Dawn of War: Winter Assualt expansion released

[Fairweather Pure]

This is easily one of my most anticipated releases of the year. Dawn of War is such an awesome game on it's own right, but this expansion will be very "Brood War-esque" in that it will add several new units to each existing race in order to flesh out thier weaknesses. The new playable race, Imperial Guard, it the first and only defence oriented race in the game. It should shake things up considerably.

This will just make a great game even better.

[Bubba Grizz]

I never played this game or heard of it actually. What kind of game is it?

[Fairweather Pure]

http://pc.ign.com/objects/730/730067.html

Check out the gameplay vids. It's an RTS game based on the Warhammer 40k universe (my wet dream of geekdom). However, DoW takes a lot of bold, new concepts in terms of resource gathering and gameflow. Basically, you cap a strategic point, and as long as your flag is on that point, you collect "resources". The game is extremely action oriented as people struggle to knock opponets of strategic points while trying to defend their own. The game has the absolute best 1vs1 and teamplay maps I have ever played in all my years of RTS gaming. The original won a bunch of awards and it's used in tournament style gameplay. It was developed by the same house that did Homeworld (another excellent and original RTS).

The fight animations and death graphics are the bomb. You can even watch your own replays in real-time, moving the camera anywhere you want. The game even has "bullet time" ala Matrix style finishing moves. Visually, one could not ask for more from an RTS. It is pulse pounding, pure adrenaline rush gaming at it's finest.

As far as RTS games, it gets my highest reccommendation. 10/10

[Fairweather Pure]

Oh yeah, there are 4 playable races in the original, and a new one in the expansion. Each race is extremely different (even the builder units), yet well balanced. The only downfall is the single player Campaign, which was 11 missions for only the Space Marines. The expansion will have 20+ missions I think, split amoung the remaining 4 races.

It dosen't really matter about the lack of campagin in DoW, since the skirmish maps are so good. I've replayed those many, may times and still have some tough games vs AI.

It's also worth noting that the game has a huge following of dedicated mod teams that put out some choice content. New races and such are pretty common, and they are very, very good mods.

[Bubba Grizz]

So this would be a good game for a Lan party either free for all or coop vs computer?

[Sartori]

Great LAN party game. Easily the most brutally visceral RTS I've ever played. The carnage is awesome as it should be. Yes, you can play it FFA or Co-op Vs. AI, and it is a lot of fun - especially when you put it on harder or worse difficulty.

I dig the 40k universe, and can't wait for the expansion (Baneblade and Basilisk artillery? SIGN ME UP). The source material (including 40k and fantasy, and variants) has been developed over the last 25 years, and easily has an amount of detail on par with the Battletech universe. If you were familiar enough with it you would find striking similarities between it, and Blizzards *-craft stuff - but I won't go into that.

I started off playing Eldar quite a bit, but they are seriously lacking anti-armor capability, especially against defiler rushes. Damn I fucking hate those things. Hopefully, the Fire Dragons will help in the expansion. Lately, I just randomize it when I skirmish, and play with what I get. Don't know why, but I've never gotten into playing online with strangers.

Namco is working on a Warhammer epic fantasy RTS, and it looks pretty good if you like that side of the universe (I do). The coolest thing in my mind is it will be point based like the table top game - including beefy hero units, and will go straight to battle with no resource management at all. Kinda like Myth but with hundreds to thousands of units, and in a more familiar setting. What bums me out though is no Orcs. However, there will be Skaven, and I absolutely love that army.

There is a playable demo for Dawn of War that you can download from any of the gamer sites (or do a search for "dawn of war demo").

[Fairweather Pure]

Well, I like Eldar wrathlords and tempest tanks, but I admit they suffer from anti tank power. From the footage I've seen, fire dragons kick much ass and will make enemies think twice before dread/defiler rushing ASAP. I can only imagine what a pain they will be for IG armour. When I play, I'm generally SM, but I switch races once in awhile. Orcs are my least played, but I've been playing them a lot more recently due to the option introduced in the last patch that allows for persistant bodies. Boy, those orc vs. orc maps stack up quick!

I also heard they fine tuned close combat so that it is more effective, encouraging players to balance out and include more CC troops. Units like the SM chaplin and the ork nobz will really be powerhouses in the expansion. I've also heard similar descriptions of the Ogryns for the IG.

For the expansion, I much would've rather seen Tyranids as a playable race, but oh well. There's always future expansions There's a mod in the works too, so all is not lost.

[Sartori]

Wraithlords are good, but I don't recall Tempest tanks being in the game (Fire Prism and Falcon, no?). Predators give Eldar a hard time, too. Aside from D-Cannons, what I would have liked to see are Wave Serpents - easily one of my favorite troop transports. Falcons just can't take the hits. I love playing orcs because it's a different style than the other races, and always end up with a swarm of green if you're doing well The mega armour nobs in the expansion look pretty sick, as they should be. I'm guessing they'll be like a mini-squad of slightly downsized warbosses which sounds fun to me, but they might be more like an orc-style assault terminator squad? I'm not too familiar with them from tabletop. /shrug

Give me my Fire Dragons please so I can enjoy playing Eldar again...

[Fairweather Pure]

Yeah, I meant Fire Prism

I think the Nobz will be much more CC oriented than the SM terminators. I also think they will be rather limited in numbers and be more like little one man tanks. They may even have armour values. Of course, I could also be completely wrong. Lets also not forget the Khorne Bezerkers for chaos. Depending on when they are available, that unit alone could drastically alter games as either being primarily melee or firepower in nature. It could also force the less CC oriented races to turtle up a bit earlier and brace for berzerker impact.

We'll see soon enough! I'm picking up my copy tomarrow. Unfortunately I have a pretty busy scheduale up until Sunday so I can't really get into it until then

[Fairweather Pure]

AI controlled Imperial Guard are monsters. I've played 2 1vs1 maps as SM vs IG and I've been absolutely slaughtered both times. It wasn't even a contest. From my limitied experiance, it may be best to actually go vehicles when fighting IG, which is kind of ironic I look forward to swapping stratagies when fighting with other races

It's a very good expansion, but those IG are going to take some time getting used to.

[Sartori]

I picked this up yesterday, and am only halfway through the first mission at the key switch point (you know what I mean if you've played mission 1 yet). So far, I'm liking IG

What difficulty were you skirmishing on? I'm probly gonna start on Standard when playing as them OR against them until I get used to their tech tree and what they're capable of against me. When I find a build scheme that I like I'll ramp it up. I am not surprised you're getting destroyed if you're not using many vehicles. I suppose bombardment-style vehicles will be your best friend against their infantry as I've witnessed what they can do to a squad of marines. Maybe Rhinos will finally find a use for me after all (hello smoke launchers). I want to see how long a super unit will last! I'm sure a thirster won't have too much problem since it can just fly into the middle, and a Squiggoth can charge (always awesome to witness when it works out right). I think I'd have to screen an Avatar's advance though or he'd be shredded pretty quick. I bet Eldar will have the toughest time, unless you're using a good amount of prisms. Also, I love laying a minefield in front of my turrets - AI always falls for it, even if a unit of mines isn't completely built yet. They always stop to destroy it even if they're gettin smoked by a wall of turrets.

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Orkz are supposed to be MUCH better with this expansion.

I believe its harder to Spam Defilers with the xp as well!

AND most of all, with the addition of IG's you can turtle at will!

Hoping next Expansion will be Tyranids

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

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[Sartori]

Great shots Kwon. I shudder to even think about that necron pyramid `o ass woopin being in the game in any form.

Why bother with a spoiler or hidden tag anyways?

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

IMPERIAL BOOT CAMP

What are you looking at PRIVATE? EYES FRONT. I am your Drill Instructor, Sergent Ermey. I have even included my picture:


AIN'T I PRETTY? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN AT?

Now you listen up, and listen up good recruit! Look at cha! You don't even rate private, you no star scumbag! You don't even have a clue about the purpose of that mouse you're holdin'. Why do they saddle me with the likes of YOU? YOU no good keyboard negletin', menu seeking, "what is a listening post?" NOOB. YOU BETTER GET YOUR EYES OFF OF ME, ARE YOU FROM TEXAS? I know of A.I. that fights better than you. And they expect you to lead troops in battle??? (yes) That is SIR YES SIR. (yes, sir) I SAID SIR YES SIR, am I talking to a brick wall??? (SIR NO SIR) I SAID SIR YES SIR, NOT SIR NO SIR!!! You must be from Texas, you no good can't type, can't hotkey NOOB! NOW SAY IT! (SIR YES SIR) So you're from TEXAS NOW? (SIR NO SIR) I SAID SAY IT!!! (SIR YES SIR) "IT" YOU NUMBSKULL, SAY "IT"!!! (IT) Well, it learns slowly doesn't "it"...

NOW GIVE ME YOUR WAR FACE!



Hmmm... We will have to work on that. Now on to your educatin'.



UNITS

Now, this is a GUARDSMEN- you can call him a troop.



This troop is better than you, because, HE, can fight. Whereas you can not. You are going to be behind the lines pushing him into battle. That makes him a much more important and valuable commidity then YOU. YOU must protect HIM because without HIM you are nothing. DO YOU GET ME? (SIR YES SIR)

NOTICE THE NICE SHINY FLASHLIGHT THIS GUY IS FIRING. It will do damage to the enemy, IF WE CAN GET THEM TO KEEP FIRING IT AT THE ENEMY. You will have to motivate them to keep firing in the right direction! You can help motivate them in any way you want, but if you have half a brain I suggest you use your Commisar to keep them in line.
You must reinforce these units- DON'T leave them out there to hang high and dry!!! DO YOU GET ME? (SIR YES SIR) Optomism from the no star gallery. You have no clue how to reinforce that UNIT. You don't have even have an ORK FART bouncing around in that helmet you're wearing. Well let me clue you in. To Reinforce you need to left click on that ++ button. But since YOU are too SLOW to pound on that ++ button every few minutes why don't you do yourself, me, and your troops a favor. RIGHT CLICK on that ++ button so they will automatically reinforce!!! WE call that OVERWATCH, but you call it My Drill Instructor Told Me to Do "IT" so I'm gonna Do "IT". These guys deserve a fighting chance and the only way they are going to get that chance is if they are reinforced! You wouldn't send them out there against the Ork Horde with just four men? Well??? Would YOU??? DON'T ANSWER THAT.

This here is a KASRKYN.


These guys are tough (which you are NOT), fight hard, and are much braver than your average guardsmen. AFTER you waste all of your troops from your no hotkey, clueless "lets all charge the enemy!" strats, you will be calling on these guys to bail your sorry butt out. And don't worry, couch commander no star that you are, these guys will follow every misguided order you can give them.

Now this guy is the ASSASSIN VINDICARE.


AFTER you fail miserably, this guy has orders to take YOU OUT. He is a master of stealth, and can with his super-size scope take out the enemy with a one shot, one kill head shot. He can also be used to sneak in to the enemy camp and spot for your arty.

Now these guys should be more on your level, the OGRYNS.


They like to shoot and pound and hit and shoot and swing and hit and pound. They need lots of instruction, lots of direction, and lots of help. Reminds me of someone. Well, unlike you, these guys are strong and are great in close combat. Don't try to carry on an intellegent conversation with these guys, you just don't have what it takes yet.

Just as good at fightin is your GENERAL.


The General is a little egotistical and likes to have his aides with him as he goes into battle (he says he likes to have witnesses to his great battle prowess) so when you get him, let him attach a couple of priests and a psycher or two to build up his command squad... Later on he can call upon a strafing run to do some good damage, but otherwise he is just a very good fighter.

The COMMISSAR is going to keep the troops in line.


He will shoot the incompetents. I wish I had that power but YOU are somehow destined to continue to live... Oh. For the love of the Emperor....

The SANCTIONED PSYKER is going to be taking over the mental aspects of the battle (you should be doing this job, but until you're ready, we are going to let him do it).

He can fire a Lightning Arc (hurts a group of infantry), and Strip Soul (severe damage to one infantry unit).

The PRIEST will give you strength!

The Priest is a very good early command squad unit that is effective in close combat (you'd be effective too if you had a chainsword the size that they have) and can use his FANATICISM to keep your command squad alive.

Are you still there? GOOD. Well, this next fellow is a techpriest enginseer.

That is tech-priest en-gin-seer. Hopeless. OK, Just call him a BUILDER. Better. This guy builds, he can fight, he even has an axe, but he is a BUILDER. If the enemy comes around this guy will chase them down- so you're gonna have to call him back!

Which brings us to our next topic:

BUILDINGS



Field Command.

YES, you will be commanding IN THE FIELD. Emporer help us. You get builders and troops from this building. You will also be upgrading this building so you can get better units, more power (like you don't have enough power as it is), and better requisition production. You will need to build a Tactica before you can upgrade this building to tier 1, and a Mech Center before you can upgrade to tier 2.

This is a Listening post.

It will, if you remember to upgrade it, produce more requisition for your army. It will also defend itself when you reach the second upgrade. It won't defend itself long though, unless- you- provide- it- support.

Sentry Turrets.

This is a support building that will slow the enemy down VERY LITTLE. We call them speed bumps. You won't be seeing them much until you're in big, multi-army battles. And then you will only see them because you have maxed out on your troops and need a little extra firepower, because that is all they are- a LITTLE extra firepower. The missile turrets can be effective anti-vehicle, because you will not have much in the way of destroying enemy tanks... But you will be better off just getting sentinals! DO YOU GET ME? (SIR YES SIR)

Infantry Command.

Infantry Command. Infantry Command. Infantry Command. You might be asking yourself why did my Drill Instructor, Sergent Perp, just say Infantry Command 4 times?
WELL, I'm glad you can count (but its actually up there 5 times you noob no star chair commander hack!) Where-ever you go, you build one. You go to the middle of the map, build one there. You grab a listening post? Build one there, too. BUILD THESE THINGS EVERYWHERE. Why? Because the first squad in there is protected. The second squad in there is protected and gets plasma guns to boot. These buildings are what makes your army STRONG. You are going to have to build these things where you are attacking. You're going to have to build these things everywhere you want to defend. You may not have them all occupied, but you will need them where you want to send your troops to KEEP THOSE TROOPS ALIVE. These buildings also allow you to build more troops. BUILD THEM IF YOU'RE IN A BOX, BUILD THEM IF YOU'RE WITH A FOX. BUILD THEM HERE!!! BUILD THEM THERE!!! BUILD THESE DAD GUM THINGS EVERYWHERE!!! D O Y O U G E T M E ???

The Tactica.

This is where you will give your troops better weapons and armor. You will need to build one of these so you can upgrade to Tier 1.

Plasma Generator.

Produces Plasma. You need Plasma. Heck, you need a lot of things, but you definitely need plasma.

Mech Center. Builds vehicles, you will need to purchase and research each vehicle type you would like to produce. The Leman Russ Tanks are not available until you have researched mobilization for war.

Which brings me to my next subject:



VEHICLES


Chimera- fast way to move troops around, and has a limited laser weapon mounted (appears to be about the same strength as one unupgraded IG squad).


Hellhound- Anti-Infantry, destroys moral and fries units to boot. I like my Chaos well-done with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.


Sentinel (Walker)- can decap points- the Guard's only viable anti-vehicle unit until massed for war is researched in the Mech Center.


Basilisk (Arty)- Extreme range, and when you have money to burn you can start lobbing earthshaker rounds. Use in junction with your stealthed assassin so you can reveal targets.


Leman Russ Tank- Great tank with a main turret (battle cannon) for anti-vehicle and buildings, and two twin linked heavy bolters on the sides for infantry.


Baneblade Tank- Arguably the best tank EVER. Lasts much longer with a few Leman Russes as escourt, and with a force supporting it- this iron tidal wave of 11 guns can roll over all opposition. You will need to build its building after researching Massing for War before you can get this guy- and he will set you back 400 req and 400 power.

Mid-game you will want to have a hellhound and a couple of arties, Late-game you will want to move to Leman Russes, your Baneblade (you only get one), and maybe an arty or two. Your Lemans take 3 pop, your Baneblade is only 3(!), and your Arties are 2. You have a pop limit of 20 which you will need 3 mech centers and your Baneblade building.

UPGRADES

Armor upgrades- IG armor upgrade, Kasyrkin armor upgrade

Morale upgrades- Righteous Fury, Execute (Commissar shoots one of his units in the squad that he is attached to, oh the glory of good combat discipline!)

Accuracy upgrades- Your aim will be true, satillite recon?

Fanaticism- a priest upgrade that looks like a guy shouting, makes the units around this guy temporarily invulnerable.

Strip Soul- same? as the Eldar's ability, this allows the pyscher to do extreme damage to one infantry unit.

Lightning Arc- another anti-infantry ability that the psycher has, does damage to a group of infantry units much like the Eldar's ability.

Strafing Run- a commander ability similiar to orbital bombardment.

Assassination scope- allows your assassin to make a sniper shot from extreme range.



LEARN THE COLOR OF YOUR BOXES!

It is assumed that even raw recruits such as yourself know what your colors are. Well, in this army Blue is for Heavy Bolters, Red is for Flamer and Green is for Grenade Launchers. Later on you will be able to use Plasmas, which are Yellow, and mixed squads are Purple. Learn your colors!

USE YOUR HOTKEYS

Its all a matter of personal preference in regards to micro-management... If you find that you are concentrating more on the battles, then having your infantry command as a hotkey is essential- if you find yourself spending more time in your base, then you would want to have your squads hotkey'd. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.
I, as your Sergent, Trainer, and Daddy, highly recommend Infantry Command as 1, Command Squad 2, Troops 3, Troops 4, Troops 5, and Mech Center 6. I like to micro my troops in the field, and spend most of my time there, and since my playstyle is to have 3 or 4 Kasyrkin squads out with 2 Ogryn squads, I hotkey my troops so that I can DANCE. Whats wrong with dancing? You never seen a grown man dance before???

Just a friendly reminder since you probably slept through the hypno induced training and probably don't have a brain to hypnotrain anyway, to make a hotkey press CTRL+#, then to select that unit or building press the number. To zoom in on that building or unit press the number twice quickly.

USE YOUR TUNNELS

All worms like you can tunnel from place to place, so why don't you use them? I highly recommend when you are taking points to build infantry commands next to those new points. As the enemy comes back to kick your buttuckus back to orbit, you can transfer your 3 defending squads from one Infantry Command to another by simply clicking on the unit's box while that building is selected. It will take them a bit to get there, so you may have to use your brain and predict when they are coming! Moving these guys around the map is easy and VERY QUICK if you use your tunnels!



Now it is time to discuss BUILD ORDERS.

Build orders are different for every map, and against every enemy. You will be fighting Orks, who like to fight in close combat; You will be fighting Eldar which like to shoot you full of holes. EACH ENEMY takes a different approach and a different build order. Some you will want to tech fast, some you will want to max out your /10 first. Please see the rule of 10. Later air-brain, I'm still talking to you about build orders! OK, well I can't leave you like that, so try these for openers:

Cue builder, troop, troop, builder.
First builder builds Infantry Command next to your req point that you want to defend and looks like will be your main defense point into your base.
Troop 1 to nearest req. point
Troop 2 to next req. point
Second builder starts power gen. First builder joins him at that gen, then both builders go to the first req. point and caps it with a Listening Point.
Infantry Command builds Commander.

or Fast Tech build:

Cue builder, builder, troop, troop.

First and second builders make your infantry command and then your first gen.
Troop 1 to nearest req. point
Troop 2 to next req. point
Builders cap 1 or 2 points (with Listening Points) then start on Tactica
Upgrade Field Commande to Teir 1
Build Mech Center...

or Infantry Rush:

Cue troop, troop, troop, builder, troop

First builder builds infantry command, then caps first point
Troop 1 to nearest req. point
Troop 2 to enemy's req. point
Infantry command builds commander
Troop 3 to enemy's req. point
Builder 2 caps point
Troop 4 to engagement that should be in progress.

Keep Troop 1 capping your close points, and use your other troops to harrass the enemy. Waypoint your infantry command to the point of engagement, and keep spewing out squads. Builders cap points with LPs, and build a gen when all of the close points are capped. Emphasis is on winning that first engagement and taking down as many of the enemy's points as possible.

Your build order can make or break you! As you become more proficient as a commander you will adjust your build orders to meet your needs... These are just priliminary build orders, and I am sure that you will come up with ones that better suit your no good, lacksidisical, infirm style. Did you forget you are nothing more than a maggot??? Well, with some tried and true combat ex-per-i-ence maybe we can make you into a worm, or if we are extremely lucky, an ork grindin, eldar humpin, chaos thumpin SOLDIER...



QUEUING

Good troop movement revolves around queuing destinations. You do that by holding the shift key and selecting on the points you want your troops to go! As those troopers come out of the infantry command (and that infantry command better already be waypointed to the point you want them to go, you beanhead) you need to select them, put your finger on the shift key, press down and keep that button down!!! OH FOR THE LOVE OF THE EMPORER- KEEP THAT BUTTON DOWN! And then press on the points you want your troops to go and take. They will go to those points, capture them, and then move on to the next point!




NOW YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO BEING REAL MEN. YOU WILL KILL THE ENEMY. YOU WILL KICK HIS UNHOLY GREEN BUTT. YOU WILL FIGHT FOR THE EMPORER!!! OR SO HELP ME I WILL GOUGE OUT YOUR EYES, RIP YOUR HEAD OFF, AND LET THE NOBS PLAY SOCCER WITH IT. NOW GO DO ME PROUD SOLDIER!

[Sartori]

I think the Nobz will be much more CC oriented than the SM terminators.

From what I recall when you get the upgrade to be able to request terminator drops you get the choice for assault or regular, and the assault come with lightning claws (making them CC only) ?? It's been awhile.

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Maybe next years expansion will bring us Tyranids and Chaos divided[four gods]!

That's what i hope for the most!

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Great shots Kwon. I shudder to even think about that necron pyramid `o ass woopin being in the game in any form.

Why bother with a spoiler or hidden tag anyways?

Don't want to spoil the campaign!

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Good vid about Winter Assault

Vid

[Sartori]

Well, it looks like the Warhammer Fantasy RTS might have some minor form of resource management after all. Black Hole Games (Armies of Exigo) is making it for Namco, and it will be called Warhammer: Mark of Chaos. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Fairweather Pure]

Looks great!

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Well, it looks like the Warhammer Fantasy RTS might have some minor form of resource management after all. Black Hole Games (Armies of Exigo) is making it for Namco, and it will be called Warhammer: Mark of Chaos. Keeping my fingers crossed.

You prefer the fantasy one over 40k?

[Sartori]

You prefer the fantasy one over 40k?

If you mean tabletop, I don't know - I have only played 40k. I do know the mechanics, and some of the fluff for fantasy which I think is great stuff. I like how formations, ranks, and morale play a much bigger role in fantasy. And I LOVE Skaven. But, I have never actually played the game. The closest to it that I've played is Mordheim (tabletop miniature skirmish battles). My geek of a roommate is a fan of just about everything GW except for some of their business philosophies. He's also an ex-employee from the retail side, so I have a pretty solid source for any info I could ever want about pretty much that entire genre. He feeds me a lot of stuff about Fantasy and 40k. He also hates Eldar which might be why I love them /shrug. At least we agree on Skaven

Oh, to answer you question - I don't really have a preference.

[miir]

I went out and grabbed the original DOW and the expansion on thursday.. a bargain at $50 for both.


I'm not usually a fan of RTS games but this kicks ass.
Didn't even bother playing through the campaign, jumped right into skirmishes and online play.

Bloody good fun.

[Sartori]

Holy Cow how did that happen? You are NOT allowed to like video games that I like!

Anyways, my roommate has been playing Orcs lately, and he says it feels a lot different than pre-expansion. They changed some weapon load-outs and unit sizes for some troops and vehicles (Shoota Boyz get big shootas as an upgrade, Slugga Boyz get Burnas only, and their unit size is capped to half the size it used to be for example), and they lowered the HP on Killa Kans which I think is good (it was way out of line from tabletop IMO). And omfg mega-armour nobs are definitely sick sick sick.

[Fairweather Pure]

The more I play this the more I love it. The upgrades and readjustments to existing races makes this a whle new experiance IMO.

IG are still tough as nails. Even after playing against them several times a day the games can go either way and they are always long and involved.

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Anyone playing DoW 1.4 online or is everyone playing WA?

[Sartori]

I pretty much just skirmish AI or play against my friends. Still trying to get down a decent build order for Eldar since they've become the gimpiest race bar none. Then I'll move onto other races.

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

I pretty much just skirmish AI or play against my friends. Still trying to get down a decent build order for Eldar since they've become the gimpiest race bar none. Then I'll move onto other races.

If you want to be competitive in online play, Play the Insane AI until you can deal with him easy! There is also a downloadable AI mod that improves the AI and makes him even more difficult.

When you master Insane, you can deal with the crazy people online and their buildorders/micro:ing!

Do you use auto-produce and auto-overwatch OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS?

[Fairweather Pure]

IMO, Eldar are far from gimps with the addition of fire dragons to take out enemy armor. Warp Spiders are also highly underappreciated by most players. I also think they have great dreadnoughts. Also, who can forget that Seer council + Farseer = Death.

Blizzard did a great job of mkaing protoss a bastard version of eldar in that they both may seem like a weak race, but in the right hands they become the most powerful. The are a micro managing army though, which is a turn-off to lots of people.

[Sartori]

IMO, Eldar are far from gimps with the addition of fire dragons to take out enemy armor. Warp Spiders are also highly underappreciated by most players. I also think they have great dreadnoughts. Also, who can forget that Seer council + Farseer = Death.

Fire Dragons and Spiders are great units, and I use them a LOT. Dreadnoughts aren't too bad, but I use them depending on the army. I think Seer Council + Farseer used to be absolutely great, but they seem to have been changed a bit. Now most of their time is spent using an AE knockback (which does no damage) instead of actually doing any damage. Knockbacks are fine normally, but if you are an exclusively melee unit it defeats the purpose. I am pretty sure a unit of nobs will eat SC for breakfast. Farseer is easily the weakest commander unit until it gets some upgrades.

Blizzard did a great job of mkaing protoss a bastard version of eldar in that they both may seem like a weak race, but in the right hands they become the most powerful. The are a micro managing army though, which is a turn-off to lots of people.

Have always agreed with the eldar --> protoss comparison. Eldar need a LOT more micro, especially post expansion to be competitive. However, I hear the #1 ranked player on the ladder is Eldar.

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Farseer got good AE spells, but dont use the Farseer as a killer (since it hits for less than the other Commanders, but use it as a unit disruptor.

For example AE:ing Anti vehicle squads etc while your other troops do the damage.

The spells aint bad either!

If you check out TMG Selects replays, he is the best Eldar player i've seen!

His Farseer is going in and out of combat constantly disrupting while his troops do the damage. Prevent CC troops reach his Guards,Spiders etc.

Very nifty, in one replay he killed 2-3 squads that were bunched up with that lightning spell!

Funniest Hero is the BigMek imho! Porting away when it gets bad etc or Porting with his squad ambushing heavy weapon squads and engaging them in CC.

[Fairweather Pure]

Funniest Hero is the BigMek imho! Porting away when it gets bad etc or Porting with his squad ambushing heavy weapon squads and engaging them in CC.

He is my absolute least favorite character to see in the early game. I can handle all the other commanders, but those BigMeks are a constant PITA!

[Kwonryu DragonFist]

Funniest Hero is the BigMek imho! Porting away when it gets bad etc or Porting with his squad ambushing heavy weapon squads and engaging them in CC.

He is my absolute least favorite character to see in the early game. I can handle all the other commanders, but those BigMeks are a constant PITA!

Yeah people complain about his 47 seconds buildtime! LOL

If yer up for an online match, send me a PM here or a tell to Azgalon in the DoW chatroom