DoW 2 beta

[01d55]

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

I'm terrible at RTSes but I am very very interested in DoW2, though some of the things like Requisition being too restrictive intimidate me a bit.

The weird thing about requisition is that tank units generally aren't that much more expensive than infantry squads - nearly all the additional cost is in power. This is most egregious for Space Marines - a tac squad costs 500 req 0 power. A new squad of Banshees costs 400/15, whereas a Fire Prism is 450 req and nearly a hundred power. The one big exception is the Avatar, which costs 1000/150. Emplacements actually tend to be pretty cheap, comparatively. Brightlance is 300, Shuriken 230 or suchlike.

It's kind of a shame that webway gates aren't more useful, but the pathing ai won't automatically use them and it's better to save the psychic might for the "Fuck you and all your units!" power.

[Kerensky287]

Originally Posted by 01d55

The weird thing about requisition is that tank units generally aren't that much more expensive than infantry squads - nearly all the additional cost is in power. This is most egregious for Space Marines - a tac squad costs 500 req 0 power. A new squad of Banshees costs 400/15, whereas a Fire Prism is 450 req and nearly a hundred power. The one big exception is the Avatar, which costs 1000/150. Emplacements actually tend to be pretty cheap, comparatively. Brightlance is 300, Shuriken 230 or suchlike.

It's kind of a shame that webway gates aren't more useful, but the pathing ai won't automatically use them and it's better to save the psychic might for the "Fuck you and all your units!" power.

I don't find requisition all that restrictive, actually. Grabbing a single point will net you an extra 22 per minute (I think that's what it is... whatever the +22 means) and you don't need to do anything to it to build it up.

I actually found it kind of hilarious how on the DoW2 beta forums people were shouting and complaining about how broken suppression was... and then someone discovered jump troops, infiltrators and grenades. It seems like excellent forethought that emplacements are so cheap because they're essential for a good army (suppression will stop any non-vehicle attack) but vulnerable enough that you'll lose them in droves if your opponent is competent.

And regarding webways, a Farseer commander can use her crazy "Remove the fog of war" ability to stick one right next to the enemy base, making it far more useful in this situation.

...And I just found out - again from the DoW2 beta forums - that rippers are INDEED an effective counter to suppression weapons, especially friggin' Howling Banshees, as well as the fact that Warriors with Adrenal Glands are tank murderers and that Zoanthropes spread regeneration synapse... and I hadn't been using them until vehicles showed up.

[01d55]

Originally Posted by Kerensky287

I don't find requisition all that restrictive, actually. Grabbing a single point will net you an extra 22 per minute (I think that's what it is... whatever the +22 means) and you don't need to do anything to it to build it up.

I play 3v3 victory point and req points only show +13. Admittedly that +13 goes to my allies too, so I guess they reduced the income per player to keep total unit count down.

[Kerensky287]

Originally Posted by 01d55

I play 3v3 victory point and req points only show +13. Admittedly that +13 goes to my allies too, so I guess they reduced the income per player to keep total unit count down.

I noticed that too (I WAS referring to 1v1 games), and it makes me wonder whether the points will be scaled differently depending on player numbers... or maybe it's just the map... aww, man, I would totally test this if my computer could run the game.

EDIT: My friend tells me Steam says the beta is open to all starting January 27th. I feel partly gyped that Soulstorm buyers only got 6 days of exclusive beta, but once it's wide open there will be way more people playing automatch, so it's pretty good anyway.

I'm kinda hoping this thread explodes a little when the beta is open, because if not then it means a lot of people are missing out on a seriously good game.

[h4x.m4g3]

Originally Posted by Kerensky287

EDIT: My friend tells me Steam says the beta is open to all starting January 27th. I feel partly gyped that Soulstorm buyers only got 6 days of exclusive beta, but once it's wide open there will be way more people playing automatch, so it's pretty good anyway.

I thought it was the 28th, I hope I'm wrong. Anyway the open beta was announced alongside the soulstorm only beta.

[Harpell]

So does this beta support single player skirmish matches as well, or is it only multiplayer?

[01d55]

Multiplayer only, 1v1 or 3v3. The UI defaults you to 3s.

The beta is distributed through Steam, but the actual matchmaking and suchlike goes through Windows Live!, which uses a terrible codec for voice chat.

Seriously, it's awful.

Since they don't allow you to start with a number I used my secondary alias, Arrlaari, for Live!.

[Harpell]

Bah, I was considering downloading it off of Steam, since I have Soulstorm, but I was hoping for some single-player. Satellite internet is utter crap for these sort of online games...

Oh well, I wont be properly appeased until the I have the full army painter anyway.

[Kerensky287]

...

01d55, you DO know that you can throw in computer players whenever you want?

So to answer your question Harpell, YES, there is single-player. You just need to create a public game online and fill all the open slots with computer players.

[01d55]

Originally Posted by Kerensky287

...

01d55, you DO know that you can throw in computer players whenever you want?

So to answer your question Harpell, YES, there is single-player. You just need to create a public game online and fill all the open slots with computer players.

What is this "custom game" of which you speak?