[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/atelia-fahrong.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 In the grim-dark present of an ancient steampunk world, there is only war]]...]]''

->''"The war is becoming complicated... A true nightmare... The last bit of the old world is now lost. The line between soldier and civilian... should never have been crossed..."''
--> from the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS6pztc5lxY trailer]] of ''Iron Grip: The Opression''

''Iron Grip: The Oppression'' is a 2006 [[GameMod Total Conversion]] for ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' by indie game developer Isotx, set in the {{steampunk}} and {{dieselpunk}}-themed fictional universe of Iron Grip. It features urban guerrilla warfare by combining elements from two different genres. A player can choose one of two sides in this game, the Rahmos City Guard or [[LaResistance The Resistance]]. The [[TheEmpire Rahmos]] side is a RealTimeStrategy game, generally played by a single player (or a very small number of players in large games). The Resistance side is played as a cooperation of several players, each playing a FirstPersonShooter in a very similar manner to ''Half-Life 2''. Available [[http://www.irongrip.net here]].

In 2008, it received a full-blown stand-alone sequel (built in a heavily updated version of the older idTech3 engine), titled ''Iron Grip: Warlord''. [[{{Spinoff}} It's more of]] [[RecycledPremise the same concept]] (RagTagBunchOfMisfits [[BadassCrew guerilla fighters]] vs. TheEmpire), but adds a more TowerDefense feel to the RTS element of the game. As in ''Opression'', the sequel is aimed primarily at co-op gameplay between human players, but offers various other multiplayer modes as well.

The third game in the series, a [[GenreShift Free-To-Play multiplayer TBS]] called ''Iron Grip: Marauders'', is currently available on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} since September 30, 2011. ''VideoGame/MarchOfWar'', also by Isotx and also on Steam, incorporates many of the same themes and styles of the ''Iron Grip'' series (the main difference is that SteamPunk has been switched out in favor of DieselPunk).

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!!Provides Examples Of:

* AerithAndBob
* AllOrNothingReloads: Averted by the shotgun in ''Warlord'', which can be forced to fire even while not fully reloaded yet. Otherwise played straight, especially by the assault rifle and musket.
* AllThereInTheManual / ExpandedUniverse: And how! To their credit, the creators seem to be taking the WorldBuilding of the games' setting pretty seriously.
* AnachronismStew: Besides being steampunky, the setting is a [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief (surprisingly believable)]] mishmash of TheMiddleAges, bits of UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance period and UsefulNotes/ThirtyYearsWar, the [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Napoleonic]] [[UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars era]] and both [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI World]] [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Wars]]. [[http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/5/4726/38458.jpg Just]] [[http://www.downloadmunkey.net/images6/iga-01.jpg take]] [[http://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/11/10035/confederation.jpg a look]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/InterfaceLeader/web/captain_avitas01.jpg at the]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/rhea/hirid_large.jpg clothes]], [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/ighistoryscreen5.jpg armour]] [[http://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/11/10035/Warlords_by_Iron_Grip.jpg and weaponry]] [[http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pEryTfkVVqvZZk0pPsztGPPgoIDd89TxSo4FZZc5kXmR6RgRugxfjP2g4Nw_v8RdiQ3CzDLTBldLjeEgqoRG9wg/War_by_Iron_Grip1.jpg of the]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/jayme/soldiersheet.png various]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/infantry-grenadiersfahrong.jpg soldiers]]. One might say that the entire setting deliberately adheres to the "PurelyAestheticEra" trope...
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:[[EarnYourHappyEnding Your against-all-odds victory]] in ''Warlord'' is paradoxically also [[PyrrhicVictory a crushing defeat]]. Even the brief victorious cutscene reminds you of it. [[MeaninglessVillainVictory It's still a victory in the long run though]], since it was all part of [[GenghisGambit a wider cunning plan]]... ]]
* BossBanter: The enemy officer will give an occasional taunt in the multiplayer chat. It also stands out due to the name appearing blue rather than red.
* CaptainObvious: The captain of your [[RagTagBunchOfMisfits brave and grizzled]] [[LaResistance guerilla]] [[TheSquad squad]] in ''Warlord'' often exclaims at the start of each level: [[{{Narm}} "We are losing the city..."]] Though in all honesty, this is a glitch that sometimes happens while starting a new round in a multiplayer match.
* ConstructedWorld
* ContinuityNod: ''Warlord'' indirectly references ''Opression'' in many ways: The premise and style of gameplay are nearly the same and some of the weapons from ''Opression'' make reappearances - e.g. confiscated Rahmos heavy machine guns used by Atelians; the rocket launcher is explicitly stated to be a newer and improved version of the one from ''Opression'', etc. Also, there are plenty of hints that the events of both games are taking place concurrently, or at least in a very close time frame.
* CrapsackWorld: Both ''Opression'' and ''Warlord'' explore the theme of "what it feels like when a small country is caught between the grinding forces of two superpowers". Not to mention Theia, the world of the setting, [[EarthIsABattlefield being in a constant state of war]] because of the [[WarForFunAndProfit power-hungry ambitions]] of [[DecadentCourt corrupt rulers]] [[AristocratsAreEvil and nobility]].
* CrystalDragonJesus: The Trithinite faith that originated in the south of the Kathos subcontintent (the primary stage of the setting). Not much is shown of its theological nature, but [[http://www.irongrip.net/index.php?view=3963 its history seems to mirror the developments of both Christianity and Islam]] in several ways. There is also some mention of a concept similar to the belief in reincarnation. Though not their original faith, Trithinism was embraced by the Fahrongi to the point where it [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/InterfaceLeader/artwork/triumph.jpg became their state religion]]. [[ChurchMilitant and an excuse for waging crusades against all unbelievers]]... On the other hand, the Fahrong missionares spreading the faith [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch tend to be quite sensible, goodwilling]] and [[TechnicalPacifist non-militant people]]. The CrystalDragonJesus trope is also [[InvertedTrope inverted]] by the other superpower, Rahmos - whose inhabitants are educated to be OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions {{Flat Earth Atheist}}s. ''Crystal Dragon Quasi-Communist Ideology'', [[PlayingWithATrope anyone ?]]
* CustomUniform:
** The resistance fighters in both games.
** The officers and generals of the Rahmos and Fahrong empires sport Napoleonic bicorne hats, WWI-esque {{Commissar Cap}}s and numerous amounts of BlingOfWar.
* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Warlord'', compared to ''Opression''.
* DaysOfFuturePast: Seriously, ''Feudal Steampunk''.
* DecapitatedArmy: A major gameplay mechanic based around troop morale concerns the number of the attacking army's living officers. Killing an officer results in boosting morale for the resistance fighters while simultaneously lowering the morale of the attackers. If the attackers manage to destroy/occupy the resistance's stronghold/focal defense points (and keep it that way), the morale of the guerillas quickly starts to diminish. The KeystoneArmy trope isn't played completely straight, since both sides only give up once their morale drops to zero - not purely because of the amount of dead officers or captured bases.
* TheEmpire: Rahmos in ''Iron Grip: The Opression'' and the Fahrongi-formed Confederation of Nallum in ''Iron Grip: Warlord'' (who are essentially Rahmos {{Expy}}s with a "religious fanatic" streak to them). Both represent the RTS side (the opponent).
* ExpansionPackWorld
* FacklerScaleOfFPSRealism: Somewhere in the middle, since the RTS element forces a more arcadeish approach. The weapon-wielding is pretty realistic and each firearm has accurately portrayed drawbacks (e.g. heavy machine guns and bazookas need to be properly deployed before shooting; crouching and the use of iron sights is encouraged for more accurate aiming), but there's also bunnyhopping, quick running and other AcceptableBreaksFromReality. It's also possible to achieve occasional NoScope shots with Warlord's SniperRifle (they're really inaccurate though).
** The RTS control and [[TowerDefense defense-building mode]] in both games features quite the typical CommandAndConquerEconomy and EasyLogistics.
* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Rarely played straight, since the various countries and ethnicities inhabiting Theia tend to be one giant - [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief yet still believable]] - CultureChopSuey of various cultures and civilizations from many different geographic areas and eras of human history. As far as possible analogies go:
** Rahmos = A somewhat PuttingOnTheReich version of either UsefulNotes/{{Prussia}} or UsefulNotes/ImperialGermany + UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia + [[UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets the USSR]] + an OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions ideology
** Mercos, Torun, Garados and other Rahmos Protectorate States = [[MerchantCity Medieval merchant republics]] / [[LandOfOneCity Hanseatic city states]] + Victorian Britain + Napoleonic era Europe
** Syreden = A small, mountainous, western European-like country ([[YodelLand Switzerland]], the former duchy of Burgundy, etc.). The originator of the religion which served as the basis for Fahrong's CrystalDragonJesus. Also the apparent HufflepuffHouse of the setting.
** Atelia = {{Expy}} of the Caucasus, Siberia and [[TheShangriLa Tibet]], inhabited by a mostly nomadic [[CultureChopSuey quasi]]-[[{{Qurac}} Tuareg]]-[[UsefulNotes/{{Cossacks}} Cossack]]-[[NorseByNorsewest Sami]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot people]]. Features a [[DeconstructorFleet slightly deconstructed take]] on the ProudWarriorRace trope.
** Fahrong (The Confederation of Nallum) = The UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire + [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Napoleonic France]] + The Byzantine Empire + [[ChurchMilitant religious fanaticism]] ([[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill even with]] ''[[AnachronismStew self-flagellating suicide bombers!]] [[http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/335/954934_20081201_790screen003.jpg]][[http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/335/954934_20081201_790screen001.jpg]]'')
* FantasyGunControl: Completely averted. Technically also a subversion, thanks to the presence of lots of archaic melee weaponry - in tone with the series theme of "warfare with early 20. century tech in an otherwise [[MedievalEuropeanFantasy medieval-esque]] world".
* ForeverWar: [[SillyReasonForWar Petty conflicts]] and [[EarthIsABattlefield major wars]] between the Theian nations [[CycleOfRevenge have been dragging on in one way or another]] ''for entire centuries''. Many have their roots in [[FeudingFamilies millenia-old disputes]].
* GallowsHumour: Seen most frequently in ''Warlord'', where members of the Atelian resistance constantly quip tongue-in-cheek comments on their current situation (especially when their LastStand seems to be going to hell). The Fahrong commanders act [[BlackComedy in a similar fashion]], belittling their soldiers and bossing them around all the time... and spouting {{Bond One Liner}}s [[BloodyHilarious after killing a member of the resistance]].
* GenghisGambit: Present in ''Warlord'', nicely [[SubvertedTrope subverting]] the very reason for which you're defending the various locations. [[WeAreStrugglingTogether Atelia is a very disunited country]] [[ApatheticCitizens and the local leaders have problems convincing the populace to rebel against the Fahrong occupation]]. The titular warlord of the game, [[ManipulativeBastard Sahrab]], proposes the idea of defending some of [[DoomedHometown the already doomed cities]] with guerilla warfare for as long as possible, [[WhereIWasBornAndRazed only to sacrifice them afterward]]: The constant resiliant defence will eventually piss off the Fahrong armies and force them to carpet bomb the besieged cities, blowing them to smithereens [[SacrificialLamb along with the local populace]]. Surviving Atelians [[HeroicBystander will become outraged]] and [[MisfitMobilizationMoment finally eager to drive the Fahrongi out of the land]]. Needless to say, the Atelian rulers are [[DespairEventHorizon utterly desperate]], so they [[SadisticChoice try to pull off this idea]] - hoping it might be CrazyEnoughToWork.
* GreyAndGreyMorality: The games are not primarily story-driven, but [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation they offer this]] [[{{Backstory}} a lot]].
* GrimUpNorth: Theia is a much more mountainous planet than Earth, with dramatically rugged terrain, unpredictable weather and a more colder global climate overall.
** Nearly every single country appearing in the setting has at least a few [[SceneryPorn snow-filled landscapes]].
* HoldTheLine: The basic premise of both games in the series. They nearly ''[[RefugeInAudacity revel]]'' in these tropes (especially ''Warlord''). [[http://media.moddb.com/images/games/1/11/10035/warlord_conceptstand.jpg This]] piece of concept art speaks for everything - it's [[LampshadeHanging even titled]] ''The Last Stand''...
* HollywoodTactics: The Rahmos and Fahrong empires sure love storming your cities [[GloryHound in the most over-the-top fashion possible]]. Needless to say, [[GenreBlindness it rarely pays off]].
* HyperspaceArsenal: Played straight both in ''Opression'' and ''Warlord''.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Comes in handy when you're a tiny band of partisans fighting against armies numbering in the thousands.
* KillItWithFire: The resistance fighters from both games are ''[[RefugeInAudacity really in love with this trope]]'' - whether it's a good old MolotovCocktail, [[ImprovisedWeapon home-made bomb]], [[LudicrousGibs dynamite]], [[LandMineGoesClick anti-personnel mine]], [[SomebodySetUpUsTheBomb satchel charge]], [[ShootTheFuelTank stacks of fuel-filled barrels]] [[SchmuckBait (for the enemy to hit)]] or [[FireBreathingWeapon a trusty flamethrower]]. In ''Warlord'', due to the somewhat wobbly AI of your team bots, this can often result in an unintended IncendiaryExponent.
* LaResistance: The FPS side in ''Opression'' is called, unsurprisingly, "The Resistance".
* LargeHam: The constantly grunting Fahrong officers from ''Warlord''.
* LowFantasy: Theia is a fictional, [[AllPlanetsAreEarthlike very Earth-like planet]], with the only differences being [[MinovskyPhysics somewhat altered laws of physics]] ([[HandWave to enable]] RuleOfCool technology) and a few giant creature species of the SeaMonster variety. [[HumansByAnyOtherName Theians]] are, for all intents and purposes, [[HumanAliens normal everyday humans]]. Flora and fauna is generally Earth-like, if [[CallARabbitASmeerp quite a bit smeerpy]]. Superhuman powers such as magic or psychic means [[SlidingScaleOfRealisticVersusFantastic are completely non-existant in the setting]].
* MedievalStasis: Averted. "SchizoTech and AnachronismStew Stasis" would probably be more appropriate. Things like motor vehicles, mechs, aircraft and zeppelins haven't always been a part of the setting and were invented fairly recently. [[DoubleSubversion However]], it's also implied, that "fairly recently" means they have been known ''for several centuries'' and that actual progress towards breakthroughs in technology takes a fair amount of time when compared to Earth. This is all possibly [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age Little Ice Age]]-like atmosphere of the whole setting.
* MoreDakka
* NintendoHard: If you're playing alone in standard single player or multiplayer mode (supported only by allied bots with weak AI), ''Warlord'' becomes a pretty serious offender. The "easy" difficulty is truely pretty easy, but the "medium" one feels more like "hard". And it gets pretty insane from there, resulting in HarderThanHard TowerDefense. The two highest difficulties even lampshade this, being [[IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels appropriately named]] "Brute" and "God"... Playing co-op is usually easier, since human players can obviously construct better and more cunning defences - thanks to some good old fashioned teamwork, of course.
* OccupiersOutOfOurCountry
* RagTagBunchOfMisfits: The resistance fighters in ''Opression''. Nearly all of them have a DarkAndTroubledPast. Some are {{Anti Hero}}es or [[KnightInSourArmor Knights In Sour Armour]]. Here's the CastCalculus:
** TheCaptain: Kanrid Marx (though his official rank among the resistance is major)
** TheLancer: Dietroch Wolding (formerly [[WorkingClassHero an average dock worker]], he TookALevelInBadass)
** TheSmartGuy / BadassBookworm: Charles Debois
** TheBigGuy: Marcus Tylios (ranging between Type 2-4)
** MrFixit / BadassNormal: Ronius Diagran
** EnsignNewbie: Cal Malgrun
** FragileSpeedster / SixthRanger: Richar Buitine (a rich HeroicWannabe, but also UnclePennybags, since he secretly supports the resistance with cash and material)
** ActionGirl: Florence Suivant (who's also a BrokenBird)
** TheSquadette / LoveableRogue: Gretchen Stoertebellor
** adassBookworm: Persephone Diarra
* RealIsBrown: While some of the maps/levels play this straight (e.g. "The Spiral" from ''Warlord''), most of them subvert it in some way, while still remaining gritty and [[SceneryGorn delapidated]] in appearance (in a reasonably varying way).
** Several levels in ''Opression'' are not so much Real Is Brown as "Real Is Cold-looking Dusky Winter Blue Hue".
* RedShirtArmy: The [[http://media.photobucket.com/image/rahmos%20conscript/HCU/Mods/Iron%20Grip/Conscript1.jpg Rahmos Conscripts]]. Seriously, lone Resistance members can kill these guys ''in droves''.
** The [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/infantry-conscriptsfahrong.jpg standard Fahrongi grunts]] of [[TheEmpire The Confederation of Nallum]] from ''Warlord'' suffer the same fate. Understandable, since Fahrong military philosophy seems to boil down to AttackAttackAttack and WeHaveReserves.
* RefugeInAudacity: This game series is pretty guilty of this...
* ReligiousAndMythologicalThemeNaming: Most of the vehicles and weapons in the series:
** The Rahmos empire from ''Opression'' uses the "Raccoon" armoured car and the standard "Dingo" tank
** The "Chimera" shotgun, "[[MeaningfulName Salamander]]" flamethrower and "Falcon" SniperRifle from ''Warlord''
** The {{Spider Tank}}s of the Fahrongi are known as "arachs" and have names related to various species of spiders or arthropodes.
*** In addition to these, they have the "Scarab" series of armoured cars.
** A [[ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld Zeppelin From Another World]] in one of the ExpandedUniverse stories bears the proud name of "The Sedales Serpent".
* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: ''And how...''
* ShoutOut: As LetsPlay/NakaTeleeli and friends will attest to, one of the units in Warlord [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lXwYh3GL8Q&feature=em-uploademail (specifically here at about 49:54)]] looks a bit like a [[spoiler: [[Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex Tachikoma.]]]]
* SillinessSwitch: ''Warlord'' has an option in the Settings menu that turns on "Christmas content". In practice, it replaces the usual ingame soldier and vehicle models with hilarious Christmas-themed doppelgangers. [[spoiler:''[[RuleOfFunny Minigun-toting Santa Claus officers FTW!]]'']]
* SkyPirate: Some of these appear in various ExpandedUniverse stories. ''Marauders'' has the player become the leader of a group of them.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Quite far towards the cynical end of the scale...
* SpiderTank: ''Warlord'' features several of these, deployed by the Fahrong empire to storm your cities and strongholds as much as possible. They include the [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/st35ttankbig.jpg Recluse]], [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/st38mediumarach.jpg Warweaver]] and [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/artywalkerfahrong.jpg Widow]] "arachs". The Widow is quite literally ''[[BiggerIsBetter a gigantic]] self-propelled artillery piece.''
* TheSquad: Your tiny group of guerilla fighters in ''Warlord''.
* StandardFPSGuns: Played mostly straight in both games, though not without a few subversions. Some of the guns have rather novel [[SecondaryFire secondary firing]] modes (e.g. the shotgun and flamethrower from ''Warlord''). One of the starting guns in ''Warlord'' is a [[BoringButPractical simple Atelian hunting rifle]], and though it looks pretty archaic, it actually fills the role of a typical war FPS marksman rifle.
* StandardSciFiArmy: The units appearing in the series cover most of the traditional cathegories. The guerilla fighters (Kathosian townsmen, Atelians) are mostly irregular infantry, contain a lot of civilian units thrown into the mix, have very little in the way of vehicles, but own some packhorses and mounts. The standing armies are predictably more numerous, have very varied infantry, armoured cars and trains, tanks, stationary and self-propelled artillery and {{Awesome Personnel Carrier}}s. The Fahrongi {{Spider Tank}}s sort of count as Mecha. Air forces are used only by wealthier countries or {{Sky Pirate}}s and are generally well-equipped with fighters, small bombers, {{Cool Airship}}s, {{Drop Ship}}s [[OverlyLongGag and Gunships]]. The closest thing to a SuperSoldier unit are the Fahrongi officers - members of a specially bred caste of Fahrong society, who also undergo a TrainingFromHell organised by their country's ChurchMilitant. In addition, they serve the role of a Political unit, boosting morale of the troops (this is also a gameplay element in ''Warlord''). Both Fahrong and Atelian armies use suicide bombers as a variation of the Terror troop cathegory.
* SteamPunk: The whole setting could be summed up briefly as: [[GrimUpNorth A mostly rustic world of nearly endless winters]] + industrial PunkPunk + [[ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld zeppelins]] + EarthIsABattlefield.
** Given the AnachronismStew-heavy looks of the games' universe, the term "[[GenreMashup mishmashpunk]]" wouldn't really be out of place either...
** As one reviewer [[http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/11/08/street-fighting-men-iron-grip-warlord-demo/ put it]]:
----> "It kind of recalls a magicless ''VideoGame/TheRedStar''."
* TankGoodness: Most of the armoured vehicles in both games aim for RuleOfCool at least as much as a realistic visage. [[http://www.isotx.com/index.php?view=1937 See]] [[http://www.keiththompsonart.com/irongrip.html for yourself...]]
* TowerDefense: More pronounced in ''Warlord'' than in ''Opression'' (which is more about cunning guerilla attacks).
* UsedFuture: Although TheVerse of the games is not set in the future (more like ALongTimeAgoInAGalaxyFarFarAway), it still fits this trope to a tee. The overall look of ''all'' the military and civilian tech makes it often hard to decide [[UsedFuture whether it's truely old, rusty and battered]] or [[RuleOfCool deliberately steampunkish-looking]]...
* UrbanWarfare: Most of the maps take place in occupied or besieged cities or fortresses. A lot of them are... [[SceneryGorn not in very good shape]]...
* VestigialEmpire: Kathos was once the kingdom, until CivilWar between the heirs to the imperial throne broke out. The war ended in an indecisive stalemate, with competing brothers Mercos and Garados usurping different parts of the empire. The brothers replaced the former capital of Torun with two newly founded cities, both [[{{Egopolis}} named after them]]. Several millenia of ludicrous infighting later, Kathos is [[BalkanizeMe a balkanised region]] of wealthy and powerful, but ultimately quarelling [[LandOfOneCity city states]]. Thanks to another CivilWar and StupidityIsTheOnlyOption, [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking they all fall prey to the new superpower]], Rahmos - becoming the aptly named Rahmos Protectorate States.
* VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck: Both averted and played straight. The flamethrowers in ''Warlord'' are really powerful and can deal massive damage to infantry - ''the Fahrongi flamethrowers'', that is (with the Fahrong flamethrowermen taking the GoddamnBats trope to spectacular new levels). The Atelian "Salamander" flamethrower is nearly as powerful and has a unique secondary firing mode: It can spray some of its fuel on the ground to create lightable patches of burning fire. Sadly, it's severely disadvantaged by its small and fast-depleting fuel tank, making it CoolButInefficient. Your best bet is to crouch behind the corner of an alleyway and start squirting flame on a fresh new row of incoming enemy soldiers. The {{Molotov Cocktail}}s are still the better incendiary weapon for all occassions.
* WarIsHell: Not discussed, but shown more than enough.
* TheWarSequence: As insane as it sounds, ''every single level (multiplayer map), from start to finish!'' Clearly present in ''Warlord'' (making it border on NintendoHard for unexperienced players), less so in ''Opression''. The general approach to gameplay required from the player could be described as: ''Defend your turf in the most Awesome way possible!''
* WorldOfBadass: ''Warlord''.
* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld: [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/InterfaceLeader/artwork/airship.jpg Whoa...]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/dreadnoughtbig1.jpg Once]] [[http://www.isotx.com/uploads/Ome_Vince/indomitable-cruiser.jpg again]] - [[http://www.keiththompsonart.com/pages/zeppelin.html in]] [[http://www.keiththompsonart.com/pages/sedalesserpent.html spades]]! They're more like [[MilitaryMashupMachine a cross between a rigid airship and a WWI dreadnought]]. Several missions in ''Opression'' involve the Resistance trying to complete their objectives before Zeppelin-Dreadnoughts turn the entire area they're in into a crater. ''Warlord'' reuses the premise, but it's [[PlayingWithATrope played with]] / [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] in an interesting fashion (see the GenghisGambit above).
* ZergRush: The basic tactic of the attacking armies. The Fahrong ones from ''Warlord'' take this to [[SerialEscalation ruthless and unbelievable levels]]... Well, let's put it this way: Even UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, UsefulNotes/JosefStalin, UsefulNotes/MaoZedong, and UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini [[PragmaticVillainy would all be horrified]] [[EvenEvilHasStandards at what pases for Confederate tactics.]]
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