Dawn Of War II

**drone** · 07-21-2008, 17:30

I thought tyranids (well, at least the genestealers) were a rip from Aliens. SpaceHulk introduced the 'stealers, although there was a small mention of them in the monsters section of Rogue Trader. They were popular, I figured they just expanded the idea from there. The fluff on them is very Borg-like now.

**Spino** · 07-21-2008, 19:10

Originally Posted by drone

I thought tyranids (well, at least the genestealers) were a rip from Aliens. SpaceHulk introduced the 'stealers, although there was a small mention of them in the monsters section of Rogue Trader. They were popular, I figured they just expanded the idea from there. The fluff on them is very Borg-like now.

Yes, in part. As Lars573 mentioned the Tyranids are also, like most hive mind alien races found in sci-fi, inspired by the 'Bugs' in Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Regarding the Alien/Aliens influence clearly Games Workshop saw a good thing and borrowed from it. And the Borg as we all know, came much later.

lars573 Re: Dawn Of War II

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Yeah. Space elves FTW!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abokasee
They have made some steps to take the Fantasy bit out of 40k, removing the squats, shoving in the Tyranids and Tau (I can't really see there fantasy equiviliants), Witch Hunters and Demon Hunters are just "inflated" fluff/backround details, of the Empire and there inquisitors

Much like Starcrafts Zerg and Protoss they are an aping of the Bugs and Skinny's from Starship troopers. So they don't really have one.

Try not to forget that Blizzard's Warcraft & Starcraft universe are a direct ripoff of WH40K. The Tyranids have been around much longer than the Zerg.

In fairness to the Eldar they're less 'fluffy' and wispy than their High Elf counterparts (which is probably why I like them much better). I do object to the inconsistencies regarding the way they've been visually portrayed. The Eldar are supposed to be a bit more alien and less earthy elf-like in appearance. And yet the Farseer in the DoW2 trailer looks like just another fantasy elf in Eldar garb... complete with long & lovely manicured nails...

Speaking of WH Fantasy - WH40K carryovers... of all the races in WH40K I find the Orkz to be the most out of place. Warmongering mushroom soccer hooligans in outer space just seems so silly. Even the changes to their origins to make then fit into the WH40K universe is incredibly weak. The argument for Orkz in space just doesn't hold water (I know, I know, daemonic nasties from the Warp aren't exactly low sci-fi either). On the other hand without the Orkz the WH40K universe wouldn't be nearly as funny and wacky as it is.

**Meneldil** · 07-22-2008, 19:14

Originally Posted by Spino

In fairness to the Eldar they're less 'fluffy' and wispy than their High Elf counterparts (which is probably why I like them much better). I do object to the inconsistencies regarding the way they've been visually portrayed. The Eldar are supposed to be a bit more alien and less earthy elf-like in appearance. And yet the Farseer in the DoW2 trailer looks like just another fantasy elf in Eldar garb... complete with long & lovely manicured nails...

Sorry, Eldar have never been described as "alien-ish" : they are space elves, look like space elves and even taste like space elves at first sight, and they've been portrayed that way since the 2nd edition of 40K.
But on the other hand, they've been getting major fluff overhaul, and I'm not sure they can be described as a simple cut 'n past of the WFB High Elves. They have a much deeper background, with a distinct culture and way-of-life (all these things that clearly lack to the tolkien-ish High elves)

Fluff-wise, they're supposed to be expert at everything, nice, classy and all that. Of course a female farseer would have manicured nails. I mean, she's an arrogant and pompous witch after all

As for the game, I'm eager to try it out. Though I was expecting yet another poorly designed Warhammer game (cause let's be honest, Game workshop and its licenses gave birth to quite a lot of crapy video games, and WAR Online seems to be heading that way), DoW proved to be rather entertaining.

And seriously, seeing Eldar in the trailer is just total ownage. We've had too much of these Space Marine vs Ork thingy.
Eldar are fun, eldar are cool, they deserved to appear on a video. Too bad they got hammered by the Marines (but then again, considering that 50% of 40K players actually play Space Marines, that's not surprising. I mean, THEYRE TATH IMBA).

**Reverend Joe** · 07-22-2008, 19:25

Originally Posted by Meneldil

Sorry, Eldar have never been described as "alien-ish" : they are space elves, look like space elves and even taste like space elves at first sight,

...What?

**Spino** · 07-22-2008, 19:52

Originally Posted by Reverend Joe

...What?

Clearly he's suffering from a malady born of the imbalance of the humours. A good leeching should cure what ails him.

Besides, everyone knows the Eldar taste like chicken...