Editing Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War/Gameplay

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==Gameplay==
The player usually starts with a single HQ building and a few basic units. Gameplay is initially focused on base and unit construction, then shifting to capturing and holding strategic locations on the battlefield. These control points provide resources to construct additional units and buildings or unlock new technology. Single player campaign battles are mostly won by destroying the enemy base(s).

===Resource management===
There are two primary resources: Requisition and Power. These resources are not harvested or otherwise gathered by the player's units.

Some Requisition is generated the army HQ, and the player can increase his Requisition income by capturing and controlling Strategic Points on the battlefield. These locations can be reinforced with defensive structures that further increase the rate of Requisition income. Resources are unlimited, but sources of Requisition will eventually decay, their income rate decreasing. Power is gathered by building Plasma Generators, each HQ supporting up to six. Some maps have Slag Deposit sites where more powerful generators can be constructed. Basic units usually require little Power and advanced units lots of it.

In addition, the [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War/Orks|Orks]] have an Ork Resource. Ork Resource is generated by Waaagh! Banners and is used up when creating Ork troops and vehicles.  The number of banners and the size of the Ork population determines the Ork's Waaagh! level which in turn determines the technology level the player has access to.

===Warfare===
Infantry units are controlled as squads rather than individuals. Most fully reinforced squads consist of about 10 units. The squad moves and attacks as a single entity. Squads can produce and replace their own units anywhere in the field. They can be equipped with special weapons and have heroes or special units attached to them. For example, a Space Marine Squad starts with 4 Marines, but can be reinforced to 8 Marines and a Sergeant. Individual marines can be equipped with heavy weapons. The player is free to choose particular upgrades and can specialize each squad for a specific purpose.

Vehicles are highly resistant to anti-infantry weaponry, so they must be targeted with specific anti-vehicle weapons (e.g., missile launchers) to be destroyed. Most vehicles can also be upgraded with multiple weapon systems, usually differentiating between anti-infantry and anti-vehicle armaments.

In addition to a typical health mechanic, infantry squads also have morale points. When morale drops to zero, the squad "breaks" and their fighting ability is significantly reduced. The squad's morale will regenerate while the squad is not in combat. Some weapon types, such as flamethrowers, are made specifically to demoralize the enemy. Favorable terrain gives units a defensive cover bonus, while water and swamps slow units down and decrease their defensive ability.

==Setting==
The game is set in the ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe, a dystopian vision of the future with gothic undertones. Humanity has forged a galaxy-spanning empire, [[wp:Imperium (Warhammer 40,000)|The Imperium]], with the [[wp:Emperor of Mankind (Warhammer 40,000)|Immortal Emperor]] as humanity's leader and God. The Imperium is in a state of constant war with the [[wp:Ork (Warhammer 40,000)|Orks]], [[wp:Eldar (Warhammer 40,000)|Eldar]], and the human servants of [[wp:Chaos (Warhammer)|Chaos]]. The single player campaign is set on the planet Tartarus.

===Factions===
''Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War'' features four playable armies.

The Space Marines are the elite genetically modified superhuman soldiers of the Imperium. Space Marines have the highest morale in the game. Their troops and vehicles are more expensive, however. The Space Marines are the only playable race in the single player section of the game, and the 11-mission campaign features the [[wp:Blood Ravens|Blood Ravens]] chapter as the protagonists, led by Captain [[wp:Blood Ravens#Gabriel Angelos|Gabriel Angelos]] and [[wp:Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000)#Librarians|Librarian]] Isador Akios.

The Chaos Marines are traitors that have chosen to abandon The Imperium and their duties to humanity, and instead worship the [[wp:Chaos (Warhammer)#The Chaos Gods|Gods of Chaos]]. In ''Dawn of War'', they use troops that are similar to their Imperium counterparts. In addition, they employ morale-draining [[wp:Daemon (Warhammer)|daemons]] and [[wp:Psyker|Psykers]]. The campaign features the [[wp:Alpha Legion|Alpha Legion]], with their leaders, Sindri Myr and Lord Bale.

The Eldar are an ancient, technologically advanced race. Eldar in ''Dawn of War'' are fast and fragile. They are able to move quickly across the map via webway gates. The campaign features the craftworld of [[wp:Eldar Craftworlds (Warhammer 40,000)#Biel-tan|Biel-Tan]], and their leader, [[wp:Farseer|Farseer]] Macha. 

The Orks are a savage, warlike race. In large enough numbers, they gain morale immunity. The [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War/Technology tree|tech tree]] for Orks differs from the other races in that it depends on the amount of orks currently in your army and the number of erected ''WAAAGH!!'' banners. Several clans are featured in the campaign, as is the Ork Warboss, Orkamungus.

In addition to the four fully playable races, the [[wp:Imperial Guard (Warhammer 40,000)|Imperial Guard]] also make appearances in the single player campaign as allies of the Space Marines, led by Colonel Brom. They would later be made into a featured race for the first expansion pack, [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Winter Assault]].

===Plot===
{{spoilers|The campaign is set on the planet [[wp:Planets of Warhammer 40,000#Tartarus|Tartarus]], an Imperial planet besieged by a large Ork Waaagh! The campaign begins with Colonel Brom and his regiment under attack by Orks. The [[wp:Blood Ravens|Blood Ravens]] 3rd Company, led by Captain Gabriel Angelos, makes planet fall and saves Brom and his remaining men. In the aftermath of the battle, Gabriel is joined by the Librarian Isador Akios. Brom asks Isador about a recently conducted [[wp:Exterminatus|Exterminatus]] of the planet Cyrene and Isador makes it clear he is not to bring it up again. The Blood Ravens then prepare for extermination of the Orks surrounding the port, in order to protect the evacuation craft.

Isador, sensing that the Captain's mind is troubled, tells him that there was nothing he could have done to save his home planet of Cyrene. Gabriel tells him not to mention it again, stating that his homeworld was his responsibility. After the extermination of the Orks, scouts reveal that Chaos forces are operating on the planet. Soon after they are joined by an [[wp:Inquisition (Warhammer 40,000)|Inquisitor]], Toth, who orders them to leave the planet, warning that a [[wp:Immaterium#Warp.2FRealspace Overlays|Warp Storm]] will consume the planet in three days. Toth orders a complete evacuation. On further investigation it is revealed that the Eldar are also operating on the planet. The Blood Ravens find an altar dedicated to Chaos, confirming Gabriel's suspicions, and resolve to destroy the traitors, unaware that Isador is already under the influence of Sindri, a Chaos Sorcerer of the Alpha Legion.

Upon destruction of most of the Eldar, the Farseer pleads with Gabriel to heed her words; however during this distraction Sindri steals an artifact, which Macha reveals to be a key to "the undoing of this world". Upon inquiry the Farseer shows surprise at their ignorance, commenting that the Inquisitor "keeps them on a short leash" and implying that he knows more than he is telling. Gabriel and Isador confront Toth in the ruins of an Imperial temple, learning that the world bears an artifact of Chaos: the Maledictum, a stone that contains the essence of a daemon. The forces of Chaos now bear all that they need to unearth it. Toth explains that the Eldar were fighting to protect the stone, as it was they who imprisoned the demon in the stone. Toth also says that the power of the Maledictum is enough "to turn the faithful and drive men mad", having already corrupted much of the population of Tartarus and the Imperial Guard. Gabriel and Toth make plans to find and destroy the Maledictum; however, Isador is overcome by the temptations of Sindri and resolves to steal the Maledictum for himself.

The Blood Ravens destroy the army of Lord Bale, who is betrayed by Sindri. Meanwhile Isador steals the Maledictum. Gabriel pursues him in an effort to bring him to justice. The Blood Ravens destroy Isador’s troops and Gabriel defeats Isador in single combat. Isador pleads for forgiveness to Gabriel.  Gabriel tells him, "If redemption is what you seek, then redemption is what you shall get," before shooting him in the head with his bolt pistol, using him as an example to his men about the dangers of Chaos.

Meanwhile Sindri has used the Maledictum to turn himself into a Daemon Prince.  Toth bequeaths the Daemon Hammer God-Splitter to Gabriel. With the aid of the remaining Eldar, the Blood Ravens attack the Chaos forces, eventually killing Sindri. The final scene sees the Eldar and Blood Ravens standing around the Maledictum. Despite the warnings of Farseer Macha, who begs them not to destroy the stone, Gabriel destroys the Maledictum with God-Splitter. The Eldar then retreat, Macha warning prophetically Gabriel has doomed them all. The Blood Ravens leave to be evacuated. Gabriel stays back and encounters the Daemon of Khorne which he unwittingly released from the Maledictum. The daemon lets Gabriel and his men leave safely as thanks for its release, but tells Gabriel that he will soon come to claim him and his men. Gabriel vows to destroy the daemon before following after his departing men.}}
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