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The National Rollout (Main Magazine Series)
Following the regional Exterminator Test Set, GE Fabbri launched Doctor Who: Battles in Time nationally across the United Kingdom on 20 September 2006.
The national launch was supported by a £1 million television advertising campaign across terrestrial and satellite channels. The magazine was published fortnightly, with each issue distributed through newsagents and major retailers.
GE Fabbri's original production plan covered a two-year period and anticipated approximately 9 million magazines and 1.5 million trading card booster packs being distributed. The initial schedule was intended to conclude with Issue 52 in September 2008.
The magazine series continued beyond this original plan. The publication was extended by a further nine months, eventually reaching 70 issues before concluding in June 2009.
Throughout the magazine's run, each issue included at least one free Battles in Time booster pack. The publication was distributed nationally through newsagents and larger retail chains, including Sainsbury's.
The Anatomy of a Battles in Time Magazine
Gameplay Mechanics and Strategy
Although the characters and television material featured in Battles in Time changed throughout the magazine's run, the national series initially followed a consistent editorial structure. Several recurring features focused specifically on the trading card game and its rules.
Alternative Rules Checklists: A recurring section presenting alternative ways to play Battles in Time, including variations to the standard rules, different objectives and additional gameplay conditions. This feature continued through the earlier part of the magazine run and was discontinued from Issue 61 onwards.
The Deck Doctor: A strategy column examining card combinations, deck construction and different approaches to gameplay. The feature was introduced in Issue 2, making Issue 1 the only issue without a Deck Doctor section.
Deck Doctor Puzzles: From Issue 61 onwards, Deck Doctor Puzzles were introduced as a recurring feature. These presented tactical scenarios requiring readers to determine the appropriate play using a specified selection of cards and the applicable game rules.
Head-to-Head Card Comparisons: A comparison feature placing two characters or subjects against one another using their card statistics. Examples include Rose versus Cassandra, the Doctor versus the Dalek Emperor, and Captain Jack versus the Empty Child.
These features formed part of the magazine's gameplay content and provided readers with additional ways to examine and use the Battles in Time card system beyond collecting the cards themselves.
Whoniverse Lore and Scenarios
The magazine included a range of features covering Doctor Who stories, characters, monsters and production information.
Episode Story Guides: Features examining individual Doctor Who episodes, accompanied by scenarios that allowed readers to recreate elements of the story using their Battles in Time cards.
Monster Fold-Out Guides: Fold-out features focusing on individual monsters or factions. These guides also provided information about the relevant subjects and, where applicable, references to Battles in Time cards featuring them.
Behind-the-Scenes Production Diaries: Articles covering aspects of Doctor Who production, including special effects, prosthetics, creature design and the techniques used to create particular scenes.
Comic Strips and Art Features
The Official Battles in Time Comic Strip: The magazine included an original licensed Doctor Who comic strip throughout its run. John Ross illustrated the opening story arc, appearing across Issues 1–6, before Lee Sullivan took over the artwork. Alan Craddock provided the colouring for the comic strips.
The Dalek Wars Gallery: An artwork feature presenting illustrations depicting Daleks and their conflicts.
Puzzles and Interactive Features
Time-Lord Teasers: A collection of Doctor Who-themed puzzles, including word searches, crosswords and other activities.
Personality Profiles: Personality quizzes asking readers to determine which Doctor Who character or monster their answers most closely corresponded to. These quizzes commonly appeared towards the back of the magazine.
Together, these features provided the magazine with editorial content covering the television programme, the Battles in Time game and reader activities alongside the card releases.
Main Set Issue 1
The national Main Release Issue 1 was released across the United Kingdom on 20 September 2006. Although its packaging retained elements of the design used for the Exterminator Test Set, several features were revised for the nationwide release.
Six principal differences can be identified when comparing the national packaging with the regional Test Set version:
Red price corner: The promotional “£1.50” price flash was changed from the yellow background used on the Test Set packaging to a solid red background.
Orange/red mounting column: The vertical cardboard strip used to attach the booster packs was changed from the solid red used on the Test Set to an orange-red colour.
Card rarity indicators: The card images reproduced on the packaging now display their corresponding rarity symbols in the bottom-left corner. These symbols are absent from the card images shown on the Test Set packaging.
Radial blur background: The blue background surrounding the display card was changed from the circular Time Vortex design used on the Test Set to an abstract radial motion-blur effect.
Retail poster: The pull-out poster supplied with the national issue uses a different layout and composition from the poster included with the Test Set.
National leaflet variants: The subscription and promotional inserts were revised for the national release, including changes to the text layout, pricing information and distribution details.
These changes represent the principal visual and packaging differences between Test Set Issue 1 and the corresponding national Main Release Issue 1.
Main Set Issue 2
The national release of Issue 2 contains several differences from the corresponding Test Set issue, while also retaining at least one element of the earlier packaging.
Cellophane packaging carryover: The outer cellophane used on this national release contains preview images of the trading cards without rarity symbols. This appears to be the same printed packaging material used for Test Set Issue 2. The reuse of this material may have allowed existing packaging stock to be used for the national release, although the reason for its reuse has not been formally documented.
Upgraded TARDIS storage insert: The Test Set version of the TARDIS storage component used cardboard pieces to help secure the cards. The national version was redesigned with integrated card-holding slots, removing the need for the additional cardboard pieces and providing a different storage arrangement.
Alternative cover artwork: The national Issue 2 cover features a prominent Cyberman image, replacing the Slitheen artwork used on Test Set Issue 2. The national cover also depicts a generic Cyberman rather than specifically identifying the character as the Cyber-Leader seen in the television series.
These differences illustrate the changes made to both the physical storage components and the printed artwork during the transition from the regional Test Set to the national series.
Main Set Issue 3
National Main Release Issue 3 contained the final physical component required to complete the free TARDIS card-storage case. The issue retained the general structure of the Test Set version, but two notable differences can be identified.
TARDIS lid construction: The national version uses a thinner plastic lid compared with the thicker, more rigid construction found in the Test Set version. This results in a different physical construction between the two variants. The reason for the change has not been documented.
Krillitane cover artwork: The national Issue 3 cover features a Krillitane from the Series 2 episode School Reunion, replacing the Sycorax artwork used on the corresponding Test Set issue.
Aside from these changes, the principal insert structure remained consistent with the Test Set version. Issue 3 therefore completed the distribution of the components required to assemble the introductory TARDIS card-storage case for the national series.
The Retail Leaflet Redesigns (Issues 1–3)
The feedback questionnaires used during the regional Test Set were not included with the national release. However, Issues 1, 2 and 3 continued to contain promotional and subscription leaflets. These inserts were redesigned for the national series, replacing several of the layouts used during the regional test release.
Three notable differences can be identified when comparing the national leaflets with their Test Set counterparts.
Exterminator “Run-Down” leaflet: The main fold-out leaflet introducing the card game was redesigned for the national release. The Test Set version showed information relating to the initial 85-card test collection, while the national version displayed cards with their final rarity symbols and included previews of cards numbered beyond the original Test Set range.
Blue retail order leaflet: The ordering leaflet received a different visual design for the national release. The Test Set version features a Dalek against an orange background, whereas the national version uses a blue colour scheme and displays Exterminator booster packs. It also includes a reminder that additional packs would be available from newsagents.
Cyberman subscription reminder: The subscription leaflet featuring the TARDIS storage system was also redesigned. The Test Set version features the Tenth Doctor and Rose inside the TARDIS console room on the front, while the national version replaces this artwork with a Cyberman. The reverse also changes the character artwork, replacing the Doctor image with a Dalek.
These changes provide useful identification points when distinguishing national promotional inserts from those supplied with the regional Test Set.
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
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
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
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, 1 Ultimate Monsters 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
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