like how to separate the chaos warrior meat from the chaos armor. The possibilities are endless and sometimes tricky, especially since the advent of the Firebelly!

Hey guys,

Have you considered adding a column or so with user-generated stuff and quotes?

I was thinking about having various topics answered by our community eg. "what got you into collecting and playing ogres?" or "What was you MVP unit in your last games? How did it perform?" or "How do you keep your ogre painting motivation up over time?"

The answers can be collected (willingly >: ) through some kind of questionnaire and compiled with a selection of quotes to 1-2 questions per issue. Ideally each answer is a few lines of short text.

I can draft up a set of questions (you can add too!!) and we can send it out for people to answer and include some reader input to what is hot and awesome.

Also every word you guys dont have to type in, is a word saved from your awesome work load : )

Lots of good ideas here, great to see such a positive response!

Ideas so far (with some of my own thrown in! Note that the articles aren't in their final order):


The Bellower #7: Ogre Stronghold 10th Anniversary Bumper Edition!

- Cover art (something that could reflect the Stronghold in some way?)
- From the Gut (a few paragraphs by me to reintroduce the Bellower, and it would be cool if Randroid would be interested in writing a few paragraphs too as editor of the previous issues)
- A Butcher's Guide to the Halfling Cookbook (recipes)
- Ask Aunty Doreen
- Know Your Enemy (focusing on one particular army - the new Wood Elves perhaps, which will surely be a hot topic?)
- The Hall of Fame (some of the best painted single minis from throughout the Stronghold community's history)
- Ogre Minis Through the Ages (a look at how GW's Ogre minis have changed over time - I'll do this)
- A brief history of the Ogre Stronghold website and looking to the future (I'll do this)
- Tales of Conquest (battle report - something special for the anniversary?)
- M.A.W. (Model Alternative Watch - round-up of some alternative Ogre minis, the thread in the Bucther's Cauldron will come in handy here)
- Tactics For Tyrants (any ideas?)
- The Feeding Grounds (community discussion topics)
- Armies of the Stronghold (any suggestions as to which army to display here? Army creator interview would be required too)
- The Butcher's Cauldron (how about conversions using the new plastic Ogryns? That would be something relatively new!)
- Maw-Pit Sagas (short story involving the Warhammer world version of the Stronghold? Anyone interested in writing something like that?)


Anything else? I think that would be a pretty awesome issue in any case!

If you'd like to put your name to anything now, feel free to start up new topics for the articles in this forum section, outlining your plans.

Cheers guys!

I'd be excited to contribute some fiction. Clear deadlines would be a must, though!

Definitely Wood Elves as a Know Your Enemy feature. I know a few of us are excited about them.

I posted a thread similar to this a while ago, of course I'm in!
I'm a keen cartoonist/digital artist and writer. I can show some of my work if need be.
I'd be very interested in doing the cover art for the Resurrection Edition.

@Keelhauled; My excitement for this project was directly linked to the presence of an artist, because without one the project is a little flat. Now we have one, there is no bounds I would be honoured for you to get on board with the Resurrection issue. For our perusal, do you have any examples of your work?

JJ

Sure, as soon as I'm on my desktop I'll show you some stuff.

EDIT: I can show you this atm, it's on YouTube. http://bit.ly/1mGVEIH

Ogres! We have our illustrator! 

JJ

I would love to contribute, this sounds awesome! I'm a fiction writer at heart (when I have a moment to breathe), and I LOVE TO COOK!!!!!

I need to wait a few months because I am in the process of opening a FLGS (if all goes well), so you may be getting some batreps from me or my gamers too!

PMing you with an idea Keelhauled!

Good luck with your store Mr. Cthulhu! If you're not available for this issue, you're certainly welcome to help with the next!

I'd be excited to contribute some fiction. Clear deadlines would be a must, though!

Definitely Wood Elves as a Know Your Enemy feature. I know a few of us are excited about them.

Thanks Nando!

As for a content submission deadline, let's say just over 6 weeks from now - the 8th of June.

That'll give at least another month to piece it all together and would allow some wiggle room for any problems that could arise. The release date is ideally going to be the 13th of July.

The last point; Maw pit saga

Can I just suggest that either Conogre or Pirk are asked? The reason I say this is they both entered that Giant Ironblaster thing I did and both of them came up with exceptional stories  about "Lug the Legless" so, IMO, certainly have to ability to do this if they would be willing.

I am sure there are others (well, I know there are) who have done some amazing stuff in the actual forum section (MPS) who could do this too.

G_H

I have a few recipe ideas for the Halfling Cookbook that I'm planning on sending your way for the Bellower. Just lemme know when you want them, and I'll type them up and send them in

For the "Armies of the Stronghold" segment, I suggest that we do the "internet tournament" list. For us regular forumites, we're pretty sure what it looks like, but I think it'd be an interesting discussion, just highlighting the key pieces of what our "generic" list looks like. For a Bellower reboot, starting from the base list for the 'first' issue would be a great start, and then for following issues having the alternatives from the "generic" list discussed (gunline, MSU, etc.).

The "Tactics for Tyrants" may be a good place for "scenario practice". Like, using Universal Battle, set up a scene where the player has to try and get the best possible outcome; kinda like a "Chess-training" style game, with a few good moves available to get the best odds. Then, either at the back of the issue or in the next issue, discuss the best options available for the place. For example, have a scene set up where you have a unit of Gnoblars and an Ironblaster up against a tooled-up Daemon Prince, and have the "best option" be where, instead of trying to screen the IB with the gnobs from the DP, have them use their shooting attack to disarm the charmed shield for the IB to try and kill the DP. I dunno, something like that

Hmmmm I wonder if hmjesus will form an Ogre alliance with me for a 6k battle versus some unsuspecting folk? 

I'd be willing to write some fiction for this worthy project. I'm not an amazing painter, but I do love writing (once I get going I can't stop) That said, I would need a very solid deadline (not having one makes me lazy). With all that being said and done, if you don't need me to help, no harm, no foul. I just want to put my name in as a possible contributor to this (hopefully) resurrected webzine (or whatever you call this sort of thing).

Wow! Been away for two weeks and look what happens!

Two quick thoughts:

1. I love the idea of a regular Ogre web content generating presence from the Stronghold.
2. The webzine format was a ton of work and I don't know if it is the right format for a long lasting/long lived presence going forward.

We were moving the content more towards a blog for a couple reasons previously:

1. Those stated above
2. It would be easier to get more folks involved
3. It allowed for a wider variety of content without having to worry so much about formatting
4. It put less of a burden on any one particular member of the community

Saying that I am all for making the old format work if that is what people want. I don't want to see one issue come out only to have the excitement and "newness" wear off to subsequent issues are harder to get done or don't happen. I have the files I used for the webzine previously if someone wants to take on the editorial and layout duties... but be warned!! Each page layout took me anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours (sometimes more because I am a bit OCD) to complete. Each issue probably took me 8 to 12 hours of layout time not to mention the time I spent writing, editing, and trying to hunt down submissions.

Just keeping it real...

Yup, we're full steam ahead at the Stronghold now

I'm happy to piece it together to see how we get on with the PDF format again (also happy if you're interested in helping too!) - I've had so many requests for the Bellower's return, it was very popular, and I think with tablet computers having grown in popularity and GW having entered the realm of PDF rulebooks etc, I think there is a growing audience among Warhammer fans that would download PDF magazines

I'm also going to keep the Bellower forum section viewable to the entire Stronghold community this time, hopefully helping to encourage more Bellower participation and content contributions in the long run

I'm happy to 'donate' any and all battle reports for the Bellower however is it a problem if they aren't exclusive to it?  In terms of me posting them on another forum?

Yup, we're full steam ahead at the Stronghold now

I'm happy to piece it together to see how we get on with the PDF format again (also happy if you're interested in helping too!) - I've had so many requests for the Bellower's return, it was very popular, and I think with tablet computers having grown in popularity and GW having entered the realm of PDF rulebooks etc, I think there is a growing audience among Warhammer fans that would download PDF magazines

I'm also going to keep the Bellower forum section viewable to the entire Stronghold community this time, hopefully helping to encourage more Bellower participation and content contributions in the long run

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said here. Particularly about keeping it open to the community, and therefore encouraging greater levels of contribution

JJ

Sadly I cannot commit to being editor as I don't have that kind of time. I am happy to help with content creation of course! I particularly enjoy rules creation, Aunty Doreen, and such.

One thing I would suggest to help keep the load manageable would be to have sub-editors for various types of content - fiction, art, op-ed, etc. That way the content is gone over once before if makes its way to whoever is doing layouts.

I did the layouts in Illustrator but I don't know that it was the best tool for the job just the one I had that was vector based.

i would love to help out but its way above my level of computer wizz, i can toyal do a dipping tut with some nice pics if thats of any use?

Yes! It's finally coming back!

I would love to help write articles, reports, tactics, etc.
If you need help filling any gaps in the bellower or need more material then let me know. 

-GL

Something that I thought might be a fun and occasional article would be reviews on alternative manufacturers. While striving for Ogre-related manufacturers is by nature of the site a given, our members do play other games as well. I toyed with this idea while writing up a review on Anvil Industries that I recently purchased some goodies from, and while (at the moment) they're a bit more sci-fi oriented, there's a section of fantasy themed stuff as well. And it's a growing company, with new stuff coming out at regular intervals

And on this note, I'd be happy to write up the review with an article in mind. Granted, the stuff I got was for 40k, but it could still be of use to someone

- Loran

If there is any niche I can fill I would be happy to contribute.

this sounds great and something i can definately get behind !!! now im not much of a painter and i rarely get the chance to game BUT even though several people have already said that they can do the creative story writing  i absolutely LOVE writing fantasy stuff and im here if ya need me and id be more than happy to help (if you want i can PM a little sample of something ive already written ?) but seeing as quite a few people have put themselves forward for the creative writing i thought (and this is 100% down to you if you chose to do this) that seeing as so many people want in that we can have some form of rota ? such as this edition person x does the creative writing then next edition its person Y's turn then the next edition person Z then back to person X and so on and then if more people want to join in we simply add them to the rota ? (just my 2 pence )

Where are we actually at this with guys?  Was a plan of attack made in terms of lists of work handed out to people that volunteered?

Where are we actually at this with guys?  Was a plan of attack made in terms of lists of work handed out to people that volunteered?

I was wondering this, too. I think we need a ringleader to organize the whole process. Of course, up to this point I've only been good at just saying what we need, and unable to actually provide any useful support

still the tumble weed.................

Hey guys

I’ve been in touch with Hragged overnight and basically I’m going to get the ball rolling in terms of some clarity and direction.

Can people please sound off with what you’d like to volunteer your services for and confirm the below?

- Cover art (Keenhauled)
- From the Gut (Hragged/Randroid)
- A Butcher's Guide to the Halfling Cookbook (Sazel/Mr Cthulu?)
- Ask Aunty Doreen (Randroid?)
- Know Your Enemy – should this be cut/copied from forums or brand new article?
- The Hall of Fame (posting a poll for this)
- Ogre Minis Through the Ages (Hragged)
- A brief history of the Ogre Stronghold website and looking to the future (Hragged)
- Tales of Conquest (Myself & hmjesus?)
- M.A.W. (Model Alternative Watch -  Loran?)
- Tactics For Tyrants (Gutlord?)
- The Feeding Grounds (community discussion topics)
- Armies of the Stronghold (Posted a request for this in forum)
- The Butcher's Cauldron (Conogre?)
- Maw-Pit Sagas (Conogre/Pirk/Brork/executor/valoraxe?)

The deadline was actually a few days ago but let’s ignore that and just move forward.

yep im happy to do abit of writing no problem

I'll throw some recipes your way when I have a moment to prepare them!

I'll even try to get some good pics o' the grub to coincide with the recipes. This'll be fun, since I've been tossing around the idea of starting up an amateur cooking thing, but I have no motivation to do anything anymore (besides work, sleep, and quality-wife-time ).

I'm happy to get in touch with Aunty Doreen to get some answers to burning questions.

Jimmy, by "Model Alternative Watch" you mean reviews on miniatures made by other manufacturers? If so, let me know the deadline and I'll have the article finished by that date

- Loran

Just a thought.

Have you considered doing it as an iBook instead of a PDF.
That way you can add videos, music and speech.

Would make an awesome issue.

Just a thought.

Have you considered doing it as an iBook instead of a PDF.
That way you can add videos, music and speech.

Would make an awesome issue.

That's a brilliant idea - anyone know how to do that?

JJ

Just a thought.

Have you considered doing it as an iBook instead of a PDF.
That way you can add videos, music and speech.

Would make an awesome issue.

That's a brilliant idea - anyone know how to do that?

JJ

I have looked at it but never made one. If no one else knows how to do it, I would love to give it a go as a supplement to the PDF edition.

The last point; Maw pit saga

Can I just suggest that either Conogre or Pirk are asked?

...

G_H

Thank you very much, this gives me more confidence about writing and I'd love to contribute. Of course, English ain't my first language so it might need some proof reading.

Can people please sound off with what you’d like to volunteer your services for and confirm the below?
- Maw-Pit Sagas (Pirk?)

The deadline was actually a few days ago but let’s ignore that and just move forward.

Confirmed!

Yes, I'm totally in for this thing! And yes, if given a deadline, I will deliver.  When I started hanging around Stronghold, I really enjoyed reading old Bellower magazines. And I was sad to notice that it had come to an end.

Of course webzine format would be cool, but I do understand the benefits of blog styled.. blogzine too. I don't really mind about the format as long as we can get this thing going.

I'll start working on some stories. And check this thread more often