Gaming Dawn of War

[Jokopoko]

[size=1][color=teal]I've recently gotten back into playing [i]'Dawn of War'[/i] again and I was just wondering if there are other players of this fantastic game on OB. I know the silpheedPilot plays it as well but thats about it. Its a worth while game to get and you don't need to know anything about the Warhammer 40,000 universe to appreciate how good the game is. Basically, if you like RTS games you're going to love this game. Trust me.

If there is a large enough player base I'd be interested in putting together some kind of tournament kind of thing. So any takers?[/size][/color]

[silpheedpilot]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]I second that!

Yeah, me and Jokopoko here been gabbing back and forth about Warhammer 40k for the past week and thus sparked our interest in Dawn of War again.
It's a great RTS with focus on combat instead of resource micromanagement and plus the units are much cooler in this game than in stuff like War Craft, Space Craft, Command and Conquer, and others among others.
You, like Jokopoko said, really don't need to know anything about the 40k universe to appreciate the game but as with all continuities it helps because you can smile and chuckles at the little nuances and such.

I'd say check this game out if you can. You can probably find it at your local game store for like $20 for the base version and I think like $40 for all the expansions included.
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Gavin]

[SIZE="1"]As I said to Bill, that game title always reminds me of an ex-girlfriend of mine.

I've only played the demo of Dark Crusade, so I can't really claim to know the game well, however that which I did play I found to be well constructed and really solid, with a plot that actually kept you interested, even if it did cast Humanity as being altogether evil bastards.

I'm an RTS addict, and I have to admit I'm definitely considering getting the game, even if it just means I can show Bill you don't need to be a 40K fanatic to be able to kick someone's rear end.[/SIZE]

[silpheedpilot]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Alright, alrighty. I'm back! This time, though, I'm here to raise awareness of this fantastic game! Huzzah!

The game is an RTS, sure, and that might be a put-off for some of you but, really, it's less RTS and more RTC (Real Time Combat).
Screw resource management. It sucks, I know. Every StarCraft player knows they'd be much better at the game if they didn't have to harvest stupid ol' resources.

There is, however, resources to get. By capturing strategic points across the map you accumulate more and faster the Requisition Resource which is needed to build more troops and vehicles. So, while you're not micro-managing resources you're still getting it but this time by fighting for it.

Anyway. What I figured I'd do is give you a run-down and some links to pictures on each of the races strength and weaknesses.

[B][URL=http://uk.games-workshop.com/spacemarines/painting-blood-ravens/images/dow-blood-raven.jpg]Space Marines[/URL]:[/B] These are your all-purpose, all-tactical battle suit equipped badasses. They can do any job. They can do ranged combat and they can get in close to fight, but they don't excel in any aspect.
The Space Marines also have alot of vehicles to use like transports, tanks, walking mech battlesuits, and other. And they also have alot of what I like to call 'Hero Units', which are really powerful units that while you can only have one they are worth many. Pick these guys if you like a generalized faction that doesn't lean on doing one thing or another. Can do it all, just not best at doing so.

[B][URL=http://www.ic-games.co.uk/images/screenshots/2157/screenshots/3.jpg]Orks[/URL]:[/B] Numbers are the name for these guys. They don't have any new fangled technology, and they don't have any fancy smancy psychic units. Just big brawn, powerful guns and lots and lots of units. They do have vehicles and those vehicles while delicate in comparison to other faction vehicles can dole out a whole heap of punishment. Everything you do with the Orks should be done en masse. So pick these guys if you like to rush in with numbers, not finesse.

[B][URL=http://www.thedancemacabre.com/craftworldmod/ingame/newpaintjob.jpg]Eldar[/URL]:[/B] These are you futuristic Elves. So...Think elves. Most units specialize in one type of attack only. So ranged units are range and close combat units are close combat. Their Hero Units are especially powerful and they also get the Avatar of Khaine, a towering monolith of *** kickery. They also have access to wonderful vehicles like the Fire Prism which can make short work of even the Space Marines Predator tank and even have access to hovering weapon platforms that can be mixed in with general units. Pick these guys if you like really fast, and specialized to one type of combat units.

[B][URL=http://www.wgpower.net/articles/dawn/082.gif]Chaos Space Marines[/URL]: [/B] Goth kids dream made manifest! I present to you: Chaos Marines! The general tacical marine units of Chaos are like the Space Marines. Generalized. They're good at doing everything but don't excel at anything and thats about where the similarities end. The Chaos have access to the powers of, well, Chaos and as such can summon specialized units like Horrors which are crafty little demons that throw Hell fire, or they can send out Possessed Squads which rip enemies apart in close combat. Like the Eldar they have access to a single, monolithic figure: Bloodthirster. A unit that thrives on destruction and while a powerful unit it will only stay on the plane of existence unless it's thirst for blood has been satisfied. Or until killed. Pick the forces of Chaos if you like almost all specialized units.

[B][URL=http://www.druidika.de/images/dowwaunitlist/big/chimera.jpg]Imperial Guard[/URL]: [/B] A focus on large masses of troops coupled with deadly ranged attacks. For the Imperial Guard, mass firepower wins the day. Think Orks but instead of rushing in and choppin' things up you rush in and shoot things up. The Hero Units the Imperial Guard get can be used to instill fear in the hearts of men. Your squad not fighting as well as you want them to? Use the Execute command and your Commissar will execute one of his own men to strike fear and loyalty into the hearts of comrades. Trust me. They'll fight better this way. The Imperial Guard's structures are also unique in the fact that they can be garrisoned and thus become turrets. The Imperial Guard also have the luxury of some of the most powerful vehicles in the game. Use these guys if you like lots of firepower, and vehicle usage.

[B][URL=http://www.online-station.net/_news/2006/1220/07180_warhammer_dacru_02.jpg]Tau[/URL]:[/B] Like the Imperial Guard, ranged wins the day! However, most Tau units cannot hold a candle to any of the other factions in terms of hand-to-hand. So get back and start shooting or let your only melee focused allies; The Kroot cut them up while you shoot them down. Their vehicle units are also unique in that they can use Infiltration, so, they can become invisible. Some of the Tau ground units can also use this excellent trait. Use these guys if you want an almost only ranged army.

[B][URL=http://img.hexus.net/v2/gaming/screenshots/warhammer40k1_small.jpg]Necrons[/URL]:[/B] Slow, dead, and powerful. This race is the ultimate land based army. With almost no vehicles they make use of very specialized units. Some units shoot, some chop but they all rise from the dead. Thats right. Rise from the dead. When you take down a necron unit it has a chance of reassembling and getting back into the fight. This faction is also unique in that it doesn't use the Requistion Resource needed to train new troops. Instead they capture strategic points like all the other factions but they use them to reduce the time to create new units. Use these guys if you want powerful units. Very powerful units. But don't care they walk as slow as turtles.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Endymion]

[COLOR="Navy"][SIZE="1"][B]Dawn of War[/B]? Now thats a game I haven't played in ages. It's definitely one of the better RTS games out there. I still haven't had a chance to pick up the expansions - still have fun with just the base game ( though the necrons look sweet ). When I was visiting my ex while she was going to Harvard, I spent much of my time at the Gamesworkshop watching guys play Warhammer and Warhammer 40k on intricately created tabletops. Definitely awesome.

I'd have to say [B]Starcraft [/B]is my favorite in the RTS genre, but its followed closely by [B]Dawn of War [/B]and [B]Rise of Nations[/B]. Maybe I'll make my friends get back into it as well. [/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Zidargh]

I haven't really got much to add, but this topic's gotten me back into the game.

I'm currently playing through the campaign as the Tau. Just about to eliminate the Orks once and for all so it should be fun. :D I'm especially looking forward to wiping out a more 'realistic' Imperial Guard.

However, one thing I'd like to add is that I disagree with the comment about the Tau being poor melee-wise. Their Firewarriors, Commander (Unless you get War Gear) sucks, but their Kroot and Vespids are awesome. The occasional death animation of a Kroot executing an enemy on his knees but doing some samurai-like think with its scythe is very satisfying.

Anyone fancy an online match sometime?

[silpheedpilot]

[COLOR="SlateGray"][SIZE="1"]Why of course we fancy online matches! Go ahead and download Hamachi. Its a lan-over-net program and then join our LAN server. Our being me, Jokopoko, and Gavin and while you're at it join our Ventrilo server.
We play alot of matches with eachother against the computer but we're thinking of starting up some adverse games if enough OBers take interest.

Just hollar at me for the details on Hamachi and Vent.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Gavin]

[SIZE="1"]Yep, our online games are certainly a lot of fun, be even better if Bill would be a Space Marine chapter like the rest of us, lousy Chaos pawn. :p Seriously though, I only really got back into the game last week and I've had a huge amount of fun with these two, and it'd be great if we would get more people involved.[/SIZE]

[Zidargh]

Cool, so how would we arrange the event? If we do a 4v4 (us vs other players), we should be known as 'The Light Crusaders'. ;)

The reason I ask is because I'm a Brit, so I'm not sure if time differences could be a hindrance. By the by, are the Imperial Guard a fun race to use? I imagine they die alot. How do they tie into the Space Marines in the campaign if they're seperate?

[silpheedpilot]

[SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]Well. I'm here in the USA so it's a 6 hour difference between us and Bill, and Gavin but as far as I can tell it's not really been a problem for me and Bill to get games going. I'm usually on when he's on and vice versa.

And I'm assuming you're playing the Dark Crusade campaign in which case the Imperial Guard tie in by the fact that they are also trying to purge Kronus so they're both doing the same thing but are against each other because of it.

Either way. My AIM name is Mister Riot so go ahead and IM me sometime if you want the Vent info and the Hamachi server info. Maybe we can play sometime.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Gavin]

[quote name='Zidargh']Cool, so how would we arrange the event? If we do a 4v4 (us vs other players), we should be known as 'The Light Crusaders'. ;)

The reason I ask is because I'm a Brit, so I'm not sure if time differences could be a hindrance. By the by, are the Imperial Guard a fun race to use? I imagine they die alot. How do they tie into the Space Marines in the campaign if they're seperate?[/QUOTE]

[size=1]We use a WOW Ventrilo server, so unfortunately the only names we'd use would be among ourselves. Be awesome though to play against some live opponents.

As for the time difference, well only Joe/silpheed is operating outside of GMT, so we normally play in the evening when everyone is online. I really would recommend downloading Hamachi and Ventrilo as they makes the games much smoother and more fun, and if you're up for a challenge, the Lights of the Warp mod ups the combat ante to an unreal degree.

Also, as I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, myself, Bill and Joe all operate off fully patched versions of the games, Dawn of War 1.51 and Dark Crusade 1.21, though Joe doesn't have DC yet.[/size]

[silpheedpilot]

[quote name='Gavin'][size=1]We use a WOW Ventrilo server, so unfortunately the only names we'd use would be among ourselves. Be awesome though to play against some live opponents.

As for the time difference, well only Joe/silpheed is operating outside of GMT, so we normally play in the evening when everyone is online. I really would recommend downloading Hamachi and Ventrilo as they makes the games much smoother and more fun, and if you're up for a challenge, the Lights of the Warp mod ups the combat ante to an unreal degree.

Also, as I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, myself, Bill and Joe all operate off fully patched versions of the games, Dawn of War 1.51 and Dark Crusade 1.21, though Joe doesn't have DC yet.[/size][/QUOTE]
[SIZE="1"][COLOR="SlateGray"]
Nah, brah. Joe has the DC. Joe has had the DC for about 5 days now.
Either way, yeah. Download Hamachi and download Ventrilo then just ask me, Bill, or Gavin for the info. Maybe, since we're all patched up, we can just take the fight online with us four.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Zidargh]

Right ladies, both software tools are downloaded and am now ready for action.

They're pretty confusing but I'm sure finding your server is easy enough. If any of you are online the same time as me today, I'm up for some gaming, just I'm off to Sicily for a week tomorrow so may not be able to play with you until after then.

[Gavin]

[SIZE="1"]Ah fair enough then Joe, my headset's been replaced so we can use Ventrilo properly now. Just had out first game with Chris as well, absolutely pwned three Orks, it was brilliant.

On a side note, if we do eventually get enough people interested in playing, what name would we choose ? It'd have to be varied as generally we all play as different races, though we do play all as Marines a bit too. Raven Guard FTW.[/SIZE]