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Welcome to the Official Thread for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II!



Official Website: http://www.dawnofwar2.com
Official Community Site: http://community.dawnofwar2.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Warhammer-40...-II/54857773904

Latest News

13th February: Space Marine Faction video: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2654

12th February: Tyranid feature: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2640


Box Art



System Specs

Here's what you'll need to play Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II...

Minimum Requirements
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor
1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or equivalent
5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

Recommended Requirements
Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM (XP and Vista)
256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900, or equivalent
5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

Launch Party!

THQ has teamed up with iGames to create a global launch party for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II. The PC gaming specialists will be hosting free events at various locations across the world on Saturday 21 February.

Each launch party will have free food and drinks for participating gamers - and there will be prizes to be won!
For more information, go to: http://www.igames.org/dow2

Events are planning across the world - to find a participating game centre near you, click http://www.igames.org/events.asp?event=8627.


Beta Info

The beta is now open to all worldwide, via Steam.

Instructions for getting in can be found here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/227756.page

Screenshots

You can see loads of screenshots of Dawn Of War II here: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/game/screenshots/4231/1

Videos

Space Marine Faction video: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2654
Tyranid Faction feature: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2640
Ork Faction Feature: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2596
Orks vs Tyranids Feature: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2578
The Space Marines take on the Ork horde! http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2548
Space Marines Squads: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2467
Multiplayer: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2507
Enemies Of The Imperium: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2522
Tyranids: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/2546

Wallpapers

Ork Warboss wallpaper (direct downloads links)
1280x800: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/href/wallpaper/1047?wallpaperId=454
1680x1050: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/href/wallpaper/1048?wallpaperId=454
1920x1200: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/href/wallpaper/1049?wallpaperId=454

Mekboy and Kommando wallpapers can also be found on the official site: http://community.dawnofwar2.com/blogs/?p=481






These wallpapers and more can be downloaded here: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/game/wallpapers/4231/1

Fansite Kit

THQ-Games has a fansite kit full of content you can download for use on your own sites: http://www.thq-games.com/uk/game/fansite/4231/1

Pre-order Packs
For information on the exclusive pre-order packs, check out this thread: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/226664.page#510194

Is this authorized, or what. Seems dakka worthy.

I know this sounds stupid, but if it is Games for Windows it probably has achievements, which would be kind of cool.

In fact I am now changing my wallpaper to something geeky away from nakid ladiez.

Thread updated to include link to Planet profiles on the official community site http://community.dawnofwar2.com/

I guess my biggest concern with DoW II is that, for all its vaunted strategy and roleplaying with your squads, character building, abilities and so on, that it's still going to be a case of "Select all > attack target until dead > attack next target".

One of Dawn of War's biggest failings - and it's not just DoW that had this, virtually all RTS's do this - is that anything can kill anything. So a Bolter Marine, given enough time, will kill a Land Raider. You add in roleplaying and 'leveling' mechanics to that, and damage output then becomes the most important, as the more of that you have, the quicker you can mulch whatever comes your way.

I'd really like to see certain units just being immune - and I mean utterly immune - to different attacks. If a bunch of Bolter Marines come up against a Predator, I want to see the Predator lose 0 hitpoints, because these weapons should not be damaging it.

Once the game becomes "Select all my units and drain one enemy's health after the next until I win", it ceases to be a strategy game, and just becomes number crunching.

BYE

Tacobake wrote:Is this authorized, or what. Seems dakka worthy.

I know this sounds stupid, but if it is Games for Windows it probably has achievements, which would be kind of cool.

In fact I am now changing my wallpaper to something geeky away from nakid ladiez.

There will be Achievements

Have to agree with H.B.M.C on that one is DOW 2 like that?

as soon as i heard the voice of that scout.... i just expected him to say "BIG O, SHOWTIME"

I hear that in Company of Heroes riflemen cannot kill a tank. Perhaps Relic will incorporate this feature into DOW2?

P.S. WhEREZ da Chaoz?

H.B.M.C. wrote:I guess my biggest concern with DoW II is that, for all its vaunted strategy and roleplaying with your squads, character building, abilities and so on, that it's still going to be a case of "Select all > attack target until dead > attack next target".

One of Dawn of War's biggest failings - and it's not just DoW that had this, virtually all RTS's do this - is that anything can kill anything. So a Bolter Marine, given enough time, will kill a Land Raider. You add in roleplaying and 'leveling' mechanics to that, and damage output then becomes the most important, as the more of that you have, the quicker you can mulch whatever comes your way.

I'd really like to see certain units just being immune - and I mean utterly immune - to different attacks. If a bunch of Bolter Marines come up against a Predator, I want to see the Predator lose 0 hitpoints, because these weapons should not be damaging it.

Once the game becomes "Select all my units and drain one enemy's health after the next until I win", it ceases to be a strategy game, and just becomes number crunching.

BYE

Select all units and telling them to attack target will not work in this game against a player who is using:

1) Cover - it is hugely important for shielding units from damage. If my units are in cover and yours are not, I have a huge advantage.

2) Abilities - if you passively are watching a fight and not using unit or hero abilities, you are going to be worse off.

The game also has a counter unit system. A heavy bolter squad will destroy some units, and get annihilated by others.
It's all in how you use what you've got.

Just got back from the Dawn of War community day and am starting to write up my experiences in This Thread in news and rumours, so check it out for info about the game.

I don't think a hundred marines wouldn't eventually reduce HBMC's Predator to a dented pile of crud after a couple hours.

But I would like to see them run out of ammunition once in a while. Maybe try a krak grenade.

From what I've read it sounds like you *need* heavy weapons to kill tanks. And some bigger stuff is immune to small arms fire (Carnifex was one example). And, apparently, heavy weapon teams need to set up before firing. A bit weird considering SM's walk around with heavy weapons, but oh well.

My computer speakers will be destroyed before I get done playing DOW II, I am confident to predict. It cannot come too soon.

H.B.M.C. wrote:I guess my biggest concern with DoW II is that, for all its vaunted strategy and roleplaying with your squads, character building, abilities and so on, that it's still going to be a case of "Select all > attack target until dead > attack next target".

One of Dawn of War's biggest failings - and it's not just DoW that had this, virtually all RTS's do this - is that anything can kill anything. So a Bolter Marine, given enough time, will kill a Land Raider. You add in roleplaying and 'leveling' mechanics to that, and damage output then becomes the most important, as the more of that you have, the quicker you can mulch whatever comes your way.

I'd really like to see certain units just being immune - and I mean utterly immune - to different attacks. If a bunch of Bolter Marines come up against a Predator, I want to see the Predator lose 0 hitpoints, because these weapons should not be damaging it.

Once the game becomes "Select all my units and drain one enemy's health after the next until I win", it ceases to be a strategy game, and just becomes number crunching.

BYE

It isn't just varying weapon effectiveness against different targets, but also use of cover and range. Add in those three things and you have potential for strategic decisions. Ignore those three things and you probably don't. Most RTS ignore all three or use them in the most superficial way.

Instead you get an emphasis on strategic considerations, capturing resources and producing new units to overwhelm the enemy with superior numbers. Some have brought in special attacks for characters, but there's rarely any tactical decision making in their use because they should always be used as quickly as possible - the skill is in cycling between units special attacks and casting them as quickly as possible.

DoW2 has moved away from this model and it led me to assume they were adding cover, range other tactial considerations, but the demos I've seen indicate nothing of the sort. I hope for the best but at this point I suspect the worse. Still, Relic does have a solid record and THQInsider is arguing for some cover mechanic (though that's unlikely to be sufficient and was present in DoW and didn't produce much tactical decision making). Time will tell.

I presume there is devaster squads in DOW2.

What is the max special weapons aloud in a squad of Space marines now?


Before it was five, but if they added devasters how is that going to work.

Are there more codex squads like Strikeing Scorpions and Lootas available?

Xav wrote:I presume there is devaster squads in DOW2.

What is the max special weapons aloud in a squad of Space marines now?


Before it was five, but if they added devasters how is that going to work.

Devastators seem to come with heavy bolters as standard. There are 3 marines in a squad of devastators in the campaign we played.

Cheese Elemental wrote:Are there more codex squads like Strikeing Scorpions and Lootas available?

Lootas are definitely in the game, but I didnt see the full Eldar list. Warp spiders and howling banshees are definitely in anyway.

What are the big scary tier 3 units for Space Marines and Orks?

Eldar - Avatar
Nids - Carnifex
Orks - Squiggoth??
Space Marines - I have no idea.

Probably Squiggoth and Land Raider? I mean, come on...

EDIT: I rescind that. Obviously it will be Calgar in his own Drop Pod.

If the tier 3 unit for Tyranids is the Carnifex, I will be INCREDIBLY disappointed. It should be one of the big bugs, at least the Heirodule

A couple o' questions though
Will the nids get spore mines?
What is the Nid builder unit?
Will the game still incorporate flyers?
if so what will the Nid flyer be?

Nids do get Spore Mines. As far as I could work out, they come from their base defense 'turrets'

Builder unit I don't know.

Fliers...not that I saw. They were bobbins anyways.

Erm, I think the Hierodule is a bit too big for this game. I doubt titans, stompas, or eldar titans will be in either.

Is there a synapse mechanic?

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Once the game becomes "Select all my units and drain one enemy's health after the next until I win", it ceases to be a strategy game, and just becomes number crunching.

BYE

When any balanced RTS game is played at a high level (Pro Gamers) it is going to be extensively strategy/micro/macro intensive. The strategy comes from build orders, choosing when to expand, and choosing when to attack. Also their is lots of skill in the micro aspect of the game (at the high levels). Conversely any RTS game played at a low level is going to have little to no strategy because players do not maximize their efficiency and so build orders do not have a significant purpose and the people lack the micro to multi task with small attack forces and still manage the rest of the game so they end up trying to build up huge forces and then blindly crush their opponent by moving foward. If you want to play a video strategy game without putting in the thousands of hours it takes to get good at it, you should just play a turned based game, or be happy with the lack of emphisis on build order and micro and realize that macro will be your main concern.

What I don't understand is why GW could possibly lack the foresight to not release their sub par RTS game when the sequel to the best RTS game ever made Starcraft 2 will be coming out around the same time.

The Marine super-unit is the Predator.

BYE

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:What I don't understand is why GW could possibly lack the foresight

I'm all for ragging on GW, but this isn't something I think we can pin on them. THQ is the publisher, they decide when to publish based upon how quickly Relic gets the game done.

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:...the best RTS game ever made...

Debatable. I personally hated Starcraft. I found it quite dull. More of a Total Annihilation fan myself.

BYE

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:What I don't understand is why GW could possibly lack the foresight

I'm all for ragging on GW, but this isn't something I think we can pin on them. THQ is the publisher, they decide when to publish based upon how quickly Relic gets the game done.

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:...the best RTS game ever made...

Debatable. I personally hated Starcraft. I found it quite dull. More of a Total Annihilation fan myself.

BYE

No other RTS game has had near the success that starcraft has had. If you don't understand where I'm coming from check out the korean pro league. No where in the world do pro video gamers make more money or play at a higher level. Plus its balanced almost perfectly with the race protos (spelling?) winning like 1.5 percentage points more then the other two races (at the pro level) its something like 32.8 32.8 34.2 (ish)

Edit: your right tho best is just an opinion so let me rephrase myself and say that its the most successful RTS.

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:

If you want to play a video strategy game without putting in the thousands of hours it takes to get good at it...

Hm, this would explain why I get my butt kicked whenever I play RTS multiplayer.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:What I don't understand is why GW could possibly lack the foresight

I'm all for ragging on GW, but this isn't something I think we can pin on them. THQ is the publisher, they decide when to publish based upon how quickly Relic gets the game done.

Luckbox Sillypants wrote:...the best RTS game ever made...

Debatable. I personally hated Starcraft. I found it quite dull. More of a Total Annihilation fan myself.

BYE

TA FTW!

Happy New Year everyone!


The system specs for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II have now been confirmed:

Minimum Requirements

Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor
1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or equivalent
5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

Recommended Requirements

Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM (XP and Vista)
256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900, or equivalent
5.5 GB of Hard Drive space