Dawn of War II

[Saulus]

Just curious who else is playing this game... I picked it up after playing the beta (I never played DoW1). I enjoy the game as I am a big Company of Heroes player and the engine uses many existing mechanics from that game.

Been playing the campaign so far... force commander with jet pack and high melee skill is awesome...

[CorneliusVonRichten]

You just have to love the Space Marines. But I still have to grab a copy of the DoW 2, since I hope that it's more tactical then the first one.

[Anks]

Ohh no...Why did you have to bring DoW 2 up Saulus.*Ducks and Covers before Kasso and Satoshi find this thread*

[Saulus]

I already know they play, but Kasso doesn't have the game yet.

[c2k]

I played the beta, and while I like CoH graphic system and unit AI, I have a big problem with the way the game is played. You can literally play the game just running around capping points, no combat needed. The Warp Spider Exarch is very good at doing this as well, and it leads to a rather dull game.

I have DoW 1 and I really enjoyed that game, but DoW 2 was a disappointment to me, perhaps because I had higher expectations.

[Iso]

Waiting for my preorder to arrive. Preorders always come late.

I played the beta, and while I like CoH graphic system and unit AI, I have a big problem with the way the game is played. You can literally play the game just running around capping points, no combat needed. The Warp Spider Exarch is very good at doing this as well, and it leads to a rather dull game.

I have DoW 1 and I really enjoyed that game, but DoW 2 was a disappointment to me, perhaps because I had higher expectations.

Play Annihilation mode. Then you fight or die.


Edit: It's here!

[Satoshi]

Kasso and I both have the game. I already beat the Campaign, even spending literally hours doing several side missions to give everyone awesome items. A great game, I loved the single-layer blend of RTS and RPG elements, and the co-op mode gives amazing micro-control power.

I'm still pissed that there are no 2v2 modes/maps, and a lack of FFA, but otherwise Multiplayer is decent. I hated the lack of base-building at first, but it has really removed my greatest weakness from the first game: my inability to control the flow of battle due to being in my base managing my economy and construction queues. So, I'm coming to embrace the 'purity' of the combat.

All in all; I'm glad I didn't decide to hold off on it simply because of my qualms with the lack of multiplayer detail. The single-player has more than made up for it.

[Acruied]

Just got the game.

Kind of disappointed that the game tries to focus on micro-management yet doesn't take a page from World in Conflict's streamlined gameplay controls to make micro-management easier to play.

Still playing the campaign mode and with the campaign's gameplay style, would be great if they allowed players to pause to make give commands instead of using the standard RTS control considering its a small scale combat. Another disappointing aspect is the production quality of the campaign seems to be lower than CoH's, which has a great campaign in its delivery.

Yet to try online, so will reserve opinion on that for now.

[Iso]

Campaign = ultra easy on Primarch mode.
Multiplayer = lamest repeat of the same tactics over and over, no matter your opponent's race, on the same tired maps that were in the beta.

Relic = will now allow mods for the game.
Windows LIVE = only way we're getting new content for it.

[Kaybrie]

I've been finding the storyline to be epic on so many different levels that it makes my heart sing, though I bought the game mostly for the multiplayer, and sadly the rarity that I seem to come across teams of proportionate skill is oddly lacking. Even still, for the most part I have a fun time with the game, the controls are nice, units are responsive as you'd expect them to be. Some people compared it to a game of whack-a-mole but I find as time goes on you figure out units niche's where you can place them and not have to worry about being pounded out of your bunker in a heartbeat. Attention to detail is nice, and the hard-counter system makes the game essentially in a constant state of fairly decent balance, requireing players to use varying tactics with the whole of their army, rather then more traditional strategies in RTS's that just involved spamming Dragoons or Hydralisks.

Also;

Campaign = ultra easy on Primarch mode.
Multiplayer = lamest repeat of the same tactics over and over, no matter your opponent's race, on the same tired maps that were in the beta.

Relic = will now allow mods for the game.
Windows LIVE = only way we're getting new content for it.

Someones trying way too hard to sound cool. Just saying.

[Iso]

Campaign = ultra easy on Primarch mode.
Multiplayer = lamest repeat of the same tactics over and over, no matter your opponent's race, on the same tired maps that were in the beta.
Relic = will now allow mods for the game.
Windows LIVE = only way we're getting new content for it.

To elaborate on what I've said since it probably doesn't make much sense in foresight, Relic has decided to bar the capability for users to make and play online with mods to the game. We can not look forward to new races or gametypes as we were able to have in the first Dawn of War unless it comes directly from Relic on the Windows LIVE Marketplace.

though I bought the game mostly for the multiplayer, and sadly the rarity that I seem to come across teams of proportionate skill is oddly lacking.

Multiplayer is fairly straightforward rinse and repeat. Every race has a winning combination that, unless it meets another team using a winning combination, simply will not lose due to having weaponry to defeat every possibly troop type and support to reinforce endlessly. If everyone has a winning combination in a 3v3 you will have a good battle, but if you have 3 winning combinations verses 2 and 1 runabout, the team with the odd man out will lose every time.

Some people compared it to a game of whack-a-mole but I find as time goes on you figure out units niche's where you can place them and not have to worry about being pounded out of your bunker in a heartbeat. Attention to detail is nice, and the hard-counter system makes the game essentially in a constant state of fairly decent balance, requireing players to use varying tactics with the whole of their army, rather then more traditional strategies in RTS's that just involved spamming Dragoons or Hydralisks.

As a side note, for those of us who prefer a more involving game than either of these two situations or a pretty game of rock-paper-scissors (I found the defense missions rather frantic and an exception to the usual whackamole), and for the game to not always be in a state of balance, since mods are a no go the game can never become harder.

We also can't expect a map or campaign editor for people to design Space Hulk missions.

[Kaybrie]

I wasn't really argueing with you, but for the sake of thus, what are these winning combinations that cannot be stopped? Last I checked if you made an army well balanced for dealing with tanks, infantry, heavies, and swarms, and you get hit by say, just a swarm, suddenly it's 1/3'd of your army vs everything they've got. I mean, if there is such a omnipotent combination I'd like to know about it, would probably help my online play alot.

And where did you read that Relic isn't 'allowing' mods? They're fine with it, but the way the engine designed it they said that it would be alot harder for people to do it. It isn't impossible to mod the code of any game if you get your hands on it, which is as easy as buying a copy.

[Iso]

Was going off second hand reports at ModDB initially, but quick search gets this post from a Relic senior forum moderator quoting an interview.
http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=203205

[Kaybrie]

Well, after reading 5 pages I discovered something. . . The Thread is 6 months old.

People will love or hate it regardless, the vast majority of the people I've spoken with who've played the game say that they like it, you clearly don't and you're entitled to your opinion.

[Iso]

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9789/relic00014s.jpg
Screenshot of unlocked paints and a Tyranid scheme I cooked. Surprisingly easy to do.
Sorry for pic size, too lazy to re-upload smaller.


((Edit: Wow, someone's already hacked the Imperial Guard to be playable. Mods are coming with or without Relic's help.))