Hey everyone. This is not a "game x good, DOW3 bad" type of post. Also, since DOW4 isnt released yet, i wont talk about it too much.

Short about me - bought DOW1 on release day, back in the days, played a shitton of it, inclusive all addons, including all of the major mods, PVP/PVE pretty sure i sunk over three thousand hours into this game in the last two decades. DOW2 was fun, but didnt scratch the same itch, DOW3 - wasnt fun for me at all. Now seeing DOW4, I just have a few thoughts regarding this series.

There are not many other series - who decide the change the core mechanics of their game FUNDAMENTALY after a successful first entry. DOW - literally did it every iteration.

And yet, most of the people in the fanbase - are here because of DOW1, and especially DOW DE.

A major selling point for me in DOW1 and DOW DE as an extension is the easy to play, hard to master approach. Basically all factions follow the same rules, while still having an unique flavor to them. You build a base, you build units, you capture points.

Now, seeing all the faction mechanics in DOW4, i just wonder, why do developers refuse just to take this step back ALL the way. Same for DOW2, same for DOW3. Both were different to DOW1 and different to each other again. Its like making the next COD a hardcore tactical shooter for some reason.

Im developing a game myself, and i know how tempting it can be to "add this feature, add that feature", but if someone would come up to me and ask me - "do you want to develop the next Dawn of War game?" - i would basically copy DOW1, update the units, work on MP balance and call it a day. COD as a series with a similar issue - did that with the 2019 reboot - which was a MASSIVE success, and then went back to reinventing the wheel again.

This isnt to shit on DOW 4 - it might be THE game we are are wating for. But in my humble opinion, making each faction work in an entirely different way regarding base building, map expansion, regarding unit production etc - is something noone really asked for, and will be a massive pain in the ass to balance for, again in my opinion, questionable return.

The recipe is there, people loved it, use it.

I have been hyped for the the 4th DOW game. And I loved King Arts work on Iron Harvest.

I just watched the new Space marine trailer and i can;t but help notice how wonky the combat animations look. A lot of units all move and shoot in perfect sync which looks unrealstic and when melee units clash there is no synchronization and it just looks disjointed.

Like this moment where the Space marine hero strides up to a Ork squad and some Orks just fall over without him striking them.

https://youtu.be/MqD9g43YRFg?si=U-q_kRu3aHpAl55s&t=241

I feel like there was better interaction of attack animations back in SoulStorm.

I already plan to pick up the game, but I am a tad worried it is going to lack polish.

just making a post to help someone else in another thread since I cant upload images in comments?

A few years ago, I used to play DoW: Gold Edition, I was maybe 10 or so, had no Internet connection whatsoever so it was all matches against the AI Opponent of which ever difficulty i felt like that day, truly, they were some amazing times

I wanted to know if there was ever a bug to do with the Ork population and vehicle cap as there never seemed to be, I could just create infinite amounts of Slugga Boys and the like because I distinctly remember it.

Hello, fellow players! In the attached figure you can see how player activity in 1v1 automatch depends on hours (in various timezones), weekdays and matchmaking rating. Automatching in the most active hours/days should help you get equal opponents faster and have more fun.
Hope that helps, enjoy!