Main Magazine Series

With the success of the Test Run in both the Grampian and West country areas, The Main Release of the magazine was re-launched nationally on the 20th of September 2006, continuing as a fortnightly magazine (GE Fabbri, 2006h). A 1-million-pound TV advertising campaign on terrestrial and satellite channels supported it. Nine million copies of the magazine and 1.5 million trading cards were planned to be distributed until the original end date of September 2008, ending on issue 52 (Retail Newsagent, 2006). This plan changed, however, and instead went on to issue 70, ending 9 months later in June 2009. Each magazine came with at least one pack of cards and was available in newsagents nationwide and some superstores such as Sainsbury’s.

This sub-page is specifically about the main release magazines of Battles in Time; for other parts, such as the Test Set magazine series or the cards, please view the relevant subsections on the dropdown menu to the left.

On this sub-page, there are scans of the printed material with included information, such as differences between the test set and the main set, for example. Also included are ‘Notable Issues’, which are issues which stand out from the main print run (usually in cellophane), as well as scans from each magazine. These scans were taken from Millennium Effect, which stopped updating information after issue 29. However, they continued to upload scans of the magazines (The Millennium Effect, n.d).

Differences between Test Issues 1-7 and Main Release

The first seven re-launched magazines are a mixture of covers and contents of the pilot issues as follows...No. 1 contains pages 6 and 7 from pilot No. 3 as pages 4 and 5, pages 20 and 21 of pilot No. 5 and a remix on page 23 from pilots 1 and 2.No. 2 has the cover and pages 10-15 of pilot No. 6, page 22 as a re-work from pilot No. 3 and a remix on page 23 from pilot 5 and new material.No. 3 has the cover and pages 10-15, 20 and 21 of pilot No. 7, pages 4 and 5 from pilot No. 1 as pages 6 and 7, pages 22 and 24 from pilot 5 and new material on page 23.No 4 has the cover, pages 10-15 of pilot No 2, and new material on page 23.No 5 has the same cover and content as pilot No 5 except for pages 20 and 21 from pilot 1, new material on pages 22 and 23 and page 24 from pilot 3.No 6 has the cover, pages 10-15 of pilot No 4, and new material on page 23.No. 7 has the body, pages 10-15, 20 and 21 of pilot No. 3, and new material on pages 22 and 23

Extra difference, On Test Set magazines, (top) the characters are shown as character cut-outs on the rear which character are you page. On Main Set releases, they are shown on their respective cards.

Included in Magazines

Each issue of the magazine includes :

Rules for a different game each issue (not in issues 61 onwards)
Deck Doctor (although no Deck Doctor in issue 1)
Deck Doctor puzzles based on the cards (since issue 61)
Comparison between cards; e.g. Rose vs Cassandra, Doctor vs Dalek Emperor, Captain Jack vs Empty Child.
A guide on each episode with scenarios based on the episode that can be played with the cards.
Fold-out guides to a different monster each issue, with notes on cards that feature that monster.
Behind-the-scenes guide to certain monsters or shots.
Comic strip story drawn by John Ross [issues 1 to 6] and Lee Sullivan. Colours by Alan Craddock
Artwork depicting the "Dalek Wars"
Doctor Who themed puzzles.
"Which hero/monster are you?" quizzes.

Game Rules

Each issue of the magazine included a section with rules for different card games, and also a FAQ section to clarify some aspects of the previous games, especially after the release of the new sets.

In the game rules section of the official webpage are explained two different versions of the most popular variation of the game, which can be played with the cards included in the magazine or packs bought separately; the first one Bunch of Fives, and the second one Bonus Buster (GE Fabbri, 2006e).

Bunch of Fives

This version excludes bonus cards, and it requires a previously made deck of 20 character cards per player. The game follows this system of rounds:

Both players deal five cards to themselves and leave the rest of the cards upside down on their draw pile.
The first player looks at all five cards in his hand, picks one of them, then one of the five attributes and finally, the player calls out the green score on the card.
The second player checks all five cards of his hand to see if any of them can beat the card the first player has used. The second player has to use the red score in the same category. If he can't win he has to decide which card to sacrifice.
The winner puts his card on the bottom of his draw pile. The loser puts his card to one side so it's out of play.
Each player then picks a card from the top of his draw pile (both players must always have five cards at the start of each round). The winner picks the next card/category.

The game ends when one player has lost all of his cards.

Bonus Buster

This version is a variation of the Bunch of Fives game including bonus cards. In this variation, the deck should be composed of at least 15 cards per player. It is recommended to use up to 20 cards, but both players must always have the same number of cards on their decks. The maximum number of bonus cards that may be taken on each deck is 2.

The rules in Bonus Buster follow the same structure as Bunch of Fives, but two new steps are added after steps 2 and 3. After the second step, the first player can use a bonus card if he has one in his hand. The effect of the bonus card is applied immediately after using it. Then if the bonus card played by the first player allows it, the second player makes step 3 normally, and after that, he can also use another bonus card. The first player doesn't need to use a bonus card so the second player can use one. Once the bonus card has been used, it goes with the rest of the cards out of play, and the player picks two cards from the top of his draw pile (ibid).

Main Set Issue 1

Here you can see a high-definition scan of a Main Release Issue 1, as it was when you bought it. By clicking the directional buttons on the image, you can see the issue without the magazine, and the reverse of the cardboard backing. Although this looks similar to the Test release, there are subtle differences (GE Fabbri, 2006e).

The "£1.50" corner is red rather than the test set yellow.
The column where the packs are attached is now an orange/red hue.
Cards are now shown WITH rarity symbols.
The blue background is now a radial blur design rather than the time vortex
The included poster is of a different design.
The leaflets inside also have subtle differences. (Shown below)

Leaflets Revisited!

With the success of the Test Run, the main release no longer needed the questionnaire which was included previously. Issues one, two and three still had leaflets in them, however they had now been redesigned. Most notably the initial leaflet which gave the 'run down' on the Exterminator set had been revamped with the new cards, all with rarity symbols and showing some cards above the 85 mark.

The order leaflet also had a design change, instead of showing a Dalek with an orange theme, it now showed Exterminator packs with a reminder that 'all good newsagents' will have extra packs to buy. Additionally, it was based on a blue theme rather than the previous orange.

Lastly the TARDIS leaflet which was a reminder to subscribe now shows a Cyberman within the TARDIS rather than the Doctor and Rose. On the rear it showed a Dalek rather than the Doctor.

Main Set Issue 2

Another scan shows what Issue 2 looked like when it was on sale. The cellophane was re-used for the main release; if you look carefully, you can see the cards on the packaging do not have rarity symbols (GE Fabbri, 2006f). The differences between the main release issue 2 and the Test release Issue 2 are:

Tardis no longer requires cutouts to keep the cards in place due to design change
Different front cover now cybermen rather than slitheen.

Main Set Issue 3

The final promotional "special" for the exterminator set in the main run was issue 3, like the Test Release, this issue came with the final part of the Tardis collectors case, which was the Tardis Lid. There aren't many differences between the Main Set version and the Test Set, except the Tardis Lid design being less robust, and the cover now being a Krillitane rather than the Sycorax (GE Fabbri, 2006g).

Notable Issues

Issue 12 was the first magazine that followed the release of the Annihilator set. Although most sets contained a separate pack of each set, Issue 12 was unique in offering only a dual pack in addition to the Exterminator pack. The Annihilator cards were the only set never to have separate Annihilator packs with magazines.

Issue 26 came wrapped in decorated cellophane and included two Invader packs.

Similar to Issue 26, Issue 39 came within a cellophane wrapper, containing two packs of cards. One Invader and a brand new Ultimate Monsters pack.

The last of the Battles in Time magazines to come with cellophane packaging. Instead, they opted for a sticker rather than printed plastic. It contained two packs of devastator packs, each containing 12 cards. Some packs, however, included only 2 cards due to a quality control issue.

Issue 63 contained a pack of Adventurer cards commemorating The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was the only magazine to come with three different set packs.

Issue Covers

20th September 2006
Came with 2 Exterminator Packs

4th October 2006
Came with Part 1 of the Tardis Holder and 1 Exterminator Pack

18th October 2006
Came with Part 2 of the Tardis Holder
and 1 Exterminator Pack

1st November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

15th November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

29th November 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

13 December 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

27th December 2006
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

10th January 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

24th January 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

7th February 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack

21st February 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator Pack and 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

7th March 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

21st March 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

4th April 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

18th April 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

2nd May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

16th May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

30th May 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

13th June 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

27th June 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

11th July 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

25th July 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

8th August 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

22nd August 2007
Came with 1 Exterminator/Annihilator Pack

5th September 2007
Came with 2 Invader Packs
Cellophane Presentation Pack
(see below)

19th September 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

3rd October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

17th October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

31st October 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

14th November 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

28th November 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

12th December 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

26th December 2007
Came with 1 Invader Pack

9th January 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack

23rd January 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack

6th February 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack

20th February 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack

5th March 2008
Came with 1 Invader Pack and 1 Ultimate Monsters Pack
Cellophane Presentation Pack
(see below)

19th March 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

2nd April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

16th April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

30th April 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

14th May 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

28th May 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

11th June 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

25th June 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

9th July 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

23rd July 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

6th August 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

20th August 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

3rd Septmber 2008
Came with 1 Ultimate Monsters/Invader Pack

17th September 2008
Came with 2 Devastator Packs
Cellophane Presentation Pack
(see below)

1st October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

15th October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

29th October 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

12th November 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

26th November 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

10th December 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

24th December 2008
Came with 1 Devastator Pack

7th January 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

21st January 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and the Adventurer SJA Pack

4th February 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

18th February 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

4th March 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

18th March 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

1st April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

15th April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

29th April 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack

13th May 2009
Came with 1 Devastator Pack and one Ultimate Monsters Pack