History VideoGame / DawnOfWar

** In ''Soulstorm'', all captured points and non-pre-deployed buildings are removed when you beat a map, forcing you to restart almost from scratch. Averted by ''Dark Crusade'', where all buildings and points stay as they are.

%%* BarrierBustingBlow: In ''Dawn of War II'', your Marines in Terminator armor do this by ''walking''.
%%* BaseOnWheels: Fully upgraded Necron Monoliths in ''Dark Crusade''.

%%* FinalBoss:
%%** Sindri as an ascended Daemon Prince in the original campaign.
%%** The Necron Monolith (of a sort) in ''Winter Assault''.
%%** Whoever happens to be last on the map in ''Dark Crusade'' and ''Soulstorm''.
%%** The Hive Tyrant Alpha in ''Dawn of War II''.
%%** The daemon Ulkair in ''Chaos Rising''.
%%** A massive Daemon Prince ([[spoiler:Azariah Kyras and the Maledictum daemon]]) in ''Retribution''.

%%* RunningGag: In ''Dawn of War II'', using drop pods to squish Orks.

%%* SayMyName: '''SIIINDRIIII!'''

* AmmunitionBackpack: Carried by SpaceMarines with Heavy Bolters or Plasma Cannons and Ork Flash Gitz.

* ApocalypseWow: [[spoiler:''Exterminatus''.]]

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: InUniverse, the Alpha Legion are supposed to be [[CombatPragmatist pragmatic combatants]] who are masters of ConfusionFu and [[StealthExpert stealth]]. However Lord Bale shows no sign of such, being a GeneralFailure who lets his HyperCompetentSidekick Sindri Myr do all the planning. The same applies to Firaeveus Carron mentioned below.

** The Last Stand mode introduces a Tau Crisis Suit Commander as a hero unit, available through [[DownloadableContent DLC]]. He has a couple of associated Steam achievements, one of which is called "DynamicEntry", in reference to [[http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/Kiznti/90856981fw3-1.jpg this popular customized tabletop model.]] The achievement requires that he duplicate the action in that picture by landing on and killing a hundred different units, and is rewarded with [[GunsAkimbo an additional piece of wargear]] for doing so.

* ATeamFiring: The Orks of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' generally don't really 'aim', but ''Dawn of War II'' has an ability for the 'Shoota Boyz' squad called "Aiming? Wot'z dat?" if they are upgraded with a [[{{BFG}} Big Shoota]], which allows them to suppress an enemy squad (because of their previous aiming abilities, or lack thereof, apparently made their fire not all that threatening. Strangely, it also reduces their damage until the squad is suppressed, so MoreDakka was apparently working for them pretty well.)

* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: For a given value of "top". The trailer for Dawn of War 3 begins and ends with a large, hollow mountain being filled by a constant rain of Astartes, Ork, and Eldar corpses of all kinds, ranging from infantry to Wraithknights.

* BarrierBustingBlow: In ''Dawn of War II'', your Marines in Terminator armor do this by ''walking''.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Messing around with targeting your ultimate global ability on [[spoiler:Daemon Prince!Kyras]] has the main hero of the campaign give you shit for it.

* CoupDeGrace: In some sync kills. [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill Most are more... excessive.]]

** The Eldar Infantry of ''Dawn of War'' are almost a pure embodiment of this trope. Come Winter Assault, however,[[http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Dawn_of_Eldar this was no longer the case]].

** Army sizes are also inflated in the in-game cutscenes, with multiple copies of supposedly-unique units showing up - for instance, when Chaos defeats the Space Marines in ''Dark Crusade'', two or three Obliterator squads appear, despite the fact that the game [[Main/ArbitraryHeadcountLimit only allows you to have one such squad in your army]].

* FightingAShadow: [[spoiler:Ulkair]] in ''Chaos Rising''.

* FinalBoss:
** Sindri as an ascended Daemon Prince in the original campaign.
** The Necron Monolith (of a sort) in ''Winter Assault''.
** Whoever happens to be last on the map in ''Dark Crusade'' and ''Soulstorm''.
** The Hive Tyrant Alpha in ''Dawn of War II''.
** The daemon Ulkair in ''Chaos Rising''.
** A massive Daemon Prince ([[spoiler:Azariah Kyras and the Maledictum daemon]]) in ''Retribution''.

*** In ''Dawn of War'' and its expansions, the humanoid Relic Units also had their fair share of epic sync kills. If a Bloodthirster sync kills an Avatar, the Bloodthirster gets smacked around by the Avatar, but bats the Avatar's head off with its axe in the end. If the Avatar is the sync killer, it gets knocked down, but before the Bloodthirster can capitalize on this, the Avatar impales it with his giant sword. If the Nightbringer sync kills the Avatar (never the other way around due to the Nightbringer's invulnerability) after (now this troper is just going off of memory) a brief fight the Nightbringer scythes the Avatar's head off. While technically not a Relic Unit, if the Daemon Prince defeats the Greater Knarloc (pretty hard to do considering the differences in DPS and HP) it will leap up into the air with its sword pointed downward and impale the Knarloc's head and pin it to the ground before pulling its sword out and walking away.
** In ''Dawn of War II'', if a Chaos Aspiring Champion of Khorne or the Spare Marine Force Commander sync kills a Carnifex (really hard to do) he will perform a ColossusClimb and stand on the Carnifex's tusks, holding on to his melee weapon impaled in the side of the Carnifex's head, and blast it repeatedly in the face with his pistol before finishing it off with a blast to the mouth. This sync kill is featured in ''Retribution'' in the mission where you have to [[spoiler:escape Typhon as Exterminatus is being performed on it]]. When you get to a certain point the Deranged Chaos Champion (since this is his full title he must be crazy even by Chaos' standards...eep), will start roaring to the sky, enraged by the fact that people would be trying to [[spoiler:escape from Kyras's gift of death]] before doing this in the Typhon Arena.

** Initially played straight with the [[GrimReaper Night]][[PhysicalGod bringer]], the god of Death, worshipped by a race that specializes in [[OmnicidalManiac killing everything]]. The Necron Lord can let the Nightbringer possess him for a short period of time, during which, he is invincible and floats around [[SinisterScythe chopping up enemies good]]. It seems a shame that he's not actually all that good at killing things - he doesn't have the raw killing power that some other units have. However, upon inspection of his in-game stats, he does vastly more damage to heavily armored vehicles and monsters... which includes every top tier unique unit in the game. While he won't be laying waste to entire armies, his damage output is such that during his brief stint on the battlefield he is capable of killing any single unit in the game that doesn't run away from him.

* GatlingGood: Assault Cannons, Burst Cannons, etc.

* GuiltBasedGaming: Quit, and the "are you sure?" dialog box is headlined '''COWARDS DIE IN SHAME.''' About as subtle as you might expect, given the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} source material]]; sadly, it was not kept for the sequel.

* HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic: Most Imperial squad leaders and commanders fight bare-headed, just like in the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} source material]]. Ogryn Bone'eads, Tau Shas'ui/Shas'vre and Sororitas Sisters Superiors are the only exceptions. The other factions have a mix of bare-headed and helmeted leaders.

* HumongousMecha: ''III'' promises to feature Eldar Wraightknights and Imperial Knight Titans.

-->We need a new driver, this one is dead!

* InexplicablySpeaksFluentAlien: Either this or [[AliensSpeakingEnglish Aliens Speaking Gothic]] is why the humans and aliens can talk to each other.

* ItAmusedMe: The reason why Eliphas is still alive [[spoiler:after [[EarthShatteringKaboom the Exterminatus of Typhon Primaris]].]]

* ItsRainingMen: Deep Striking. Also, to an extent, Assault Jumping.

** ''Chaos Rising'' compensated for that with the new villains ([[MagnificentBastard Eliphas]] [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness remaining]] [[DeadpanSnarker his old self]]) packing a ton of ham. The leader of the Chaos warband, [[spoiler:Araghast]], seems incapable of saying anything without hamming it up to ridiculous levels. [[spoiler:The true BigBad, in turn, takes this to [[IncrediblyLamePun unholy]] lengths -- every line packs twice the ham compared to Araghast's.]]

-->'''Immolator pilot:''' Behold...'''THE IMMOLATOR!'''\\

** ''Retribution'' has [[IncrediblyLamePun the beefiest ham of all.]] [[spoiler:Chapter Master Kyras gives a ''spine-chilling'' speech praising Khorne and urging his followers to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmj0Vanuw4I let the galaxy burn.]]]]

** In ''Retribution'' Kaptin Bluddflagg and his crew take the cake.

* [[BaseOnWheels Levitating Base of Instant Death]]: Fully upgraded Necron Monoliths in ''Dark Crusade''.

* MagicMissileStorm: Chaos Sorcerers can use a warpcraft variant, the Doombolt.

* MarkOfTheBeast: In II, Chaos upgrades involve etching or tattooing chaotic runes on a unit, channelling the favour of the Dark Gods. They also come into play with Tarkus and Jonas' ultimate chaos abilities in the campaign, both which are obtained by way of [[spoiler:[[DealWithTheDevil faustian pacts]].]]

* MeleeATrois: Dawn of War II's campaign features several of these moments, such as the Orks briefly fighting the Eldar trying to manipulate them when the Space Marines unexpectedly drop in to join the fight. Most notable of these is the mission "Angel Gate", featuring Tyranids, Orks and the Imperial Guard frantically attempting to massacre each other in the city surrounding Angel Forge, while the Space Marines run around the map reactivating the defences so they can close the titular gates and stem the tide of enemies. The pre-mission briefing outright encourages players to take advantage of Orks and Tyranids fighting each other to do the most damage.
** As with most RTS games, skirmish matches with more than two sides will result in this.

* NightmareFace: This is ''Warhammer 40,000'', but [[spoiler:[[BodyHorror Great Unclean One Ulkair]]'s]] face takes the cake.

-->'''[[spoiler:Ulkair]]:''' His refusal to accept death is an insult to Grandfather Nurgle.

-->'''Davian Thule:''' I've grown rather adept at killing you, Eliphas.

-->'''Mega-Armored Nobz:''' Why's ''you'' givin' me orders?

-->'''Cyrus:''' [[HordeOfAlienLocusts A shadow in the warp?]] Those were his exact words!?

-->'''Mr. Nailbrain:''' Not a good place to be! Not a good place to be!

-->'''Eliphas:''' Lord Abaddon, it cannot be you!

-->'''Sergeant:''' What is that ''thing''?\\

* OneLiner: Seems to be most of Avitus' dialogue from ''Dawn of War II''.

* PapaWolf: Cyrus. Gods help you if you mess with his initiates.

* [[HumansAreCthulhu Players Are Cthulhu]]: Certain Chaos units seem to believe the player is one of their dark gods.

-->'''Eliphas:''' You allow them to escape, Lord Araghast?\\

-->'''Castor:''' Merrick, a guardsman's life is to die. I take them to a place where they may die. [[WeHaveReserves I am not afraid to spend their lives]], but I will not waste them. [...] Now, Sergeant-Major, you may continue with your attempt to kill me, but as I said, I will not waste the lives of my men, and executing you for insubordination would be... wasteful.

-->'''Jonah Orion:''' No more Blood Ravens fall this day, '''[[ShockAndAwe NO MORE!]]'''

-->'''Tarkus:''' Your end is at hand.\\

-->'''Eliphas:''' THE ETERNAL WAR ENDS FOR YOU THIS DAY!

* RangedEmergencyWeapon: Many melee specialists have a ranged weapon or an upgrade that gives them one.

* RidiculouslyFastConstruction: {{Justified}}, as most factions airdrop, teleport or otherwise summon more or less complete buildings onto the battlefield which simply need some final adaptations to become functional.

* RunningGag: In Dawn of War II, using drop pods to squish Orks.

* SayMyName: '''SIIINDRIIII!'''
* SceneryGorn: Dear ''Emperor'' does this series love this! Explosions leave scorched craters, heavy firepower chews up cover, objects are crushed beneath the treads of massive units, buildings get bits of masonry knocked off them before eventually collapsing... The aftermath of a big battle in the game can drastically alter the look of the terrain, bearing all the scars of war proudly.
* SchrodingersCanon: Soulstorm was not well-liked by the fans (especially the Marine campaign), so many assume the Blood Ravens lost (the Imperial Guard is a fan-favorite winner). Dawn of War II reveals the Blood Ravens did indeed get thoroughly trounced in Soulstorm, though it doesn't mention who actually won until a Dawn of War III loading screen tip unceremoniously says that it was Gorgutz.

-->'''Chopped Up Armour description:''' Dis looks chopped! I can tells from some of da hack marks, and from seeing quite a few chops in me time.\\

** When being issued new pieces of gear, Imperial Guardsmen may advise their comrades that, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheLegendOfZeldaI "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this!"]]''

** II's Catachan Devils in retreat: ''[[Film/{{Predator}} "Get to da Valkyrie!"]]''. On occasion, Catachan Devils also utter ''[[Series/TheATeam "I love it when a plan comes together!"]]'' upon killing an enemy unit...and finally, they have an upgrade named ''Film/DemolitionMan'' which is a slightly-less obvious reference due to it being a Creator/SylvesterStallone film and the Catachans being a [[PlanetOfHats Planet of]] {{Franchise/Rambo}}s.

** ''Retribution'' has a Tau commander as a playable hero character in The Last Stand available through [[DownloadableContent DLC]]. When [[YouCallThatAWound reviving another player's hero]], he sometimes says "Even a broken sword can still cut." This phrase was used to describe [[PlayerCharacter Shas'la Kais]] in the {{Novelization}} of the franchise's earlier game ''VideoGame/FireWarrior''.

* SissyVillain: The Chaos Sorcerer, but not so much in the way he is dressed but his voice in some versions such as the World Eater Sorceror.

* [[SpaceJews Space Irish]]: Kaptin Bluddflagg's accent has distinct Irish elements to it.
* SpacePirate: Kaptin Bluddflagg, complete with pirate hat and pirate accent.

** [[spoiler:Eliphas in ''Chaos Rising''.]]

* StayingAlive: [[spoiler:Eliphas]] at the end of ''Chaos Rising''.

-->'''Baneblade pilot:''' I think some fool just '''''[[BullyingADragon shot]]''''' at us!

--> "Fear ensures loyalty!"

-->'''Gorgutz:''' We'll call dat wun "Plan: Stupid". I named it after ya! [...] Hey! Why's you grinnin'?\\

-->'''Ork Driver:''' Uh, Boss? I think we threw a gear-y thing!\\

*** Orks have the Squiggoth, best describes as "an alien [[WarElephants War Elephant]] armed with several normal cannons and a LightningGun." Its attacks are as powerful as they are inaccurate, even in melee, and can theoretically charge through infantry mobs (but usually gets stuck on said infantry).

-->[[spoiler:'''Thaddeus:''' Explain yourself, Tarkus! What power could possibly be worth betraying us all?]]\\

-->[[spoiler:'''Thaddeus:''' IDidWhatIHadToDo.]]

* UnstableEquilibrium: You get resources for taking points. So whoever can take more points, for example by pushing his opponent off a point and capturing it for himself, has an advantage.
** Justified in that were this not the case, matches could very well go on for hours, given two combatants of roughly equal skill.

-->'''Davian Thule:''' We'll fight to the last man!\\

* SwordAndGun: By many troops made for close-combat, though [[DropTheHammer some]] [[PistolWhipping use]] things [[ChainsawGood other]] than [[PowerFist swords]]...

* DropTheHammer: The SpaceMarine Force Commanders along with Assault Terminator Squads can get access to Thunder Hammers that can stun victims.
** Captain Angelos from ''Dawn of War'' gets a special variant called a Daemonhammer, named [[NamedWeapons God-Splitter]], which is highly effective against Daemons.
** It is also worth noting that ''Dawn of War'' was the first to depict Space Marines wielding Thunder Hammers outside of Terminator armor (or the Salamanders chapter[[note]]Salamanders use lots of forging iconography, including lots of hammers[[/note]]), let alone two-handed ones. [[CanonImmigrant This inspired Games Workshop to create a line of tabletop models with that kind of equipment in subsequent editions]].

* HumansAreWhite: Averted by the presence of Inquisitor Mordecai Toth in the first game, who is black, and Librarian Jonah Orion in the second, who is also black.

''TableTopGame/Warhammer40000: Dawn of War'' is a RealTimeStrategy game by Relic Entertainment, the same people who would eventually be behind ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'' and who previously brought us ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' and ''VideoGame/ImpossibleCreatures''. Obviously a licensed game of [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} the tabletop game]], the series is unquestionably the single most successful interpretation of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' universe in video game form in the history of the franchise.

-->''"I will endure a thousand deaths before I yield."''\\

-->'''Tarkus:''' Ork gunners on the ridge! Take cover!\\

--> '''Leman Russ pilot:''' [[BadassBoast Tell the men the cavalry has arrived.]]

* CriticalExistenceFailure: Played straight as an arrow throughout the series. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in the case of Space Marines and Chaos Space Marines, as their augmented physiology and decades of training will keep them up and fighting until a mortal blow is struck. Also [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in the case of daemonic units like Bloodthirsters, Bloodletters and the Avatar of Khaine, who are maintained with a warp presence, and once they take a certain amount of damage, their otherwise unharmed physical bodies simply fall apart.

--> '''Gabriel:''' ''(standing in front of a Chaos altar)'' So the good Inquisitor senses no Chaos here. How fortunate for the Imperium that such keen-eyed eagles stand vigil over her gates...

--> '''Sindri:''' Have faith. Have I led you astray... [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial thus far]]?
--> '''Bale:''' No. But if you fail me in this...
--> '''Sindri:''' [[SarcasmMode Yes, yes, then my suffering will be great.]] Just be ready to move when I instruct.
--> ''(slightly later)''
--> '''Bale:''' SINDRI!!!
--> '''Sindri:''' ''(audibly annoyed)'' WHAT?! ...my lord?

--> '''Thule:''' The Blood Ravens will not be driven back by one such as you!\\

--> '''Eliphas:''' What a rousing little speech, Governor. Unfortunately, your False Emperor can't touch us here.\\

--> '''Thule:''' You won't hold that for long, daemon-spawn!\\

'''Eliphas:''' ''(chuckles)'' Of course not. My mistake.

--> '''Thule:''' This fortress shall not fall!\\

-->'''Avitus:''' ''[Upon defeating a Tyranid brood threatening the already small population of Typhon]'' Those who fear death can emerge from beneath their beds now.

-->'''Veldoran:''' This is the transmission, much good may it do you. [[CantArgueWithElves Human communication is not far removed from shouting]].\\

-->'''Kroot Carnivores:''' ''[Upon capturing a strategic point]'' OK, your little flag is up. Now what?\\

** [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} The setting]] is, ironically enough, one of the few places were this trope actually makes sense, as exploding rocket-propelled bullets and high-powered lasers are standard-issue sidearms for at least three factions.

* DefenselessTransports: The Space Marine Rhino APC doesn't have guns, but it does have a smoke grenade launcher. Note that in the [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} source material]] Rhinos are armed. And even in ''Dawn of War'' there are other, armed [=APCs=] (for example, the Space Marines' Land Raider super-heavy tank doubles as a troop transport).

'''Ogryn:''' ''[after capturing a strategic point]'' We got the, uh... *{{Beat}}* [[BuffySpeak thing!]]

** In a franchise-wide sense, the Necrons in ''Dark Crusade'' and ''Soulstorm'' follow their original characterization as [[Franchise/{{Terminator}} Terminators]] in space, robotic undead purging all life in the galaxy on behalf of their C'tan masters. Their 2011 tabletop revamp gave them more distinct personalities and an AncientEgypt motif, with more intelligent leaders ruling rival "dynasties", while the C'tan are reduced to a fraction of their power, having been overthrown by the Necrons. As such, the Necrons in ''Retribution'' follow their post-revamp characterization.

-->'''Daemon Prince:''' It is a poor shepherd who blames his flock, Apostle.

** When being issued new pieces of gear, Imperial Guardsmen may advise their comrades that, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this!"]]''

* BonusBoss: The Ork Warboss and Eldar Avatar of Khaine in ''Dawn of War II''. Notable in that they're ''very'' hard, far harder than the final boss! Also notable in that beating them gives an Achievement and a suit of Terminator armor each.

* CorruptedContingency: Blood Ravens Chapter Master turned traitor Azariah Kyras manipulated the Inquisition, more specifically the Ordo Malleus, into performing an exterminatus on sub-sector Aurelia in order to use the resulting deaths and destruction to become a daemon prince. Lord Eliphas the Inheritor appropriated the plan at the end of the Chaos campaign.