Dawn of War?

[Zalmoxis]

I've been checking out reviews for this game awhile now. Is it any good?

[econ21]

It depends on what kind of game you like. If you like its kind, then, yes, it is very well made with lots of polish and love of the source material. If you like Warhammer 40k, I suspect you will get something out of the game.

Basically, it is a Command and Conquer type traditional RTS. You build up a base, gradually getting access to better troops or upgrades for your troops. Then you squish the enemy base. The troops types are rather good - there's a kind of "rock-scissors-paste" aspect, so some weapons are good against armoured inf, some against unarmoured, some lower morale etc. The combat is not that frenetic and has some tactical aspects - use of cover, special moves, etc.

The "resource gathering" is well done - there isn't any! Or rather you get resources for holding strategic locations. This makes the game feel more military and less economic.

The graphics and sound are wonderful - better than RTW, IMO. You can zoom in and see great death animations; your units acknowledge orders with very evocative sayings that increase immersion etc.

The singleplayer campaign is characterful with a fun story and great cut scenes, but in terms of gameplay it is rather short and lacking in challenge. Multiplayer is supposed to be strong, but I have not tried it.

I played and enjoyed the demo a lot. Unfortunately, I bought the full game a week before RTW and stopped halfway through the single player campaign. I haven't been inclined to go back to it, as I don't really like traditional RTSs. But if you do, Dawn of War is a very good one.

[Khorak]

Of note is the DoW mod scene. They're going mod crazy out there, and are...surprisingly motivated. Entire new sides to play (which won't overwrite old ones) are being added, just a couple months now....

[Zalmoxis]

So, it's basically a point an click game, with some new elemnts and new graphics. Is it like other games, where the way to win is to build the largest army, or somewhat like Total War games, with actual tactics?

[econ21]

So, it's basically a point an click game, with some new elemnts and new graphics. Is it like other games, where the way to win is to build the largest army

There's a unit cap - so it's more about getting upgraded units faster and getting the right unit match-ups in combat.


or somewhat like Total War games, with actual tactics?

No, it's not really like Total War. At least on the battlefield maps, Total War IMO is a "wargame", rather like Warhammer 40k the table top game. Dawn of War is an RTS, very like Command and Conquer or Age of Empires.

[Ja'chyra]

I agree with Simon, it's basically just C&C with better graphics, and they are pretty good. I got bored with it after about a week and uninstalled it, it's been lying on my desk ever since. When will I learn to try demo's before I buy?

[Sjakihata]

I liked it, especially because of the eldars, but then again, the space marines are done very well - and very true to the 40k universe

My faith is my shield!

[The_Emperor]

Think of it as kind of like Warcraft 3, C&C Generals except units have a very basic morale stat (they run away if they are vastly outnumberd and outgunned), and its set in the Warhammer 40K universe. (and is squad based warfare, with weapons upgrades and extra squad member avaliable for purchase)

It plays much like a traditional RTS with its own Warhammer 40K spin.

[lars573]

The morale system in dawn o war isn't that basic The_Emperor. The flamer upgrades that most armies get are specifically intended to lower morale and the AI always buys it first.

IMO Dawn of war is a good conventional RTS game. Well worth the $60 I paid for it. Great graphics (especially the death animations), good sound design. If your not familiar with the Gameworkshop warhammer 40k universe you can still enjoy it. But you will get the nagging felling that the game is very similar to the Blizzard craft games (war and star). There is a reason for that, Blizzard was trying to get the 40k license but the deal fell threw. One of my favorite things about Dawn of war has to be the Eldar avatar, the chaos bloodthirster and the Orks cockney accents.

[Zalmoxis]

Ok, couple more questions.
1) Do units gain experience the more you fight, or just get worn out?
2) Has anyone played in MP, and how is it?
3) Does the game get repetetive?

[econ21]

Ok, couple more questions.
1) Do units gain experience the more you fight, or just get worn out?

No, I don't think they do gain experience. I think there is a marine upgrade (apothecary) that may help them recover health & they may do near their base (its been a while), but basically they seem to get worn out. There is a nice queue teleport replacement feature, so there is very little tedium getting them back up to strength.

There's a very nice tree of upgrades and customisation of marine squads that more than offsets the absence of experience though (eg you can have up to 4 special/heavy weapons, plus targeting/health upgrades, plus unit leader weapon options etc). It is not a game where your squads will be cannon fodder - there are less units than in RTW, so you care about them more.


2) Has anyone played in MP, and how is it?

I have not but it is supposed to be better than the SP campaign. Try the skirmish maps in the demo - not sure they are MP in the demo, but even SP they are fun.

I may try it with my son when we get a second computer.


3) Does the game get repetetive?

Is the Pope a Catholic? This is my problem with RTSs - they don't have the strategic or tactical depth of a TW. The SP campaign is not bad, as there is a strong narrative and they slowly introduce you to higher tech features, plus new enemies. But it is quite short. The two skirmish maps in the demo were repetitive but strangely addictive for a week or so. Never tried them in the full game. I may go back to it.

Have you tried the demo? It's a good one, with an amazing movie, IIRC (also on the full game).

PS: For what it is worth, I think the AI was pretty strong. As I said, a good RTS but an RTS nonetheless.

[The_Emperor]

and the Orks cockney accents.

The orks make me laugh whenever I play as them... *clicks to select unit* Ork replies: "Sod OFF!!" ~D


The morale system in dawn o war isn't that basic The_Emperor. The flamer upgrades that most armies get are specifically intended to lower morale and the AI always buys it first.

What I mean is basic compared to TW Morale... Especially as flanking, surprise attacks, etc does not effect morale, only being outnumbered, in part of a losing squad and near flamers does.

[lars573]

Ok, couple more questions.
1) Do units gain experience the more you fight, or just get worn out?
2) Has anyone played in MP, and how is it?
3) Does the game get repetetive?

1)The way it works is that you build a squad. For this example I'll use space marines. The squad starts out with 4 marines armed with their assault rifles. You can them re-enforce the squad to it's maximum of 8 marines. Every marines has a health bar and when one is killed you can que another to take his place with the re-enforce button. When you build the early upgrade building you can give the squad special weapons. You have access to flamers and heavy bolters (machine guns) first. These are effective vs infantry and light vehicles. At tech level 2 you can add sargents to you squads. Also you get access to plasma rifles and missile launchers for upgrades, they are effective vs buildings heavy vehicles and heavy infantry. Sargents can rally your squad and he has 2x the HP (hit points) as a regular marine. Heavy bolters and missile launchers need time to deploy after the squad stops moving too. Also at tech level too you can build the apothacary unit. They are medics, and any infantry unit in their area of effect regenerate their HP faster than normal. Apothacaries can also be attached to a squad to heal them faster and lose less marines. There are veterancy upgrades but they are only for your leader units. Gives them more HP attack points and in the case of the Ork, Space marines, and Chaos marines gives the secondary leader unit more powers.
2)The computer dawn of war is installed on doesn't have a net connedction so can't help you,
3)All RTS games get repetative but for Dawn of war the multiplayer is from what I've heard good and the SDK they released for it has given rise to a plathora of mods. I myself have the total war and imperial guard mods installed.

[lanky316]

I was having a quick flurry online earlier funnily enough and yes it is an improvement but I've found that with most game, you get more of a challenge out of a human opponent then the AI and as a result you get a more strategic game trying to take the right points.

Another nice touch is the fact you can taylor your army to your own scheme. A good thing that is especially popular with the average GW player.

Truth is though it is entirely up to your opinion on RTS games, I like them but they have a tendency to get repetetive and those extra little touches may not save this game in the long run, although I have played more of it then I ever did with C&C online.

[King Edward]

If you Enjoy The W40K table top game you will love this if not, its just another warcraft3/c&c generals clone. i myself enjoy both so it was worth me parting my magic beans for!!!