WH40K: Dawn of War vs. Dawn of War II

[Arctic Blast]

Having played DOW2 up through the end of Chaos Rising, I too hankered for DOW1 again. Despite my curiosity about DoW2: Retribution, I'd still more quickly fire up DOW1. There's just more to it altogether. Even the campaigns are kind-of better.

Plus, DOW2 requires not only always-online Steam but also always-online Games For Windows registration. At the same time. Maybe that was dropped for Retribution, but it was annoying as all hell for the first two games.

The GfWL requirement was dropped with Retribution.

[undercovergeek]

Something suggested to me on the Wargamer boards an age ago:

Play DoW I on slow speed.  It actually feels a bit like 40K on the tabletop as you marginalize the base-building/resource gathering madness.

Personally, I prefer DoW I, but enjoyed both.

Now if I could just get into a Blood Bowl league with people who spoke English, I'd have something.

Best,

Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)

there is, or at least was a massive BB community over at RPS

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Having played DOW2 up through the end of Chaos Rising, I too hankered for DOW1 again. Despite my curiosity about DoW2: Retribution, I'd still more quickly fire up DOW1. There's just more to it altogether. Even the campaigns are kind-of better.

Plus, DOW2 requires not only always-online Steam but also always-online Games For Windows registration. At the same time. Maybe that was dropped for Retribution, but it was annoying as all hell for the first two games.

The GfWL requirement was dropped with Retribution.

It was dropped in the original. It made me refuse to buy the expansions. Maybe a year after I got it you could esc key out of the GfWindows login. By then I could not care less, the gameplay was too rock paper scissors for my taste.

[JasonPratt]

I played the original DoW2 and DoW2Chaos earlier this year, and GfWL was definitely still required for both registration and online linking.

If GfWL was dropped/never required for Retribution, that significantly increases the likelihood I'll play it someday; but I have other games on my to-buy list first.

[Bison]

I cannot say I really ever had issues with GfWL.  I find the extra log in/registration annoying but I've never been unable to play a game with it as the DRM.  I guess I've been fortunate in that regard.

[Arctic Blast]

I cannot say I really ever had issues with GfWL.  I find the extra log in/registration annoying but I've never been unable to play a game with it as the DRM.  I guess I've been fortunate in that regard.

The only issue I've ever run in to with GfWL is GfWL trying to update itself. It inevitably breaks and fails and has to be done manually...every single time.

[panzerde]

I really enjoyed both, for different reasons.  They really are different games.  I like the larger unit cap and variety of factions in DOW I.  The campaigns were just ok; I found some of them to be too much of a clickfest and I'm not keen on base building.  DOW II feels like it has a lot more of the WH40K fluff in it, the graphics are nicer, and the squad focus is fun.  DOW II is also the only game I've ever spent any significant time playing multiplayer.

Also, DOW II has some missions on Space Hulks that are a lot of fun.