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Don't miss the 2v2 Team Skirmish Maelstrom Gameplay Overview for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, a war strategy action game developed by KING Art. Players can witness Creative Director Jan Theysen and Senior Game Designer Elliott Verbiest take up arms against enemy AI in an action-packed battle. Secure and destroy objectives in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, launching on November 30 for PC (Steam).
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00:02Hello and welcome to a new Dawn of War 4 Battle Report.
00:05I'm Jan Teysen, I'm the Creative Director at King Hat Games and the Game Director of Dawn of War 4.
00:10And I am Elliot Furbiest and I am a Senior Game Designer working on Dawn of War 4.
00:15And people said I would bully Elliot all the time when we play against each other
00:20and so we said okay, we are now joining forces.
00:23We are both playing the Space Marines and we are playing against the Orcs in a Maelstrom mission
00:28which is a special mission type which is basically all about collecting targets that spawn on the map from time
00:35to time.
00:35And you either want to collect them or destroy them.
00:39And so what you have to do is basically you have to be very dynamic out there,
00:43you have to have fast units and be all over the map.
00:47Which is not easy with Space Marines, especially against Orcs,
00:50because Orcs of course have so many more units than you have but we'll do our best.
00:54Indeed, indeed. I am willing to set aside our differences, Jan, in order to slay these Xenos.
01:02So, what's your strategy starting out here? Because you mentioned fast units already,
01:06so what are good Space Marine units for that in particular, you think?
01:10I mean, definitely Outriders, right? I also picked the Chaplain on Bike as my commander because of that.
01:16But also, of course, all the Space Marine units, many of them, can be transported via Thunderhawks.
01:23So, a Thunderhawk relay would be a good idea.
01:25And also maybe have, you know, one or two units in reserves at all points
01:30so that you can actually, you know, drop down and kill the enemies on the point.
01:34Well, that sounds like a very solid strategy.
01:36So, I have already found a potential drop location here.
01:41So, I'm just waiting for it to show up and hopefully that should be an easy capture.
01:45I see there's another one here where some Orcs are showing up.
01:48So, it seems to be just some measly Gretchens.
01:51Let's hope we collect the thing when it appears in 13 seconds.
01:56Good, good, good. Just a matter of time, right?
01:59This should be pretty straightforward, despite the fact that we are playing on hard AI this time around.
02:05So, I do expect a bit of a meatier challenge for this particular game that we are playing right now.
02:11We are playing the AI for the first time.
02:13So, what you can see here is the AI on hard.
02:18So, maybe, hopefully that wasn't over-optimistic.
02:22I mean, in normal, obviously, that's, you know, for most players that will play on normal,
02:27but hard for, you know, the people who are maybe a little bit more engaged in the whole thing
02:32and really want to challenge, but that also means, you know, it's not easy.
02:36You really have to know what you're doing.
02:39I mean, as you can see here, you know, the enemy is sending over more and more troops,
02:42and it might not be possible for me to actually capture this point.
02:46Can you tell me a little bit about your commander?
02:49What are kind of his strengths? You already mentioned his mobility, right?
02:52But anything else more that he is capable of doing?
02:55His thing is really about buffing other units and, you know, making others fight harder.
03:01He also, of course, has his own, like, abilities and things he can do on the bike,
03:06but really his strength, how fast he is when you attach him to a bike unit,
03:11he is one of the fastest, at least, heroes in the game.
03:14That's definitely going to be very helpful for us,
03:16because I see we are already kind of running quite a bit behind on victory points here,
03:21so we are going to have to do a bit of a catch-up here.
03:25I see on the minimap that there is currently an objective that I can grab from there.
03:29So I'm going to go for that. What are your plans here?
03:32Because I see they are kind of applying some pressure here on the center of the map.
03:35Do you need some help with that?
03:36Yeah, I mean, we definitely need to capture the points,
03:39because otherwise it might be over already.
03:42So I try to go up there now and capture the point on the left,
03:47but I'm not sure if I can do that.
03:49Alright, I'm also getting harassed by a few more orcs,
03:51so I'm going to use a couple of abilities to try and wipe out a few of these orcs.
03:55That seems to be pretty effective. I forced them to retreat now.
03:59Right now, I'm going to go ahead and, I think close to your base,
04:03because I see you've got vision there, I'm going to build a sanctum,
04:06so that I can try and get a couple more elites out.
04:09Ooh! And unfortunately, we were not fast enough to collect it,
04:13so the AI is clearly pretty aggressive here, right?
04:16Okay, I mean, this was just, you know, the training, right?
04:19Exactly. This was not the real game, this was just, you know, we were talking.
04:23So now the real mission starts.
04:27Okay, now the real deal happens.
04:28Okay, we are back after the mission that totally didn't count,
04:32because it was just, you know, training.
04:35We are back in the game, and this time we also made sure it takes a little bit longer
04:39until, you know, the points are full.
04:41We did this in the settings, so all the different game modes have various kinds of settings
04:45that you can, you know, adjust the game the way you like.
04:49And, yeah, this time we're definitely playing a little bit more seriously,
04:53because, you know, it turns out the hard AI is actually hard.
04:56Exactly. We're going to lock in for this one this time around.
04:59Okay, so I am going to do a bit of a bold move.
05:04I'm going to drop a chapel barrack straight in the center of the map here,
05:08just so that I can provide infantry on demand
05:12and try and react to things as dynamically as I can.
05:16I think that's actually a good idea,
05:17because I, like, automatically place my chapel barracks in my base,
05:22which is probably not a great idea for this mode,
05:24because you really need to be everywhere, right?
05:27And coming from the middle is easier than running through the whole map.
05:30Exactly.
05:31And also we definitely need this energy point here,
05:35so it also makes sense to basically establish a little base here.
05:38So I've already seen that the Orcs have already taken one particular objective,
05:46so we do have a little bit more time now to catch up with these.
05:51But, yeah, we are going to have to get a move on.
05:53So any particular units that you would suggest that we should be making
06:00in order to succeed in this mode with the Space Marines?
06:02Well, I think early on Intercessors are pretty good.
06:05You know, you can upgrade them in very different ways.
06:07You can put the frag grenade on auto, you know,
06:10so they use the grenades automatically.
06:12Makes them pretty, pretty strong.
06:14Also, yeah, let's try to get over here in the next 15 seconds.
06:19When this thing appears, we want to be here to collect it.
06:24At least one of them, I think the second one,
06:26we might not be able to collect because it's so far away,
06:28but this one, there's a chance.
06:32Okay, you holding that okay there?
06:34I see that there's a new objective there.
06:36I assume you're going to get that one?
06:37Yep. I ran close enough to the objective,
06:40so it stopped to count for them.
06:42Now it counts for us.
06:43I collect the objective, or I destroy it in this case,
06:47and I have it.
06:49Okay, good.
06:50It looks like we're getting a couple more Orcs here
06:52down the center part of the map,
06:54so I'm going to pull back some of my Infiltrators here
06:57and try and get some reinforcements going.
06:59Yes, I come back as well.
07:01Also, I place a Tarantula turret, so maybe...
07:03Oh, thank you. That's very helpful.
07:05Could you upgrade the energy point so we...
07:08Oh, the power node?
07:09The power node, so we...
07:10Yeah, I can do that for you.
07:12I'll just upgrade it to as far as I can get it right now.
07:16I mean, as always, because we are playing together in a team,
07:19we share the resources, and so it's important to make sure
07:23that the points are upgraded because it's not only benefiting you,
07:27but also your ally.
07:29Exactly, yeah.
07:30And you can find your shared resources in the top left corner.
07:35If you hover over the resource bar here,
07:37you can kind of see, like, various economical information about
07:42your base income, things such as your supply cost,
07:47as well as how many resources you gain from your allies.
07:52Right. Here are two node points coming down.
07:54Let's collect both of them.
07:55Yeah, I think this is an easy snag, right?
07:57Yep, that's two for us.
07:59Okay, we are getting a couple more Orc forces here coming from the back here.
08:02I'll try and cover for you if you collect these.
08:04Yep, neck them down.
08:05Nice. We got that.
08:09Okay, I think we're definitely going to need something tougher
08:11than just Infiltrator, so I am going to try and upgrade some more power nodes.
08:18Yeah, actually, I think, you know, the Infiltrator's pretty good
08:21at the beginning of the game.
08:22I mean, expensive compared to other units, but also pretty strong.
08:26I mean, this is what will happen all game long, right?
08:28We will have the better units, but the Orcs will be a lot more units.
08:32Exactly.
08:33So, I see that the Orcs are starting to pressure us now from the east side of the map.
08:37So, I am going to create a Thunderhawk relay,
08:40which hopefully should help us quickly reposition our forces,
08:43further upgrade our power nodes.
08:45Right, and I build a Sanctum.
08:47That is my elite unit building.
08:50Okay, nice.
08:51Then hopefully my mobility and your firepower will help us win the day.
08:56Oh, on the top right there is one.
08:58I'm not sure if you can get there.
08:59Oh yeah, I see it.
09:00I try to go to the left one.
09:01Yeah, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get that with the manpower I have now.
09:05Especially with how the Orcs are definitely swarming here.
09:09Like, we're getting more-
09:10Oh!
09:10Bomb squigs!
09:14Oof, okay.
09:15Unfortunately, I did have some Armor of Contempt there to protect my Marines from the brunt of the damage,
09:20but as you can see, it immediately just disposed of it.
09:24That is okay.
09:24I think I got this one.
09:26I literally jumped into the fray.
09:31Let's see.
09:33I'm auto-healing all my units.
09:34It's expensive, but you know, this is an important fight.
09:38Okay, okay, good.
09:39I am going to try and secure this power node here, so I'm going to drop a Hammerfall bunker right
09:45on top of these guys.
09:47You know, this seems to be an important point.
09:50Aha!
09:50It's right next to a resource point, and it's a bottleneck as well, right?
09:55Nice.
09:55So let's make sure we can control this point in the long run.
09:58Yeah, yeah, yeah.
09:59We can throw them back this way.
10:02Okay, in the meantime, upgrading requisition points.
10:06And I'll just capture these real quick.
10:08There we go.
10:09Okay, I think we're going to hold this point, so I'm going to move forward and try and capture the
10:14center objective here,
10:17because that's going to be arriving very, very soon.
10:21Oh, no, here's the first enemy boss.
10:26Okay.
10:27And gas cutter.
10:29Oh, snap.
10:31Just going to further upgrade my resource points.
10:34Try and get these out as far as I can.
10:36And then we're going to try and take the center objective.
10:39Like, it's just a couple of storm boys that are here, but I think I can chase them off with
10:42this.
10:43Okay, there's more bomb squeaks coming your way, I see.
10:47Okay, I'm going to try and flank them from your side, because they're coming in from the north side here.
10:53Yeah, a little help would be good, because a lot of orcs here.
10:57Okay, yeah, I see it.
10:58They're pressuring you.
10:59I'm coming.
11:03Let's see.
11:04Another harmful bunker here.
11:05Yeah, yeah, I'm sending backup.
11:07I'm coming.
11:10Actually, maybe we can go ahead and just load them straight into the Thunderhawk relay and make sure we can
11:16get these redeployed.
11:19Oh, shit, that's quite a lot of guys.
11:21Hang on, I'm deploying another hammerfall, too, for you.
11:24Incoming.
11:27There yet, it doesn't look so good.
11:29Yeah.
11:30Here you go, I'm helping you out.
11:33I'll have some marines ready for the Thunderhawk deployment.
11:41Help is coming.
11:41Hold fast.
11:48Uh-oh.
11:49Okay, not looking too hot for us.
11:52Yeah, let's try to hold the position here.
11:54Okay, hold the line.
11:57Okay, I think these Storm Boys we can take, but Gorgas is going to be a very different problem.
12:03Okay, I'm going to try and flank them from behind here.
12:06I mean, I have some Eradicators here upgraded, so they actually deal a good amount of damage.
12:12Okay.
12:13Even against Gasketa.
12:14So I think we can hold, yeah, he's retreating.
12:17Yeah, got it.
12:18Then maybe I can trap him with a hammerfall.
12:20There we go.
12:21But man, we are not surviving another one of those.
12:23Alright, the tide is turning.
12:25So we definitely need more resources, more points.
12:29Because we're dealing with quite a lot of hordes, so I'm going to try and put together some Invictor Warsuits.
12:33Their Incendium Cannons should hopefully be helpful in winning against the hordes.
12:39That's good, yeah.
12:40I can definitely not take this point.
12:41I have to retreat.
12:43Bringing quite a few Orcs, but our base is somewhat protected, so...
12:47Okay, I'm getting the objective now.
12:53Maybe I can get some more command points.
12:55I'm going to upgrade my Infiltrators real quick.
13:00Oh snap, that's a rock drop.
13:02Actually, let's use some stratagems here.
13:10Okay, I think I can maybe push them back a little bit.
13:14Okay, got the Warsuit out.
13:16Second one on the way.
13:19Looks like we're getting a pincer maneuver on us.
13:22I mean, if we have to fight them, this is definitely the area where we want to fight them.
13:26Yeah.
13:27Because we have some support here from the turrets and so on, but...
13:31Also the retreat routes are very short, but...
13:36Oh man, I think I have to have a stern word with our coders about the hard mode difficulty.
13:43I mean, it's supposed to be hard, but also the boss is supposed to win.
13:48Exactly.
13:49I have no doubt that players will come back to us within like a few weeks of launch and tell
13:54us like,
13:55Hmm, actually we've managed to beat this within two days.
13:58I don't know what you're talking about.
13:59Am I it?
14:00I mean, I'm pretty sure that people in the comments will discuss our shortcomings.
14:05Exactly.
14:05Okay.
14:06I think we're going to get...
14:07That score goes down.
14:08I mean, again, it's about points, right?
14:10Exactly.
14:10They're not that far away.
14:12So actually this is ours.
14:13Definitely.
14:15Maybe we can get this one up here.
14:18Can you stay here and I try to get the other one?
14:21I can hold ground, sure.
14:22Let's see.
14:23Maybe there's a way to do it.
14:26Like, I'll just...
14:27I'll churn out a couple more units.
14:29As best as I can.
14:30And as long as we can hold the objectives, we're good.
14:35Uh oh.
14:37Though they're not...
14:37They're clearly not going to make it easy on us.
14:39Yeah, I think I also capture this power node.
14:43To make life a little bit easier...
14:45Oof.
14:45Oh no.
14:46Okay.
14:47Ooh, that's a lot of bomb squigs.
14:48Uh oh.
14:50Let's say...
14:51Okay, we got the objective.
14:53That's good.
14:53But let's say we are not getting the other one.
14:56Um...
14:56Sure.
14:57I think I'm coming back.
15:00Ooh, I'm about to lose my barracks.
15:02I'm putting down a sanctum.
15:05We need a little bit heavier firepower to deal with this.
15:13Okay.
15:14Oof.
15:14Okay, it's looking pretty rough over here.
15:16How are we doing with those objectives?
15:19Um...
15:21There is room for improvement, let's say.
15:23We've got a couple more on the northeast side.
15:25I mean, I'm coming back.
15:26So maybe I can help out a little bit.
15:28But, you know, I'm not coming back in victory.
15:31Gotcha.
15:32Ooh, this is not looking great.
15:34Okay, I'm gonna have to fall back on my chapter keep.
15:37Yeah, also the problem is, you know, all my units are auto-reinforced.
15:41Okay.
15:42Otherwise, you know, they wouldn't survive as long.
15:44Sure.
15:44But this also means I really don't have the resources to build anything new.
15:47So that is the trade-off.
15:49So actually, let me retreat.
15:52Because without this point in the middle, you know, we are not going to be able to build any strong
15:57units.
15:58So we definitely need this point.
16:00Like, I'm looking like I'm pretty in trouble here.
16:02So, like, I might need to just fall back for a while.
16:07Okay, so this point, I'm on the point.
16:12The problem is, a lot of his units are on the point as well.
16:15So I don't know.
16:18I don't think I can hold it long enough.
16:21Okay, a couple of eye riders will definitely be helpful, though.
16:24That actually might make more sense, because we just need to capture a couple more.
16:28We're also running behind on objectives, so we are going to have to catch up on this.
16:33Oh, oh, oh.
16:35I don't think this is...
16:40I'm a little bit out of ideas here, because we don't have the resources to build our army back.
16:46The orcs are spreading all over the map, and they're also in the lead with the victory points.
16:51This might be the second loss in a row, which tells you two things.
16:56First of all, we are not that good in our own game, and also the AI is pretty strong.
17:02I would say, this is a surrender.
17:04It was an honor playing with you, but we didn't make it.
17:08Maybe next time.
17:09See you soon.
17:10Bye.