History Main / HeroUnit

** StarcraftII brings back the hero units in both forms. The classic heroes are available in the campaign, sometimes possessing different abilities, depending on the mission they're in. The mechanic for RPG-style heroes exists, but they are not implemented in the game itself, and must be created manually in the editor.

*** The basic trope description up the top says that a HeroUnit is important and represents a major player. Since the Terminate the Commander match is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin - you have to [[DingDongTheWitchIsDead terminate the commander]] to win - it qualifies. (Mind you, there are also some drawbacks for the canon heroes - none of the Force-using heroes seems to have enough power to convert buildings, even though you can build a small army of Convertamasters and take over most of your opponent's base in skirmish mode.)

** ''AgeOfEmpires'' and its sequel have these only in the built-in campaigns or through the {{editor}}; one ActionBomb hero is available through cheats. The ExpansionPack for ''AgeOfEmpiresII'' causes heroes to regenerate, and allows one to create custom heroes through the editor by changing a normal unit or hero's name, HitPoints, or attack points. The death of any unit or building can cause a GameOver if the triggers are set right.

** ''AgeOfEmpires'' and its sequel have these only in the built-in campaigns or through the {{editor}}; one ActionBomb hero is available through cheats. The ExpansionPack for ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII'' causes heroes to regenerate, and allows one to create custom heroes through the editor by changing a normal unit or hero's name, HitPoints, or attack points. The death of any unit or building can cause a GameOver if the triggers are set right.

** ''AgeOfEmpiresIII'' has hero units in the campaign, and the Explorer (and potentially his [[NonHumanSideKick dog]]) serving the same purpose in random maps; they are near-immortal, as the unique heroes in AgeOfMythology.

** ''AgeOfEmpires'' and its sequel have these only in the built-in campaigns or through the {{editor}}; one ActionBomb hero is available through cheats. The ExpansionPack for ''AgeOfEmpiresII'' causes heroes to regenerate, and allows one to create custom heroes through the editor by changing a normal unit or hero's name, HitPoints, or attack points. The death of any unit or building can cause a GameOver if the triggers are set right.
** ''AgeOfMythology'' uses these as an extension of the TacticalRockPaperScissors along with Myth units (beasts taken from the different mythologies used in the game). Heroes beat Myth units, Myth units beat normal units, normal units beat heroes (if only due to superior numbers). The main campaign has several unique heroes as main characters, more powerful than normal heroes and effectively immortal.

** Note that many players will [[NoCasualtiesRun quit and restart the mission]] if [[RuleOfEmpathy any character]] [[PlayerPunch dies]], [[VideogameCaringPotential anyway]].

Hero Units are usually larger than basic units (sometimes inexplicably so), and more powerful than the basic infantry unit of the same type or species. They may be capable of one-shotting the basic infantry unit, and can take scores of hits before you need to consider healing them. Many of them have spells, weapons, or abilities than can hamper, if not obliterate, entire platoons of enemy units, and often have "Auras" that can confer buffs to any friendly unit near them.

But this does come with a price. In Single-player campaigns, [[HeroMustSurvive completion of the mission is often dependent on their survival]]. if you lose them, Game Over, man! Even if their deaths don't result in instant failure, the loss of their power and enhancements will most likely swing the battle in the enemy's favor.

Some players don't like Hero Units, as their presence often comes to dominate the game. In a battle between a force led by a hero, and a force without one, the Hero's side will usually win, and often by a large margin. Some games avoid this by making sure Heroes are counted in the game's balance, making sure at least one unit, or type of unit, is capable of laying a Hero out with little to no effort. Nevertheless, some still insist that the inclusion of heroes makes achieving true balance much harder.

* ''OgreBattle'' is full of units with unique sprites and unique stats who are members of a standard class. The Opinion Leader (and Magnus Valiant in OB64) have unique attacks.

* ''FinalFantasyXII: Revenant Wings'' has you build your forces around them. If they all die, you lose, but the same is true for your opponents.

* In ''BrutalLegend'', the player controls the Hero Units, who can give orders to nearby units. Each Hero has unique [[ThePowerOfRock guitar solos]] that all do different things. Eddie Riggs commands [[HeavyMithril Ironheade]], Doviculus commands the [[IndustrialMetal Tainted]] [[TheLegionsOfHell Coil]] and [[spoiler:Dark Ophelia]] commands the [[DoomMetal Drowning Doom]].

** Space Marines have Force Commanders and Librarians. Orks have Warbosses and Big Meks (Dark Crusade also counts a Power Armoured Nob Squad as one, though this may just be so this valuable unit can easily be found in combat. Chaos has Chaos Lords/Daemon Princes and Chaos Sorcerers. Eldar have Farseers and the Seer Council. Imperial Guard have the Command Squad. The Tau have Commanders and Ethereals. Necron have Lords and Destroyer Lords.[[supersecretspoiler: Sisters Of Battle get the Cannoness and Confessor. Dark Elder have the Archon and Haemonculus.]]

* ''BattleRealms'' has five per side.

But this does come with a price. In Single-player campaigns, [[HeroMustSurvive completion of the mission is often dependent on their survival]]. if you lose them, [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou Game Over, man!]] Even if their deaths don't result in instant failure, the loss of their power and enhancements will most likely swing the battle in the enemy's favor.

But this does come with a price. In Single-player campaigns, completion of the mission is often dependent on their survival. if you lose them, [[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou Game Over, man!]] Even if their deaths don't result in instant failure, the loss of their power and enhancements will most likely swing the battle in the enemy's favor.

** From the same franchise, CommandAndConquerGenerals has an American commando (Col. Burton), a {{Qurac}} sniper mercenary (Jarmen Kell) and a high-level hacker (Black Lotus) ans the hero unit of each faction.

** ''AgeOfEmpires'' and its sequel have these only in the built-in campaigns or through the {{editor}}; one ActionBomb hero is available through cheats. The ExpansionPack for ''AgeOfEmpires2'' causes heroes to regenerate, and allows one to create custom heroes through the editor by changing a normal unit or hero's name, HitPoints, or AttackPoints. The death of any unit or building can cause a GameOver if the triggers are set right.

** ''AgeOfEmpires3'' has hero units in the campaign, and the Explorer (and potentially his [[NonHumanSideKick dog]]) serving the same purpose in random maps; they are near-immortal, as the unique heroes in AgeOfMythology.

'''Examples:'''

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** The Commando could count, too. Only difference is that the Commando didn't have a name (not counting [[CommandAndConquerRenegade Havoc]]). Of course, you could build Tanyas in multiplayer just like you could build Commandos. I can understand an APC full of identical-looking commandos, but an APC filled with [[NurseJenny 5 of the same person]]? Subsequent games in the series averted that with a one-Tanya (Ghostalker, Boris, Burton, etc...) limit.

A '''Hero Unit''' is a unit, usually in a RealTimeStrategy game, that represents the player, or a major character in the game's story, on the battlefield.

** Space Marines have Force Commanders and Librarians. Orks have Warbosses and Big Meks (Dark Crusade also counts a Power Armoured Nob Squad as one, though this may just be so this valuable unit can easily be found in combat. Chaos has Chaos Lords/Daemon Princes and Chaos Sorcerers. Eldar have Farseers and the Seer Council. Imperial Guard have the Command Squad. The Tau have Commanders and Ethereals. Necron have Lords and Destroyer Lords. There are no more. There was no third expansion pack. THERE IS NO SOULSTORM!

*The first person shooter [[MAG]] has a variation on this. To clarify: Sqaudleaders give buffs to everyone nearby; Platoon Leaders give better buffs to everyone nearby; and OIC's automaticly heal everyone nearby; increase thier armour protection; and everyone near them do not show up on the map (includeing the OIC). Also; every leader has abilitys; Like dropping bombs; poisen gas; destroying emplacements; slowing down the opponents spawn; speeding up allies spawn; makeing everyone not near the OIC show up on the minimap ect.