So lately, thanks to a birthday gift from my girlfriend, I've been playing around with Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2.

First, let's get this out of the way. I'm a huge Dawn of War fan, less so a WH40K one. I've played the first DoW through Dark Crusade, and dabbled
a little in Soulstorm, though not as much given it was outsourced. I'm also an RTS junkie and it's a rare RTS that doesn't appeal to me in at least
some way. Yes, even the cheap ass ones from developers you've never heard of.

Anyway, Dawn of War was pretty revolutionary in its time. The focus on Strategic Points to generate resources as opposed to mining resources from static fields
made early expansion and conquest of unclaimed territory a big deal, making the gameplay far more aggressive than RTSes that allow a more turtling style of
play. Not to say DoW didn't allow turtling. The Necrons and Imperial Guard alone made defensive play an interesting and valid tactic. However, even with
these adjustments and other additions(squads had add-on sargeants and leader units, as well as upgradeable weapons), the game was still easily recognizable as
an RTS. The basic endgame tactic of "sit back, build your resources while fending off attack and then crush the enemy with overwhelming force" was
still viable.

DoW2 is an entirely different beast that's taken an age old argument about RTS games between me and a friend of mine and put it center stage. He noted he
always hated RTS because Patton or Rommel didn't stop, build factories for their tanks, and then strip mine Africa for resources to continue fighting each
other. They started out with the units they had and reinforcements and then made due.

Dawn of War 2 is very much in favor of this opinion. While a few teams can build structures, they're inevitably front line units designed to enhance
assaults. The Tyranids and Space Marines(which I've tried thus far) both have the ability to spawn structures which increase the hitpoint regeneration and
reinforcement speed of their squads, and the Tyranids can even aggressively "Tyranoform" the planet with massive cappilary towers that buff all
allies in their range. The Techmarine hero, by contrast, is also able to summon defensive turrets at any location, an ability that is unique to him and
categorizes him as the "Defensive Archetype" hero of the three SM top guns.

The most controversial addition from some angles has been the hero system. DoW heroes were very hands free before. You simply had them attached to a squad and
could use their powers when you wanted, but they weren't a huge impact on the battlefield after the early game where they could mop the floor with most
infantry or the late game where they got their best powers(such as the Force Commander's orbital bombardment). Here, you get one hero out of three classes
your faction has. Each has their own unique way to enhance your basic troops, but doesn't really overpower it. I find myself more often selecting them
based off what global powers the hero gives you(gameplay map powers that are in play regardless of if your hero is alive or dead), more than what the heroes
themselves allow you to do. For the Tyranids, the choice is assisted by only one hero actually producing synapse effects that larger Tyranids tend to
(Warriors/Carnifex/Zoanthropes), that being the Hive Tyrant. Another hero can gain upgrades that do this, but only the Tyrant does it from the start.

Similarly, the leveling up function is something I could stand to see in more RTSes. Units that've survived considerable battles and killed many foes have
leveled up in a simple fashion: their stats are better. They hit harder, take hits better, move faster, etc. This applies not just to heroes, but to any unit
period. Admittedly, seeing a high level spawn of Ripper Swarms is unlikely, but units with survivability(like a Carnifex) are terrifying after only a few
battles that they live through.

However, in the end, it's the little things that break it for me. Cover is very important in this game. Grenades, flamers, vehicle trample, jump jets and
teleportation all are very well designed to incorporate the cover concept by countering it. Similarly, suppression fire(firing so much that units are pinned
down and can't move as fast or at all, depending on the unit) is similarly a major factor that hasn't ever really been in an RTS. But using both of
these boils down to the bane of casual RTS players everywhere: micromanaging. The level of micro necessary to use the system to the fullest puts Starcraft
expert players to shame, almost. And the computer already knows how to do it, so playing at higher difficulties is likely to be annoying. Add in the lack of
fixed fortifications of any kind, even so much as turrets that allow me to use a few units to bottleneck a pass without worrying about the complicated
cover/suppression/infantry/vehicle dynamics, and in three multiplayer games, even with AI teammates, I've never felt like I'm playing proactively.
I'm just reacting most of the time to what the AI, friendly or enemy, is doing, and trying to add as best I can. When easy AI teammates make me feel like
the dunce newbie player that has no idea how to play the game, what's obviously a well designed and balanced game starts feeling....unfun.

It's not that DoW is a bad game. It's not even that it's not a real time strategy game. It's that it doesn't feel like an RTS. It's
captured the word of the definition while ignoring the spirit to me, which may be innovative, but there's something to be said for "if it's not
broke, don't fix it". The more "battle going back and forth" may be points in favor of combat realism, but I don't play the game for
combat realism so much as fun strategy.

Of course, I'm sure the tabletop gamers will be thrilled by a version of the game that accurately reflects the tabletop more. Me? I'll be over here
mourning my dreadnought rushes.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."

Designed to work with low level characters, capable of solo play, and only a handful of minion customs.

The Skulls twisted death cult requires their recruits to earn their place with murder, and it falls to you to stop it.

So I was bouncing around Tvtropes last night when I came across mention of this. That's right, it's Super Robot Wars - Type Moon style!
You start out choosing one of two original characters, either a Super type (heavy armour) or a Real type (mad wind dodging skillz) and team up with a variety
of characters from Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime. I'm only a few missions in, but current highlights include Kohaku being Saber's new master, Arucied
watching too much anime and turning herself into Magical Girl Phantasamoon and Satsuki attacking your characters with Shining Finger.

The link only goes to the translation patch, not the actual game, but it took me 10 seconds on Google to find a copy of the game with the patch applied. Also,
the game has four Acts, but it seems the current patch only does the first three.
--
If you become a monster to put down a monster you've still got a monster running around at the end of the day and have as such not really solved the whole monster problem at all. 

okay, due to the fact that the story is probally gona be pretty big, i can't relly class it as a snipit, so i'm copying and pasteing it all here...
we'll as much as i can

###

Atlas Park

Seraph Residence

Dark Seraph sat in his workshop, trying to find something to do. He tied up the Yarnball case, even helped put a stop to Super Yarn before it really took
off, but now he was bored. Swinging his feet up on to the desk, he contemplated having a nap when he heard the door open. He watched as his sister floated into
view, an impish smile on her face that meant she must be up to no good again.

"What do you want Sera?" He asked.

"Well Seraph, I thought it was so sad that you spent all your spare time looked up in your work shop, that I decided to make you have some
fun."

"Make me have fun?"

"Yes, that's why you're coming with me to one of these." She paused as she rummaged around her pocket before pulling out a flyer.
"Speed Dating Seminars." She finished proudly.

"And why the hell would I want to do that?"

"Because it says it's a great way to meet new and exciting people and quite frankly your social life is pretty shity."

Seraph glared at his sister, but knew she was right, he hadn't really tried to make friends since moving to paragon… hell when he thought of it, Terr
and a maybe a few others were amongst the few he'd class as friends.

"Now come on Seraph. This will be fun. But if you don't come. I'll turn you into a cat girl again." She smiled as witch fire danced
between her fingers.

"And remember what I said I'd do if you do try that shit again?" Seraph snapped.

Sera threw up her hands in exasperation "look mister grouch, what's the worst that could happen, you have a boring night? Sure sounds better than
sitting on your arse. Unless you enjoy being a boring blob"

Seraph knew there was only one way to end this. "Look, even if, and I stress if, I go. What's the point? Most of the people at dose things are
midlife crisis sufferers."

"What makes you say that?"

"I hade to tail a guy into one once, it wasn't fun."

"well look, it says here that's it's for people in their mid twenties to thirsty, okay… that's a bit of a stretch on my behalf, but it will
be fun. How about this, if you have no fun and think it's a waste of time, I'll leave you alone for a week, okay?"

Seraph thought about it, a weeks of silence would be nice, and it wouldn't be like he was cheating on Enynn, hell he had the impression that whatever
was going on between them was burning out anyway. "Okay, you have a deal, when's it on?"

"Tonight at 7:30, so you have some time to get ready. And remember, try and have some fun." She giggled as she skipped away. Seraph sighed as he
slowly stood up, for better or for worse, he was going to socialise.

(I could not quite reach the appall Thibor height I aspired to, but enjoy it anyway)

There are times for keeping your game face firmly fixed. When others were looking to you for leadership, you could not let it slip. You had to maintain the
aura of calm, focused control, and by doing so, let it pass like an infection to those around you. When the world around you was descending into utter bat-shit
madness, to the point where the appearance of the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts and Hookah smoking caterpillar would signify a turn towards the comfortably
normal, you had to keep your game face on.

Thibor has a carefully trained game face. Anyone who had spent any time with dogs knew how difficult it was for the canine, or in his case, lupine, face to
conceal emotion. Doggie expressions were so obvious.; happy dog, unhappy dog, sick dog and of course Irish setter. His team looked to him. His team needed him
to be the solid rock on which they would build their attack.

Even now, they were arranged behind him. Waiting for the word.

He has seen the enemies. His team had seen the enemies. He turned to his team.

His game face faltered. Then gave way. The look of shocked horror matching those around him.

As one they turned and fled, tumbling through the portal and back into the bustling Architect Enterprise lobby.

Thibor let loose a long and profane burst of Romani; the incredibly descriptive and anatomically unlikely phrases were a balm to his battered psyche. He felt
cleaner for it.

"Okay." Thibor rasped. "Is never, ever, running one of Jackie's custom missions ever again. Agreed?"

It was unanimous.

Something that has slipped my mind entirely when I brought the family to Fenspace: the family dog.
In my family's case, they own a Pembroke Welsh Corgi - a very well mannered and happy-go-lucky specimen named Oliver. He's an old dog, which is really a shame. He'll be sorely missed when his time comes, but he will be remembered for certain.

Some of you might remember my little ol' blueside mad scientist girl from Justice. Once Going Rogue hits, I'll be bringing a version of her to the Legendary Academy.

So...a little taste of what's coming, in the style of Skippy's List...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6H0i1RAdHk

Amusing by my standards. YMMV.

There's an entry in the concordance for chapter seven:

Quote:out of fear of the youth of America, Richard Nixon attempts to cancel the 1972 elections and fails
According to my reading, Nixon did in fact go so far as to ask the well-known thinktank the Rand Corporation if he should do this in our "real" history. He got words to the effect of "Are you crazy? No!" as a response.

Quote:RAND advised President Nixon on the feasibility of canceling the 1972 presidential election
Henry S. Rowen, then president of the RAND Corporation, released this statement carried by The Wall Street Journal on May 13, 1970: "The Rand Corporation has not undertaken such a study. It does not contemplate making such a study, nor has it been approached by anyone with a proposal for such a study."

Fuck, this is ten
thousand times better than the one in the movie. Forget Summer Glau, give this woman a staring role in a major motion picture.

-----------------

Epsilon

Linna?